Leicester Triple Drive-In

Hubby and I took the kids to the Leicester Triple Drive-In last night and we had such a fun time!

The kids have been asking me to take them to the movie theaters to watch The Minions and Pixels, but anyone with a large family would understand how much money a night at the theaters would involve for a family as large as mine. Just to put it into perspective -  typical visit to the movie for my family of six is a minimum of $80, and that doesn't even include popcorn or drinks. Oh, and don't even get me started on 3D *rolling eyes*! Talk about paying big bucks just to sit and watch a movie in front of a glorified screen with loud speakers!

So yesterday I was looking for something fun and inexpensive to do with the kids, when I remembered about the Leicester Triple Drive-In. I immediately went on their website to check for fees and show times. The entrance fee to the drive-in was $25- per vehicle for two movies, and they happened to be showing The Minions and Pixels on one of their screens—how perfect was that?! That's just a little over a whopping $2- per head...now THAT's. one. awesome. deal!

I immediately told the kids to get ready but didn't tell them where we were heading. It was funny seeing them go crazy trying to guess what our destination was lol! I grabbed a few lawn chairs, the cooler, blankets and stopped at Walmart on the way there to load up on snacks, drinks and candy to munch on.  

The first movie was supposed to start promptly at sundown, which was right around 8:15pm, but when we got there at 7:30pm I was surprised to see how packed the place was! There were kids playing with footballs, soccer balls and glow-in-the-dark Frisbees and parents chatting on their lawn chairs and sipping on...umm, hot cocoa lol? It was just a fun atmosphere :D!

They were huber excited! ✔️

Shortly after arriving I realized I had missed something very important: BUG SPRAY! As soon as we opened the car doors the Mosquitos started having a feast with us! We were stormed and nearly eaten alive in just a few minutes! Thankfully, Walmart is just down the road from the drive-in, so off I went with Julissa to grab some much needed protection lol.

Munching on some candy and snacks :).

The Minions and Pixels movies! If you asked me, I couldn't tell you which one was my favorite - they're both funny and cute.

We left the drive-in at around 12:30 am and it was all worth it! We laughed until our bellies hurt and everyone left there happy. So if you are looking for something fun to do in central with the kiddos you should give this place a try. It's a good alternative to expensive movie theaters during the summer months and I'm sure you won't regret it!

Before last night, I had forgotten about this wonderful place (which is just a few minutes from our house), but I definitely won't be "forgetting" about this little gem again. Maybe I'll make it a family tradition while it still exists! <3

~ Yamilka ~

Evening Swim and the Attack of the Monster Fly

I've been feeling a little blah this week. Summer is one of my favorite seasons because I get to spend lots of stress free time with my kiddos, but it feels as if this summer is going by so fast and that just makes me a little sad. 

This is my first week back at work from vacation and, although I am refreshed and ready to tackle the workload, I still feel like I should be out somewhere hiking a mountain or watching my kiddos splash in some cool body of water of some sort. I just miss our weekday fun! *sigh*

So as soon as I clocked out today, I rushed home and had everyone quickly get into their bathing suits, grab a towel, some snacks and we headed out to the lake for an evening swim! The kids quickly warmed up to the idea and were super excited :).

The lake was nice and empty, except for a few people - "more lake to ourselves", said Adrián *hehe* - but the sun was still strong and the water warm. The kids dropped everything and jumped right in! They splashed, played tag and even did a couple of races to see who made it first to the water lol. 

I sat in the sand taking it all in; the giggles of happy kids splashing in the clear water. The warmth of the sun's last rays of the day. The sweet smelling breeze. The chirping birds...the calm! This moment felt just right—peaceful. Perfect.

But all happy moments must come to an end, right? Riiiight.

About an hour after we arrived, I walked to the water's edge to soak my feet, just in time to spot the biggest, most meanest horse fly in history! That thing was huuuge! And it flew past me right to Abdiel and landed on his head! I started screaming at him to go under the water but that monster just wouldn't give up and kept waiting for him to come up for air to strike again lol!! Abdiel absolutely hates bugs (especially bugs with wings) and started freaking out, running and splashing like a mad man, hum...teen and demanding that we go home. NOW! 

Poor Abdiel stayed underwater for what felt like forever until the fly finally gave up and decided to go harass someone else (thank God!). It was hilarious and scary to watch, all at the same time. 

So off we went back home, thanks to the attack of the monster fly. But all in all it was a *much needed* amazing evening. Like the quote says....

"The best things in life are unexpected - because there were no expectations" 

                                                                                    — Eli Khamarov

~ Yamilka ~

Family Stay-cations Can be Fun Too

I've been on vacation - ummm...staycation - for the last couple of weeks, and we have been blessed with some amazing weather - sunny, hot and dry,which is an amazing combination and a rarity around here in New England - for more than a few days, never mind a couple of weeks! It was definitely a blessing and the kiddos and I enjoyed every minute of it :). 

We stayed local because; a. hubby was not on vacation and had to have a minor surgery and b. Jovan had football weight training lessons and practice three days a week (the older this child gets, the busier he becomes!). At first I was sort of bummed out that we didn't have some epic destination to go to, but I soon realized that a stay-cation is not the epitome of boring. The best thing is that most of these things were free or incredibly inexpensive.

Not having an agenda meant that we could come and go as we pleased without feeling pressed for time. Some days we just grabbed a couple of towels, a cooler and snacks and headed out for the lake or the pool mid-day. No crowds. No traffic. No stress...just plain bliss :)!

Here's a look at what our agenda looked like for the past couple of weeks. I hope it can serve as inspiration for those of you looking to have an inexpensive vacation close to home with the family or just do looking for a new adventure:

1. You know you'll have a blast on your vacation when it starts with Fourth of July fireworks!

2. We packed the cooler with fruit, water, sandwiches and chips and hit Hampton Beach with my brother and his beautiful family. They just happen to have the sand sculpting competition at the same time! Wooot, double the fun!

3. We went to the lake and the city pool; at a whopping $3.00 per car for the lake and free admission to the city pool, it is an understatement to say that we went to either one...a lot! 

My BFF and our hubbies!

4. Ice cream time at Rottas Farm *yum*! We had some ice cream our our favorite place and spent some time with more family.

My Mom, daughter and niece!! <3

5. Best things in life are free, baby! We took advantage of a free admissions outing to the Botanic Garden, hosted by the Highland Street Foundation, which is a city program that provides free admission to different attractions in the state over several weeks throughout the summer. If you live in or around Massachusetts and are looking for free family day, you must check the above website :).

I love my big family <3! (Rare full family pic)

Catching tadpoles

BFF

Is it a giant fly?!

6. We hiked a mountain! That view, though...just breathtaking! Wachusett Mountain.

7. We had some lazy moments...umm days, too! And it was OK. 

I had a blast these past two weeks and it turned to be a relaxing and fun two weeks spent with family and friends! I enjoyed every minute of it :). Tomorrow I go back to work and I. Am. Not. Ready! But you gotta work to have fun, right? Hehe.

I'll be ready for our next adventure in October - who knows, maybe it'll be a Fall staycation to remember ;).

~ Yamilka ~ 

Sleepover Camp Care Package

Last Sunday I dropped off Julissa at overnight camp. This is her second year at Camp Winnekeag, and she was so super excited and anxious for camp day to arrive that she talked about it for months and started counting down the days for weeks :D! Yes...she was driving me crazy lol...hey, a Mom can only take so many "how many more day until camp?!" questions.

We finally got to camp - an hour early this year, because Julissa wanted to get a top bunk in the cabin and according to her, the "only way to get one is by getting there early". Well, I guess all the other girls had the same idea because after all the registration and check-in, which took for everrr, when we got to the cabin all the top bunks were taken. I couldn't take Julissa's bummed face :(. I guess we'll be arriving at camp two hours early next year! lol. But although she was bummed out about her sleeping arrangements she couldn't wait to push me out the cabin door so that she could start all the fun!

Julissa will only be gone for a week and I know she must having the time of her life, but her Daddy and I still miss her dearly (the boys do too, but they don't care to admit it hehehe). Yesterday we decided to put together a small care package with some of her favorite things, which we'll be mailing to her. Some of the things I put in are; +candy, gum, a bag and fabric markers for her friends & counselors to sign/write short messages, a teen magazine (not pictured), a journal and, because she's spending the 4th of July (her first holiday away from us...*waaah!*) at camp, I included some glow in the dark sticks and bracelets that she can share with her fellow campers to celebrate :). 

Some of the items in her care package...

Hubby and I also wrote her letters and we had her brothers add a little note <--- not an easy task *sigh* and a family photo (a friend's suggestion).

 She's a Cheyenne this year!

"I'm all up for a hard core adrenaline rush, Mom!" -Julissa, while making adjustments to her activity schedule.

I can't wait to pick her up next Sunday and hear about all the "hard core" fun that she had and the firework of friendships that she made! 

~ Yamilka ~