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How to Survive Life in the Suburbs

On Busy Lives, Throw Downs and Cake!

in Uncategorized on 09/30/15

Do you hear that?  It’s the the elusive sound of family chatter!  Oh how I have missed it.  It’s sad but true, time together as a family can be difficult to chase down.  This family is ridiculously busy, but aren’t we all?  It seems to be the curse of this generation.  Between a crazy work schedule for the adults….then school, homework, friends and activities for the kids; it’s now a rare occurrence when all four of us are home together for more than what barely passes as a quick dinner.  As the saying goes, time is flying, and I want someone to stop the clock, or at least press pause!

I had another reminder this weekend, a small epiphany perhaps.  I want to, no need to make some memories with my girls while they still think I’m kinda… sorta cool.  I know SassyHubby and I do a good job of squeezing in quality time over the summer.  It’s easier then.  Pool days, BBQ’s, volleyball games in the backyard, runs to the beach, and the cherished holiday at the cottage up north make it easy to spend time with my girls, talk to them, hang out with them and really know them. The rest of the year?  We have to work at it!  So what do we do?  What can we get better at?  We can try to make the most of any and every little opportunity to re-connect, to laugh, to play and to take back those quality moments that this crazy pace of life can too easily steal away from us.  Walking the dog is a family affair.  Shopping trips double as Mother-Daughter events.  Cooking together helps, but not everyone is into that.  One way I managed to squeeze in some family fun this week?

A Board Game Throw Down.  (Oh it’s a thing.  Trust me)

IMG_5157

I cleared all the must-dos out of the way.  Clicked off the TV and the laptop. Put that phone to silent and set my kitchen table up for an epic battle.  Well, an old school, board game challenge extravaganza.

There are some competitive people in my house and once my family realized what was going on, the challenge was quickly accepted.  A game of “Sequence” was quickly followed by the new fave “Apple to Apples”.

There were laughs, and maybe even a little name calling.  One game turned to two, turned to three as we moved from a “The Big Bang Theory” addition of CLUE to the hardest Cookie Puzzle of all time.

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 The afternoon was made even sweeter as I brought out a delish Chocolate McCain Deep ‘n Delicious® Cake  I’d been hiding in the fridge for an occasion just like this.

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It’s important for me to remember to try and do this more often!  Turn the crazy off for just an hour or two.  Shut the “real” world out and spend more time with the people who mean the most to me, my family.  Perhaps game night with Deep ’n Delicious® should become just part of our regular routine.   

Cake

What are some ways you make time for the most important people in your life?  

I hope you too are finding ways to make each day more special than the last. 

 

Disclosure: This post was brought to you by McCain Foods Canada. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of McCain Foods Canada.

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    Comments

    1. kathy downey says

      November 29, 2017 at 12:27 pm

      I love those cakes

    2. kathy downey says

      November 1, 2017 at 10:43 am

      My kids are grown and we are just old folks now hubby and i and just enjoying each other everyday!

    3. kathy downey says

      February 9, 2017 at 10:44 am

      I love game night but not as much as i love Chocolate McCain Deep ‘n Delicious® Cake ….oh delicious !

    4. Debbie White Beattie says

      July 5, 2016 at 4:29 am

      I think it’s awesome that your family spends quality time together especially once they’re teens because usually once the hormones kick in, they don’t want to spend time with parents; you’re lucky!

    5. Elizabeth Matthiesen says

      February 8, 2016 at 4:16 pm

      We all love playing Sequence here, such a fun game. I’ll bet your family was thrilled when they realised what you were up to and then a lovely cake too, can’t beat that 🙂

    6. Melinda Jana says

      January 5, 2016 at 1:15 pm

      It’s been FOREVER since we sat down as a family and played board games. Oh the memories. Now that I think about it, I don’t know why we don’t do it more often

    7. Cheryl says

      December 5, 2015 at 10:50 am

      I love playing board games as a family too. It’s a great bonding moment

    8. Allie f says

      October 29, 2015 at 6:25 pm

      You had me at cake!

    9. Christine says

      October 26, 2015 at 12:48 pm

      That’s it, I’m adding that cake to my grocery list!

    10. Meg says

      October 26, 2015 at 11:56 am

      Looks like a fun night!

      • Stephanie says

        October 26, 2015 at 12:41 pm

        We had a great time! Such a fun way to re-connect 🙂

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    Travel addict, sun seeker, coffee drinker, fashion lover, picture taker. This is a peek behind the closed and competitive doors of the suburbs. A place to come to learn about the best places to travel with your kids in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean and beyond! stephanie@sassymodernmom.com
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