Rainy Day Rice Box

I have two sisters. When I found out we were having a boy, my first thought was, "what will we talk about? I don't know anything about what boys like!"

Turns out, it's easier than I thought.

It's amazing how, before he was old enough to say a word, or (I thought) even take notice of the world around him, he knew how to take a little matchbox car, drive it on a make-shift "road" and do the little bhmmm- bhmmm thing with his mouth that little boys (apparently) instinctively know how to do.

The answer to to my question:
Trucks.
Cars.
Anything with wheels.

Add some sand and he's
"Happier 'dan a tor-nado in a tray-lor park"
(to quote one of his very favorite trucks, Tow-Mater)

But rainy days...cold days... they put an end to the bliss that is the sandbox.

Until one day, at Sunday School, we were enlightened about the idea of a rice box. And now, no matter what the weather, he's content- for hours. And I'm not exaggerating. HOURS!

Here's the necessary ingredients:

If this rice looks a little funny to you, it's because it's short grain, brown rice- I had a big bag of it in the pantry that said it was best to be eaten before January, so it was designated as rainy day rice-- but any rice will do. :)




Where's Benson? (I'm in there too, if you squint really hard :) )

click to enlarge the image

It helps to have these on hand as well... for the ones that get away...

And after it was all said and done...
I'm so glad I had a boy-- well, at least this boy--
He brings so much JOY to my heart every single day!
I love being a mama to a boy!