Indoor Fun - When it Rains

It's rained EVERY day that we've been here. Today was my turn to watch the kids while my friend went with her husband to class. Admittedly, I was a bit stressed thinking about how to occupy 4 kids - ages 2.5, 3.5, 6 & 8.

Thankfully we were able to spend a few hours in the pool (which was a tad stressful. The youngest two think they can swim.)

When I brought everyone inside to eat lunch, the boys were going stir crazy. I'm talking about...slamming doors, jumping on beds, locking someone in the bathroom, fist fights, you know, the normal boy stuff.

Then I pulled out the most magical trick: masking tape. Each of them had their own roll. After showing them how to tear it they were almost silent for almost 30 minutes. The challenge of creating something with the tape caused them all to divert their energy to something positive.

It was quite interesting to watch their personalities bloom into their artwork. The 8 year-old immediately took to drawing his name with the tape, then a road for his brother. The 6 year old made a "shoe with shoe strings" on the stairs. (Darn it, I didn't have my camera with me!) Mr. Intensity took to taping all the doors shut so that no one could escape. The 2.5 year-old girl got in on the action by destroying her brothers' work and wadding the tape then sticking the balls on the closet door.

The biggest mistake I made was not buying a roll for the 2.5 year-old. What was I thinking? Of course she would want to do it, too!!! The boys couldn't believe that each of them had their own roll. Call me a big spender. It was the best $3 I spent all day.

From yesterday: Hubby & Mr. Intensity putting together the Lego thing we bought at "Disney."

And tonight the tent was erected. We brought it b.c we didn't know what the sleeping arrangements would be like. We thought we'd put Mr. Intensity outside when we needed a bit of peace and quiet. Just kidding.

I'm thinking that I'll use the tent for an obstacle course that we're planning for 40+ kids on Monday. It's gonna be FUN!! The children will be divided into teams, then sent with a "treasure map" to find the different rooms in which the obstacle course will be held.

Tomorrow, Hubby gets out of class early. After lunch, we hope to float down a lazy river. Well, it's really more like a spring. But lazy spring doesn't sound right.