Breaking Up the Winter Blues

 My Cutie Boys, this has been a tough winter.  Bitter cold temperatures have kept us inside and you have missed playing outside and being with other kids.

Just a few weeks ago you were standing at the sliding glass door asking to go outside.

Mommy and I have had to get creative to keep you two busy during this very cold, long winter.

I started by planning weekly activities for you.  Each week I selected a theme for the month, skills to work on, and then I planned activities, art projects and stories to read that related to the theme.  I included outings if it was warm enough and even some gospel centered videos or coloring pages.  Having something new to do each day was very helpful.

Both of you love to paint and Cutie E discovered that glue sticks are sticky fun.

Luckily the basement has a couple of long hallways.  This allows us to roll, pick up, kick or chase a ball. Both of you are getting so good at ball skills, but you like playing chase best. 

Cutie O got a Water Table for his birthday.  We did not wait till summer to put this together.  Currently it is set up in the living room.  NO WATER!  Just fun toys to play with in a different part of the house, breaking up the boredom of playing in one room with the same toys has helped a lot.

Helping mom put the water table together

For the last couple of weeks both of you have darted to the living room window to watch the kids wait for the school bus and board once it arrives.  Cutie E loves school busses.  To him every big vehicle that passes the house that is yellow is a school bus.  It is adorable to watch you knock on the window and wave to the kids.  Both of you love when they wave back.  

Currently you both love animals and making different animal sounds.  For Christmas you got the Fisher Price Little People Safari Playset.  This has been a lot of fun to play with.  It is very interactive with lights, fun songs, animals, and you can even match the animal to its habitat.  I love that it is tall so that both of you can stand and play together.

As you get older I need to remember to take you to an indoor climbing gym.  Both of you climb on chairs, up the outside of the stairs, onto the couches, up the ottoman, and anything else stationary.  Cutie O isn't as steady and makes me a little nervous.

Your Mommy looked into an indoor climbing set to help keep you two busy and active while stuck inside.  She found one, an Indoor Play Gym.

This was supposed to be for Cutie E's birthday, but you two needed something other than the kitchen table chair.  Mommy broke it out a little  early, but both you you have LOVED it.  Over the last few weeks this has been a life saver.  The two of you have been climbing up, over and under, plus sliding, rocking and building your way through the day.  You have figured out how to drive your cars up the slide and zoom back down.  Your stuffies enjoy sliding as well.  

There are many different configurations to these 3 pieces, making it  different each time you play.  You two are also finding new ways to play with your toys using the slide and arch.  The four adults in your lives have loved that you are able to use some of your energy  inside the family room while it is too cold to play outside.  

A few rounds of chase, sliding down the stairs, throwing a ball down the hall, tossing stuffies over the railings, baking and a few cozy movie days have also made this cold, snowy winter much more fun.  

Spring is hinting at its arrival allowing us to get outside a bit more.  We can't wait for those warmer spring days filled with sidewalk chalk, trikes, balls, walks and stroller rides, but until then we will continue to enjoy these new indoor adventures. 

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