I haven't posted in a while, and I apologize for that. What with digging out from all that snow...

Now the snow is gone, the hours have changed, and you're probably all ready for outdoor activites. I've signed Flora up for spring soccer, which starts next Saturday, March 27. I am going out and buying myself some rain (read: mud) boots. Because all that snow may be gone, but the ground is going to be wet for some time.

In spite of the fact that spring is a few days away, we all know that there are going to still be some days too rainy to enjoy the great outdoors. Being house bound through a snowy February taught me some tips and tricks to staying sane indoors with small children.

First of all, recognize that television is not evil. At the same time, you can OD on it. My girls get way overstimulated when they watch too much. I try to limit them to hour or half-hour doses, or no television if we are having "movie night". Put on pajamas, pop some popcorn, and let the kids pick the latest from Pixar or Disney. We like Bolt, Wall-E, and Ice Age (Dawn of the Dinosaurs) around here. I'm not too crazy about the last one, but at least I get some laundry folded.

Second, board games don't have to be boring. The trick with my girls is finding something they have the attention span for (which means the classic Chutes and Ladders is out for now; it takes too long). The Ladybug Game is our favorite right now. It is different every time, the cards are big enough for the kids to handle easily, and you can find short cuts to speed it up if you need to.

Third, it's not too early to teach them that a clean house is important. My girls often help me wash dishes and do laundry. As to dishes, letting them help me wash results in very wet children (the 3yo more than the 5yo) and a longer wash time than if I were doing it alone, but it's fun. They like the bubbles, and I like turning a chore into time with my kids. What I find especially amusing is that it takes them about 15 minutes per item, so while I wash 10 things, Flora scrubs a spoon and Kate gets that cup really, really clean. They help with the laundry by putting clothes in the washer and by putting wet clothes in the dryer — all under my close supervision, of course. Flora sometimes helps me fold (she's very good with washcloths), but Kate can't be bothered. They have turned into champs at picking up after themselves as well.

Lastly, there are always arts and crafts. We like stamps and spin art the best, but we also make necklaces and play with Play-Doh® — in the kitchen only. My kids can also use scissors, glue, and glitter glue, again only in the kitchen. I always have plenty of artwork for my cubicle at work.

I am looking forward to taking walks in the evenings again. The girls got scooters for Christmas, and there is a school parking lot nearby for lots of practice as the days get warmer and longer. But it's good to know that we won't be bored if we get stuck inside.