It's that time of year when the Christmas decorations are starting to appear in stores, the Christmas activities are getting written on the schedule, and the Christmas catalogs start coming in the mail. Oh, the Christmas toy catalogs. How I loathe them! They are full of glossy photos of large, expensive, plastic toys that my kids determine simply must be put on their Christmas list, while I know, without a doubt, that most of them will not be near as fun as they look on the box and will be discarded in a corner within a few days of their triumphant arrival. Over the years of having so many toys take up so much room in our house, I feel like I've got a pretty good idea of what my kids will play with and what they won't. I've swung and missed on my fair share of gifts...like the beautiful wooden dollhouse that sits in the corner untouched while the kids take out all the dollhouse furniture to add to their block and Magna Tile creations. Or the easel that sat in the playroom primarily acting as an art storage bin while the kids created their art all around it. Or the large plastic play garage that just took up space while Briggs zoomed his vehicles across the floor. Over the years, the best loved toys are the ones that allow my kids to engage with them creatively and in their own way.
I always enjoy watching my kids imagine and create and make their own fun. The big, plastic toys sit largely untouched on the shelves while the kids empty the recycling bin and build kingdoms with their Magna Tiles and catch bugs in the yard. From making their own board games to putting on plays to filming original movies to writing books, my kids consistently find ways to make their own fun.
A cupcake container from the recycling along with some water and food coloring filled one fun afternoon while Adelie and Briggs completed their "science experiment."
Adelie and Briggs started a neighborhood band with a few of Briggs' little friends. The "SSLS Band" (formed by the first letter of their last names) is planning a performance where they want to invite 11 people (not sure of the relevance of that number) to come hear them perform. (I'm glad that they only practice outside.)
Adelie and Briggs spent one entire morning putting on a school for their stuffed animals.
They each held their respective classes in their own rooms.
And Staley was a guest speaker in Adelie's classroom, so she got this thank you note signed by all the stuffed animals in Adelie's class.
For every birthday or special occasion, my kids LOVE to use their creativity to make gifts. For Grammie's birthday, both girls painted her pictures and Briggs made her a book.
Singing, practicing piano, and starting flute in band all contribute to the already enhanced noise level in our house. (Thank goodness it's not the trumpet or the drums!)
Briggs recently made his own board game called "Briggs the Hero Dash." There is also a 'Briggs the Hero' book series and a 'Briggs the Hero' movie as well. (It's all about creating your brand!) For his game, there are cards that you have to act out as you move your little game piece (all different vehicles, of course) around the game board. Sometimes deciphering the word on the card is almost as hard as acting it out. Some of the cards are a little easier to read, like bote (boat), rocit (rocket), dinosor, sopr hero, and tran (train). Some of the others, like painggwin (penguin), sces (skiis), and modrsikole (motorcycle) take a bit more deciphering. Thankfully the pictures on the cards sometimes help. It's a fun little game!
The kids had fun helping Aunt Sandi pick apples and an even better time washing them all up.
Art supplies scattered all around the house, Magna Tile creations covering the playroom floor, musical sounds filling our house with noise, stuffed animals waiting patiently on the stairs for their next class... Sometimes it can all be a bit much, but I'll take the signs (and sounds) of creativity over boredom any day. Maybe I can cut up the toy catalogs and the kids can use the pictures in their next art project.
