Who Needs Toys

It's now 11 days post Christmas (I'm listening for the 12 drummers drumming that my true love is supposed to bestow tomorrow) and the boys have put aside their prized new toys in lieu of something so much more exciting: the contents of our pantry.

Struck with the "urge to purge" I set out to organize our hall closet/pantry only to discover mice had been feasting and left behind some unpleasant remnants of their eclectic meals (tortilla strips, marshmallows, buckwheat flour, puffed rice, pressed wood, broom bristles).

The boys were eager to be forklifts and haul away the items one by one to the kitchen. While I vacuumed, they constructed tunnels and bridges which Matthew immediately destroyed.


They moved to higher ground where Andrew spent at least 30 minutes playing with a wooden train and a box of sandwich bags. The only disagreement was over the cardboard wrapper of a 6-pack of applesauce, but the fun ended when I had to play Pick-Up-Sticks with angel hair pasta.

Next they played out a Busytown story in which Huckle Cat was sent to the grocery store for his mother but returned with all the wrong items. This occupied another full hour, filling shopping bags (paper, of course) and dumping them out.

What great helpers now; I only hope they are this eager in another 12 years!

Added picture bonus:

He never ceases to make us laugh!