Any one else snowed in?! I can't take much more! The boys are driving me nuts. They tear apart the house all day long. I feel like I'm always chasing my tail, I try to clean up but they are right behind me messing up again. I want the house to look half way clean for DH. Oh, and he is never around because he plows snow! I'm stuck in the house with the boys all day long! I'm eating junk all day long because I'm stressed. I'm tired, bored.....uggggg! just wanted to vent.

I would love some ideas on what fun things we can do while we are snowed in.

We didn't get nearly as much snow as you, Elisete, but yesterday was hairy here too because Caroline was up at 7am and so by about 11am had already played with all the toys she was interested in. I started doing some things that I did with her as a baby for texture experience, now it's just fun - a big Tupperware container full of rice, with measuring cups and dumptrucks and the like just to pour and scoop and fool around with it. Put them in the bathtub - who cares that bathtime is normally before bed, let them at the bath toys! How about crayons or markers or Playdoh?

We've been snowed in most of the week but I love it :) . We don't go out much anyway this time of year. Something Ethan found fun was "painting" snow. I got big tubs of snow and mixed up some food coloring with water and gave him paintbrushes. He made shapes, mini snowmen and painted everything. Easy to clean up as I either dump it in the sink or toss it out the door when he's done. All the fun of snow play without getting bundled up :lol:

We've been trapped in the house since Monday due to the sickies. :( I am also going nuts, and the kids are too. We finally took them outside today (Sabrina 15 mins, Avery 30 mins) and that seemed to really help.

I've been racking my brains for stuff for Avery. I took the couch cushions off and let her jump in them, we play hide and seek, and I built and obstacle course in the livingroom out of couch cushions, chairs, etc.

I also have been doing early afternoon baths where they just play too. Sabrina definatley likes those.

Another one snowed in for the past 3 days... we got about 14 inches! hopefully the roads will be clear enough for me to safely get out by Tuesday.

I will also give her an early afternoon bath to just DO something :lol:

We're in this boat, too! Emma has been helping me cook. Also, we put together her own "Alphabet Book", made out of construction paper. Each letter has a page, then we pour through magazines looking for items that begin with that letter. when we find one, we cut it out and paste/tape it into the alphabet book.

Hang in there!

We have put coins on the bottom of our socks with tape to "tap dance" too.

Mary

I was just going to suggest keeping them busy with crafts during the day or some type of organized activity and even separating them sometimes so that they aren't always in the same room doing something together. I do that with mine a lot. They just have cabin fever. According to their age, I'd take them outside a few times a day for a few minutes. I love the coins on the bottom of the socks! :nod: I will definitely have to try that one.

A neat little craft:

You need:
White bread, milk, food coloring, paint brushes, little cups

Put milk in the little cups and color with food coloring
Paint the white bread

When they are done painting, you can toast the bread and its fine to eat.

We are in the same boat...we got 38 inches of snow over the weekend. It is also FREEZING, so we were only able to spend about 10 minutes outside yesterday with out freezing.

One thing I did (got the idea from here actually) is fill a big bin with dried beans...Jackson loves playing with it. I got out measuring cups, and he pours them, I also have been hiding things in the beans and he has to dig the stuff out. Very similar to Anne's rice idea...I need to try that too.

I also did the bath thing. He took a very long bath yesterday afternoon and played with his tub toys. I also got his bubbles from last summer out and we blew bubbles in the bathroom.

Another thing I did was get his beach tent out (it is a pop up thing we used on the beach to keep the sun off him last summer). I set it up in the living room and put his favorite stuffed animals and books in it. I also let him eat his snack in there and he loved it. He played in there for a while...

I don't have any other fun suggestions, but a whole lot of sympathy for you! I am so ready for winter to be over!

I did the painting snow thing for Joshua last week. Gave him a spray bottle of food colored water and away he went....he loved it.

Also found these today in one of y parenting magazines:





10 oddball ideas for hanging out when you’re snowed in



1.Pyjama Day. Why get dressed if it’s too cold to go anywhere? Let the kids stay in their jammies for a low-key day of free play, storybooks, colouring and cartoons. Maybe you’d like to hang out in your housecoat, too. Think of it as a way to save on laundry.


2. Life’s a Beach. On one of those cloudless, sunny days where the light is streaming through the windows and warming your carpets, pull out the bathing suits, hats, sunglasses and towels, and make like summer. Inflate the water wings, play The Beach Boys, have a picnic lunch, eat a Popsicle (you’ve got to have a couple hiding in the back of the freezer) and pretend to suntan.


3.Backwards Day. Put your clothes on backwards, give your daughter a ponytail on the front of her head, say goodnight instead of good morning, and you’re on the wrong track for a day of silly backwardness. Have dinner for breakfast, breakfast for dinner, speak pig Latin, spell your name in reverse, say tongue twisters and practise walking backwards. If you’re feeling adventurous, run a backwards obstacle course.


4.Dream Dinner. Let your kids plan what’s for supper tonight - absolutely anything goes. This is the kind of thing that happens in childhood fantasies where kids take over the world. Even if it’s Betty Crocker icing and a spoon, what’s the worst that could happen? They’ll have a nasty case of indigestion and a real-life lesson in the importance of eating sensibly. Just insist they brush their teeth right after.


5.Movie Madness. Loosen your rules about television and videos and let the kids have a movie marathon. Pop mountains of popcorn (or offer toddler-friendly Goldfish crackers), let them sip juice from a straw, and snuggle up.


6.That’s Gross. Make sure your snooty Great Aunt Phyllis isn’t planning to pop by, and for one day let your kids tell all the potty jokes they can think of. Let them serve mom and dad the grossest food they can imagine (think mustard-banana peel ice cream), sing that sick song they learned at camp, and go crazy with the fake vomit. Teach them a song from your childhood (remember “Greasy, Grimy Gopher Guts”?) and you’ll be cool for at least an afternoon. Go all out and invite some friends for a gross-out party. Make eyeball punch (blueberries inside ice cubes), play musical chairs with whoopee cushions on the seats, and let the kids serve their concoctions to all the parents.


7.All-Day Breakfast. It doesn’t get any easier than this. Try Pop Tarts, cereal and juice for breakfast, bacon and eggs for lunch, and pancakes or waffles for dinner. Or go fancy with chocolate crepes. There’s enough choice for three (fairly) round meals.


8.Blanket Fort. Remember the bliss of hunkering down inside your own domain of blankets and sheets? Let your kids go to town with all the extra linens and pillows you can find. With any luck, they’ll play happily for hours.


9.They Oughta Be in Pictures. Set up a makeshift photo studio by tacking a dark-coloured sheet to the wall for a backdrop and placing a stool in front. Get out the dress-up clothes and encourage your kids to create characters, then ham it up in front of the camera while you snap away. Imitate the voice of a pretentious photographer: “Yes, darling, marvellous. Work it, baby...”


10.Indoor Wiener Roast. If you have a wood-burning stove or fireplace, play campfire and let your kids roast hot dogs and marshmallows - under your careful supervision, of course. (Do not attempt with gas fireplaces!) Pretend you’re outside in the frosty air and your treats will taste extra delicious.



We had pj day today :biggrin: