Surviving the Winter with Littles

Honest confession (I hope you're all ok with being my accountability partners): I ADORE my boys. I could write you a very long list of all the unique things about each one that sweep me off my feet and how I feel so, so blessed to be with them every day at home.

However... more times than I want to admit, I don't really enjoy doing the things they want to do. Maybe it's partly because they're boys, but I think it's mostly because I'm lazy and would rather do stuff I enjoy than engage with them. Sad, but true.

I have been really convicted of this lately and am trying to implement special times through out the day that I stop everything and am just with them. (I'm sad that I even had to write that last sentence.) One of the things we've been doing is having story time everyday after lunch...either on the couch or snuggled up on their bed. They each pick a few books for me to read and I always read out of the Jesus Storybook Bible. This has helped them calm down (a little) before nap time and I'm praying that it instills a love for reading in them.

We also do normal things like play-doh, coloring, activity books, etc but I find myself needing some more ideas, especially during the shorter, grayer winter days when going outside isn't as much fun. And, much to my chagrin, it seems that having a plan for what we're doing helps me.

Recently, a friend of mine wrote an article listing some great kids activities and it got me thinking. I thought I would share a few ideas of things we're either going to try or have tried.

1. Bath tub paint

This is first on my list to try. In our house, the bathtub is not just a place to get kids clean. It's a recreational activity and often my go-to when I need them contained or to just break up a somewhat boring day. Just shut the curtain and let them have fun!

2. Building with marshmallows

Isaiah loves this. Manny loves to eat them. Win-win, I say.

3. Glow sticks in the bath tub

(this website is chock full of great ideas for a large age range.)

Dollar store, here I come! And apparently, the bubbles really add to the experience.

4. Angry Birds activity.

(anything to do with angry birds is a big win in our house)

There would have to be some strict rules here (no chucking rocks at your brothers face...or glass), but they would go nuts with this idea.

5. Blowing pom-poms around with a straw

6. Giving them a spray bottle filled with water and a rag and set them loose "cleaning"

Both boys are really into helping me clean these days. Especially if there's money involved. Manny is my duster and vacuumer. Isaiah wipes and scrubs almost anything I ask him to.

7. Fill the kitchen sink with soapy water, add a ladle, cups and bowls and let them do the dishes.

I find that on days that I let them "help" me in the kitchen, they inevitably end up at the sink with dirty dishes and water. They usually spend more time there than they do actually helping me.

8. Let them help me bake....and decide ahead of time to be ok with having an extra cup of flour thrown in somewhere. :)

How do you keep your sanity on stay-inside days with the kiddo's?

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