Beating Boredom with Barbie and G.I. Joe

As much as I love summer vacation for the kids and a more relaxed schedule for all of us, I sometimes feel like their "Camp Director", making sure they are having fun, reading for book reports, doing their summer math packet, completing chores, or just finding something else to do besides watch DVR'd episodes of John Michael's favorite TV show, The Fresh Beat Band, over and over again.


Soaring temperatures in the 90's to low 100's can make the best laid plans start to wither as we give in to the cool, air conditioned living room beckoning us to stay put.  Reflecting back on my childhood, I decided the kids would have to "rough it" by staying outside for longer than they planned.  I set up the water play table and some blankets and let them decide what to do.  Out of the blue, Anna asked, "Greta, do you want me to play Barbies with you?"

Greta was in heaven!  I don't remember the last time Anna offered to play Barbies with her.  It was so sweet to see them set up a Barbie grooming salon and play together.  A few minutes later, John Michael came and sat beside them with G.I. Joe, twisting and contorting his body into moves a Cirque du Soleil acrobatist can only dream of.

Not to be left out, Luke joined in on the action, picking up the wild-haired Barbie with the floozy outfit.

John Michael liked her, too. 

She looks like she's been around the block a few times...  I'm thinking we need to "retire" her soon.  LOL!

G.I. Joe doubled as a teether for Luke, thanks to his perfect, plastic hair, ginormous muscles and multi-jointed limbs.  And for those 45 minutes they played together, it was pure heaven for me.  No arguments, no complaints, just pure, spontaneous play.