Our sweet babysitter, Miss Cathy, gave us a large box from their recent washing machine purchase and LET ME TELL YOU.
You would have thought she had given my boys the MOON.
I set it out in the living room so that Happy Buddy and Happy Baby would find it when they woke up.
Happy Buddy had it all decorated – including a welcome mat – before 6 am.
He hung handmade drawings inside on the walls (although the jury’s still out on what he drew in the picture hanging over the window – any thoughts? Is it a flower? A man running for his life? Tadpole?).
He filled it with bins full of books, walkie-talkies, pillows, a football, and pretend snacks. Everything a boy could possibly need in a new home.
He covered it with a sheet so that he had privacy, of course.
When Happy Baby woke up he decided that he wanted his own house.
I happened to have a box from an inexpensive toy organizer I had recently purchased at Target (which I put together myself. I used a screwdriver and everything! #feelingproud).
Happy Buddy even made a welcome mat for his brother’s new house.
And now they have their very own neighborhood.
I am not going to lie, having these giant boxes in the living room is kind of making me crazy. Usually with items of this size my OCD will get the best of me and they will be by the curb the next day because I just can’t stand the extra mess (do you remember the bunny? We still have it!). Our house is already small, so adding 2 huge boxes makes it feel like we literally have the MOON in our living room.
But I am choosing to let it go because the boys are just so happy.
Plus they are learning how to be good neighbors.
Ringing the doorbell…
Enjoying one another’s company…
Annnnnd this is a picture of Happy Buddy throwing his brother out of his house because he was tired of entertaining.
Every day the Happy Buddy thanks me for not throwing his house away – lol! I guess I need to lighten up a bit and let them be kids and have fun.
It’s summer after all.
Have your kids ever had the opportunity to play with a big box?
– Julie 🙂
*Feeling overwhelmed with gratitude, sweet friends! Thank you to those who have contributed to my dream!! I am praising God for you! We are ALMOST to my goal! If you haven’t already, will you pray about donating to help Fund the Fairy? I would be so honored to have your support! Xoxo
Jennifer Drury
July 23, 2015 at 8:03 amWe got a large box in December and my 3 year old, who adored the Christmas tree, put it next to the tree filled with blankets and slept in it for a week.
Happy Home Fairy
July 24, 2015 at 11:25 pmJennifer, I LOVE that you let your 3 year old sleep in it! You are a hero!
beth
July 23, 2015 at 8:52 amA big box – best toy ever!
Lisa Gove
July 23, 2015 at 12:09 pmMy 3 boys just LOVED seeing your pictures! My 12 yr. old was reminiscing about his BIG BOX house he made at the same age 🙂 And my feelings were the same as yours…worth the pleasure and fun they had, but I was SOOOO ready to take the houses down eventually!
Happy Home Fairy
July 24, 2015 at 11:24 pmLisa! You are so cute that you share my posts with your kids – that just makes me happy! Thank you for commenting today!!
Autumn Mc Clain
July 23, 2015 at 3:42 pmGreat idea! Enjoy before they are all grown up. (Mine kids are all grown). When my kids were young, my husband was active duty military. Which sometimes meant small houses and cramped houses. Especially with four kids. We did the box house a few times. Kid approved. But with limited space I took an old sheet/sheets or blankets and throw them over tables. The favorites were the kitchen and dining room tables because they were big. While making meals I requested the go to use the coffee table and end tables in the living room. Smaller but fun nevertheless
Steph D
July 24, 2015 at 12:44 pmWe recently moved to a new house and our friend made my 2-year old a cardboard box mansion by duct taping a bunch of them together. He even made her a porch and swinging saloon doors. It was definitely driving me bonkers having it front and center in the new house, but my daughter was just delighted. Eventually, it fell apart and she was really bummed when her ‘house’ was gone.
Happy Home Fairy
July 24, 2015 at 11:23 pmSteph, that sounds amazing!!!! What magic! 🙂 And way to go for keeping it up for so long – you are my inspiration!
Deb
July 24, 2015 at 1:39 pmThat hand drawn family portrait is sooo precious! It looks like your famy too, especially you and your hubs!
Deb
July 24, 2015 at 9:27 pmOops I meant family. 🙂
Happy Home Fairy
July 24, 2015 at 11:23 pmThank you, Deb! Haha! 🙂
Veronica
July 26, 2015 at 5:40 pmBig boxes are one of my kiddos’ favorite toys! Love it 😉