I’ve mentioned before that I’m a list keeper. A while ago I put together a list of boredom busters for the kids. My plan was to have it at the ready for those inevitable rainy-day moments when there’s really nothing to do (insert whine). Luckily, the olders are still on their Tintin kick, and have active imaginations, so I haven’t needed to resort to the list these past few weeks.

I’ve considered printing it out & cutting the list into strips, each activity on it’s own piece of paper, but I’m not sure I need to go that extra step just yet (though that might be an activity for them in itself!). Next time they’re bored I’ll send them to pick a task. M & B are 8 and 6 so the list is geared towards stuff they like. Most of the activities do require adult involvement, and a willingness to participate even if your not particularly feeling up to the challenge.

1. Play ball (soccer, basketball, catch…)
2. Go for a swim — swim races & games
3. Go for a bike ride
4. Skateboarding/scootering
5. Go fly a kite
6. Play Bocce
7. Make a movie
8. Play a board game
9. Card Game (M&B are particularly fond of Go Fish & War Uno & Poker)
10. Family picnic in the living-room
11. Play with something you haven’t played with in a long time.
12. Make up a song & record it on the computer
13. Kids cook the next meal — this includes menu planning, shopping, and prep.
14. Bake a cake (doesn’t matter if it’s from scratch or mix)
15. Work on a jigsaw puzzle
16. Draw a picture that tells a story
17. Make a toy out of whatever is in the recycling bin
18. Paint a portrait of someone who inspires you
19. Draw a picture of someone in your family
20. Draw a self-portrait
21. Make an animated flip-book
22. Paper maché sculpture (I’ve been dreaming of making aper maché fruits & veggies…)
23. Paper chains using only scraps
24. Dancing: make up a dance routine & teach it to one other person.
25. Square dance
26. Close your eyes, spin three times, draw the first thing you see.
27. Make a ring
28. Make beads
29. Shrinky-dink charms
30. Make a balcony terrarium (plastic salad box, soil, plantlings)
31. Plant some mystery seeds or pits
32. Plan a dream garden
33. Make a jungle diorama (shoe box, paper, glue)
34. Make circus paper puppets (paper, Popsicle sticks)
35. Make a paper flower bouquet (pipe cleaners, colorful tissue paper)
36. Crochet a coaster
37. Sew a pillow
38. Make a doll
39. Make doll furniture
40. Write a letter
41. Write an auto-biography
42. Write a fictional story
43. Write a true story
44. Write a biography
45. Write a poem
46. Write a haiku
47. Make a notebook
48. Create a photo documentary
49. Read to each other, or to the baby
50. Math worksheets ( I like aplusmath.com)
51. Math games with dice
52. Handwriting worksheets (if you’ve found a good one online, send me the link)

As we get through the list I’ll add links to projects as appropriate

Growing up, we were definitely a Bédé family. "What on earth is a Bédé?!" you ask? In French, BD is short for Bande Dessiné — Comic Books. I’ve tried several times over the years to introduce the Olders to the worlds of Asterix and Obelix, and Tintin. Finally, this week they have totally glommed on to Tintin. Being holed up with colds and no TV in the house might have helped since they had plenty of time to really dig in.

Over the past two weeks I’ve borrowed just about every Tintin book from the library because Tomas and my (extensive) comic collection is all in French, Danish, and Swedish — very few English editions in the lot — it feels weird to buy the same books just to have ‘em in English. I’ll probably have to work that one out at some point…

I’m thrilled that our local library also has a good collection of Asterix comics, because they’ll be next on the list. I wonder if I can convince them to purchase Lucky Luke, The Smurfs (I way prefer the French name: Schtroumpfs), Spirou, Gaston la Gaffe…?

{You can click on the images above to preview the books on Amazon.com, you’ll also find many, many more in the collection!}

This winter has be a rough one for us so far. Our house is full of empty tissue boxes, and still-runny noses, empty soup cans (who has the energy to make anything from scratch?), and piles of dirty dishes. Some days we all get so claustrophobic, such mind-numbing cabin fever, that we just need to get out.

These are the days made especially for kite flying. Even when there’s no wind to hoist the kites aloft.

I’ve been thinking about the many (many) ways I keep lists. I have binders, books, wists, wikis, e-mail, word, excel, stickies, wish-lists, scraps of paper, white boards, cork boards… you name it & it’s probably got a list on it or in it.

Today I remembered another list that you might like. My del.icio.us "dothis" (do this) list. As I run into things I like on the web that I’d like to try out with or for the kids (& sometimes even Just For Me), I tag ‘em there. Way easy.

Except for the remembering to go back and check the list part…

Here’s my current sampling (along with my notes… notes I’m rarely good about including, but made an extra effort to do for this post):

1. Bella Dia: Vintage Vertical Stripe Crocheted Blanket Pattern
   

   This is perfect for someone like me who has lots of scrap yarn (all those projects I keep starting…)

2. rostitchery: done is better than perfect
   

   Ooooh!
   I know exactly who I am going to make a few of this (at least one) for.
   First I have to stop by Goodwill to find some funky pillowcases — ours
   are just too… Ikea…

3. » How to Make A Inexpensive Light Tent
   

   The more photos I take of the projects we do, the more I realize that I really, really need a light box.

4. Cut Out + Keep | Crafty and Creative Blog | Ribbon Labels | by Cat Morley
   

   I want to make these for my daughter’s sewing projects. How cool to have your own label at eight?

5. How to Make a 3D Paper Snowflake – WikiHow
   

   Next year…

6. atelier v. — Chopstick control
   

   For my sushi loving kiddos…

7. Kiddley » Blog Archive » Paper Santa Lucia crowns and hats
   

   Next year…

8. My Work with Kids’ Drawings – a photoset on Flickr
   

   I love the idea of making new things out of children’s drawings. In this case, it’s stuffed toys.

9. How to Make a Yo-Yo
   

   Sewing at my level. Even I could do this

10. craftster.org blog » Freezer Paper — Who Knew!?
    

    How to use freezer paper to make prints. Very simple.

11. house on hill road: Flapper Hats
    

    I’d learn how to knit more than scarves, just so I could make these for my daughter.

What’s that noise?
by Tomas Christensen

First Melissa posted a sweet, sweet comment here about Tomas’ book, AND THEN (!) she posted a great review on her blog! (!!)

Aside from this rotten cold I’ve been battling, Life Is Good