Electronics Addicts Anonymous

Well, I thought it was time to get rid of the scandalous title of my last blog entry ; ) !
Elias is home from school again and I have heard the phrase, "I am telling Mom!" more times than I can count today.  I am sure that they will be asking to go outside to play in a little while.  It takes me about 20 minutes to get them ready and they want to come back inside after about 15 minutes!  But I know that it is good for them to get outside, so I get them ready anyway. Every snow session used to end in tears because Bella's wrists would get wet and cold because her gloves wouldn't stay tucked in her coat.  But my clever husband came up with an invention to keep Bella's wrists (and Elias') dry and warm.  He took tube socks and cut the tops off of them.  He took the tops and then made a small hole for the thumb, to hold them in place.  He actually made the first pair for himself when we were going to take the youth snow tubing, but we sort of confiscated them.
My kids are addicted to electronics!  I used to be so careful about that when they were small, but the older they get, the more electronics have became a part of every day life.  If they aren't watching t.v., they are wanting to play video games, or games on the computer.  But when I look at Josh and I's habits, the nut doesn't fall far from the tree.  Computers and television are a huge part of our lives as well.  It seems like even when I attempt to reduce my own "screen time" it seems to always be a part of my every day life - and really the only television show that I make sure to watch on a weekly basis is "The Biggest Loser".  It seems like since Josh has websites or work stuff to work on after the kids go to bed, we stay up until all hours with our faces stuck in the television or the computer - usually both.  So, Josh and I have decided this week to be in bed, with lights out, by 11 p.m.- I guess I decided and Josh agreed.  This is a huge feat for us.  We normally don't even begin to head to bed until midnight, so we don't actually have the lights out until 12:30 or 1 a.m..  I had done this last year for a month and I know that it makes me feel better, but Josh didn't participate then and I feel out of the habit as soon as the month ended.  I am also going to schedule more time for electronics to be off at our house - and not just for the kids.  So, I guess that means I better sign off now.  I think I need to go let my son beat me at a game of Crazy Eights!