There was an unexpected ice storm and keeping the kids occupied was a challenge. Thankfully I had a few tricks up my sleeve so we could multitask with monitoring the branches falling outside around our buildings and animals.
Unexpected Ice Storm On The Farmstead
Saturday mornings are full of rituals here on the farmstead. Snuggling in bed with Daddy who has been away most of the week working, homemade sourdough pancakes, and spending a lot of time outside. Weather permitting.
Living in the Southeast, weather can get pretty wild and weird in the transition months. We are either over-prepared for weather that never happens, or caught with our pants down for a good storm that rolls in. So, to our surprise, one February Saturday morning, we woke up to the glorious beauty of glazed trees outside of our window. Power outages were everywhere, but we were one of the lucky ones that still had lights on. Our town was officially shut down!
Survey The Damage
As all 4 of us sat in bed basking in the beauty outside, my Husband and I eventually started realizing that the beauty of ice also leads to scary results. Branches and trees down, power outages, and outdoor animals in the elements. Just as those thoughts started rolling in, we could hear the cracking branches that hang over our house, and man do we have a lot of big trees that tower over our little haven.
On went the boots, big coats, and hats to cautiously venture outside to assess the ice storm and check on the animals. The kids were wild inside because they knew something was different and fun. Knowing that the power could cut out at any time, we whipped up those sourdough pancakes in a flash and gorged ourselves on them. Josh gathered some firewood to bring inside for the fireplace. The chickens were still running around outside even though it was wet, icy, and cold. We just made sure their water access wasn’t frozen.
Prepare For The Excited Kids
After the initial excitement was over, we sat there in our pajamas and could literally see the kids buzzing and needing an outlet. That is usually when we head outside, which was not happening with branches coming down left and right. So, now to get creative.
I have a storage cart that I keep in the hall closet full of ready-to-go activities for the kids. Let me tell you about some of my favorites that require little time to prep and maximum time it’s enjoyed.
Keeping The Kids Occupied
- Science Experiment: You’ll need a muffin pan, food coloring, baking soda, vinegar, and a squirt bottle (I use my peri bottle from my previous birth – don’t judge until your kids love it). Fill the muffin pan cups with a few drops of food coloring, then cover with just enough baking soda to not show the coloring. Place the muffin pan on a rimmed cookie sheet. Fill the squirt bottle with half vinegar and half water. Let the kids squirt the solution over the baking soda to reveal the colors underneath. Keep the vinegar out because they’ll be asking for non-stop refills.
- Play Dough: Make your own play dough and give them safe utensils to cut, stamp, and roll it for what seems like forever. Here is a link to a great dough recipe.
- Blue Painter’s Tape: We made a hopscotch board on the floor using the blue painter’s tape we had on hand (you could use scotch tape or washi tape – just test it first in case it leaves any residue behind). The kids loved jumping around in the squares. You could also make a “road” to drive toy cars on. Bonus: let them peel it up when they’re done. They practice fine motor skills and I also think that’s their favorite part!
- Bake: In addition to our sourdough pancakes, we also made chocolate chip cookies. I always keep the pantry stocked with the essential ingredients, because you never know when the mood strikes. Since we prefer to eat grain-free, we make a specific recipe that includes basic grain-free ingredients and it also does not include conventional sugar. So, eat away kids!
How We Survived The Ice Storm And Keeping The Kids Occupied
We made it to nap time, and when they eventually woke up, it was time to crack a cold beverage and let them figure out the rest of the day themselves. Although, at 12 months pregnant (or so it seemed), I could not partake in that festivity. I may or may not be joking with any of that statement.
I will say that we all survived the ice storm and came up with some pretty creative ways to keep the kids occupied. At least until nap time. The chickens also stayed healthy, however, I will say I think we have a bunch of crazy lady birds. We provide loads of shelter for them, yet they still wander around in the elements like it’s a sunny day every day. Whatever makes you happy, girls! You can click here to see how we keep our fluffy butts healthy and happy.
Sharing Is Caring
Tell me below in the comments how you are able to survive being cooped up with little kids inside. Also, would you like the recipe for my grain-free chocolate chip cookies? List your e-mail below, and I can get it sent to your inbox. I’m thinking a future post about a few of my grain-free recipes is due. What do you think? Stay tuned and stay warm my friends. Thanks for visiting!
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