Family Traditions and The Olaf Effect

Last year Easter was in March. We have a tradition to visit the kid’s favorite restaurant, The Rainforest Cafe (ok, it’s really just my favorite restaurant but who counting), for their annual brunch (which is not actually ON Easter – so it works out for us). They do a fabulous job with activities for the kids, and the food is great, but really – any excuse to dine sandwiched between a waterfall and gigantic fish tank with sounds of the rainforest is ok in my book. What started as a sad attempt to relive a moment in our beloved Costa Rica turned into a fun family tradition that we all enjoy for faux Easter. (And on Mother’s day or my birthday or really any time I can manage to convince them we have to see Cha Cha.)

Last year it was freakishly warm – in MARCH. The beach was totally flat and the sandbar stretched out forever allowing the kids to run circles around the giant puddles chasing the seagulls around. It was a great day. And I know the seagulls were having fun too – they were happy to see some life on the beach after a long cold winter.

This March has been looooong. And Cold. I can’t wait to stick my toes in the sand that doesn’t require me sweeping off the snow first. This is the northeast, I get it. And I like snow, but really, enough is enough. I’m done for this year, mmkay? I need my kids to get outside again – without 47 layers of clothes. And let’s not talk about how many times the Frozen Soundtrack (although wonderful) has been lived out every day in full detail round these parts. It’s at the point that when someone is grumpy we declare them to “OLAF” and said grumpy person must break into Olaf’s Summer Song – flailing arms and all. This tactic has worked for a few months now, it makes said grumpy person smile, and really, it’s totally amusing to see your husband have to sing about dandelion fuzz. But the “Olaf Effect” is wearing thin, and we need this picture below to come back into our lives again.

So here’s to the first day of Spring! Horaaay! And Punxsutawney Phil, if you see your shadow again next year I won’t stop Steve from going hunting.