Yesterday I saw this fun post on creating an indoor hopscotch grid at PrettyHandyGirl.com.  I’m sure there are tons of restless kids out there with anxious moms looking for a fun activity to keep the kiddos happy until the weather is nice enough to send them outside again.

When I was a kid we used to turn the chairs upside down and create a ring toss with the chair legs.  Here’s a picture above to show you what I mean.  We used old rubber canning rings that were used to seal Ball Jars, but any type of rubber or plastic ring would work.  If you have the bright plastic dive rings that the kids use to play games in the pool this would be a great way to use them during the winter.

Another favorite indoor game that is easily set up with common household items is the bean drop game.  Get a quart size jar, place it on the floor, hold a large bean near your nose and try to drop it into the jar.  The taller you are the harder it is, which makes this game perfect for families.

Another family favorite is the toothpaste cap game.  I think this is best played in a group of 6 or more.  We’ve played this with as many as 25 people in a circle.  The person that is ‘it’ fills a small toothpaste cap with water and chooses a category, such as makes of cars, disney movies, animals, colors, etc.  And they choose a specific item in that category.  Then the stand in front of the each person as they guess an item.  When someone guesses correctly, the ‘it’ person splashes them with the water and now they are ‘it’.

 This past week my daughter Kristin posted some interesting recipes at Green Leaves and Jam.  One is a simple toasted peanut butter sandwich and the other a carrot ‘hot dog.’  Before your dismiss the idea of a carrot hot dog, you’ve got to read about it.  Very interesting.  And I had never thought about toasting a peanut butter sandwich, but it is yummy when it’s cold outside, and I’ve toasted my peanut butter sandwich everyday this week.

Carrot Hot Dogs

Toasted Peanut Butter Sandwiches

I hope you enjoyed these family-friendly games and recipes for these last few weeks of winter weather.

Enjoy,  Julie