More Than One Thousand Words: Indoor Winter Fun

Winter is well underway and that means finding creative ways to occupy a very active four year old. Thank goodness for Pinterest (a website with tons of creative ideas for every avenue of life). I found an idea that I thought would be right up Eliot's alley-- marshmallow construction. I got out the mini marshmallows, and some toothpicks and told him to go to town. He had so much fun! He made some letters, shapes, and other objects (maybe a boat? I honestly don't remember, which is why I need to keep up with this blog a little better!)

I made a cat.

Continuing along with my brainstorming on how to have fun indoors on a cold Winter's day came my brilliant idea to have the cousins over for a cupcake party! I bought (too much) candy, frosting, and cake mix. I whipped up about 36 cupcakes (thinking each of the cousins would want to decorate 4 or 5 each plus I needed some for Eliot's school since he can't have the cupcakes others bring in for their birthday celebrations in case of an allergen being in the ingredients), and left them unfrosted. I made three different color frostings and placed different candy in muffin tins for each set of cousins (as not to share Winter germs).

The cousins came over on MLK Jr. Day and as soon as they were all here, they went straight to Eliot's room to play. Forget the cupcakes, they were way more interested in playing with Eliot's toys (and under the covers on his bed).

Finally, we decided it was time to come into the kitchen for some cupcake decorating. The kids had fun for maybe 15 minutes and they all (except for 1 I think) decorated ONE cupcake each... and that was it. They were finished. Back to playing in Eliot's room and then a game of hide-and-seek broke out throughout the first floor of our house.

It was a good idea in theory, but I guess our house is much more fun than decorating cupcakes, especially when the cousins don't come here often. I'm currently brainstorming a way to occupy them for more time next "party."