Become a subscriber and receive my “Mealtime Magic – Biblically Based Conversation Cards” FREE!
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Happy Home Fairy

Helping Moms Build Happy Homes

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Crafts
  • Freebies
    • FREE Printables
    • Giveaways
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Sides
    • Soups/Salads
    • Appetizers/Snacks
    • Treats
  • Celebrate
    • New Year’s
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Teacher Appreciation
    • Mother’s Day
    • End of School Year
    • Summer
    • Father’s Day
    • 4th of July
    • Back to School
    • Fall
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • Birthdays
  • Faith
    • Comforting in Crisis
    • Fairy Thoughts
    • Motherhood
    • Marriage
    • Parenting
    • NICU Mommies

The Big Box

big box fun 6

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.

big box fun 3big box fun 4big box fun 2Happy 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.

big box fun 10He 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).

big box fun 7big box fun 8Happy Buddy even made a welcome mat for his brother’s new house.

big box fun 9And 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.

big box fun 11Ringing the doorbell…

big box fun 5Enjoying one another’s company…

big box fun 12Annnnnd 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

No Cost Fun, Summer
Kids, Play, Summer, Summer Activities, Ways to Make Summer Reading Fun
12 Comments

About Happy Home Fairy

Julie Brasington is a Preschool Director, wife of a South Florida Worship Pastor and mom of 3 boys. She writes at Happy Home Fairy where you can find easy craft ideas, FREE printables, simple recipes, holiday fun, thoughts on raising kids, and encouragement for moms.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Like It? Share It!
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Google+
  • Pinterest

You May Also Like These Posts

AMAZING New Christ-Centered Resource for Families This Summer – FREE Printable!How to Get Your Kids Excited About ReadingMy Favorite Summer MemoriesMy Favorite Books for Summer Reading

Did you enjoy this post? Never miss another!
Encouragement and fun ideas delivered to your inbox.

Prev Post How to Prepare Your Child for the Dentist
Next Post A Simple Way to Teach Kids How to Pray

Reader Interactions

12 Comments

  1. Jennifer Drury

    July 23, 2015 at 8:03 am

    We 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.

    reply to this comment
    • Happy Home Fairy

      July 24, 2015 at 11:25 pm

      Jennifer, I LOVE that you let your 3 year old sleep in it! You are a hero!

      reply to this comment
  2. beth

    July 23, 2015 at 8:52 am

    A big box – best toy ever!

    reply to this comment
  3. Lisa Gove

    July 23, 2015 at 12:09 pm

    My 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!

    reply to this comment
    • Happy Home Fairy

      July 24, 2015 at 11:24 pm

      Lisa! You are so cute that you share my posts with your kids – that just makes me happy! Thank you for commenting today!!

      reply to this comment
  4. Autumn Mc Clain

    July 23, 2015 at 3:42 pm

    Great 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

    reply to this comment
  5. Steph D

    July 24, 2015 at 12:44 pm

    We 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.

    reply to this comment
    • Happy Home Fairy

      July 24, 2015 at 11:23 pm

      Steph, that sounds amazing!!!! What magic! 🙂 And way to go for keeping it up for so long – you are my inspiration!

      reply to this comment
  6. Deb

    July 24, 2015 at 1:39 pm

    That hand drawn family portrait is sooo precious! It looks like your famy too, especially you and your hubs!

    reply to this comment
    • Deb

      July 24, 2015 at 9:27 pm

      Oops I meant family. 🙂

      reply to this comment
    • Happy Home Fairy

      July 24, 2015 at 11:23 pm

      Thank you, Deb! Haha! 🙂

      reply to this comment
  7. Veronica

    July 26, 2015 at 5:40 pm

    Big boxes are one of my kiddos’ favorite toys! Love it 😉

    reply to this comment

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Loving God Loving Others and Having Fun

Hey there! My name is Julie, the Happy Home Fairy. I am married to a Worship Pastor, we have 3 boys, and I am a Preschool Director. I love sharing easy, fun ideas to help moms build a happy home! Here you will find simple crafts, FREE Printables, yummy recipes, stories about my journey to trust Jesus with my family, and encouragement for your mama's heart. You can read more about me HERE!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

My eBook!
AVAILABLE NOW!

book-sidebarThe Kindness Antennae is my brand new eBook packed full of uplifting stories, fun ideas, printables, and truths to help you (and your kids!) live a life that makes a difference – one act of kindness at a time.

BUY NOW

Subscribe Now and Get a FREE Gift!

Preschool Crafts and Ideas

Preschool Classroom Reveal

Creation Book – FREE Printable!

Brown Bear, Brown Bear Handprint Project

Preschool Morning Meeting Ideas

More Preschool Ideas

Popular Categories

  • Printables
  • Winter
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Fall
  • Recipes
  • Preschool
  • Encouragement

Footer

JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON
Facebook

SEE WHAT I’M PINNING ON
Pinterest

PEEK BEHIND THE SCENES ON
INSTAGRAM

happyhomefairy

 1273    3465


  • by happyhomefairy 6 hours ago
    Do you know what is so important in the Christian life? POURING YOUR HEART OUT TO GOD. Especially when we are in the struggle and all our flesh wants to do is complain and pout to everyone but Jesus. But God ❤️loves❤️ to hear from us and I promise that HIS response to our heart cries will be SUFFICIENT. ❤️ This morning I was frustrated because we were running late *again*, the car had no gas, and the baby had woken up with a fever which meant that the 4 million responsibilities I had for the day would need to
  • by happyhomefairy 1 week ago
    Henry James once said, “Three things in human life are important: The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.” And in honor of God’s best act of kindness in sending JESUS to the world, today I am sharing my top 6 favorite Christ-centered Christmas Acts of Kindness  #ontheblog ! ❤️❤️ ALSO Baby Zion is excited to tell you that we are partnering with  @zonderkidz  to give away TWO copies of the brand new  @thebeginnersbible  special Gift Edition to one amazing winner - one Bible to keep and one to give
  • by happyhomefairy 2 weeks ago
    Ryan is outside hanging Christmas lights and the boys are hiding “turkey feathers” in the back yard for one another to find. Zion is crawling around pulling all the things off and out of all the things and I am getting ready to put on my  @spanx  faux leather leggings so that I can eat all the mashed potatoes later at Grammie’s. Happiest of Thanksgivings from our crazy crew to yours!
  • by happyhomefairy 2 weeks ago
    Ungrateful eyes: Messy pantry. Christmas boxes. Laundry on chairs. Dirty floors. Dishes in the sink. Sugar ants taking over. Grateful eyes: Chubby, happy baby. Christmas magic actually happening early this year. Full bellies. Clothes to wear. House buzzing with life. Chubby, happy baby
  • by happyhomefairy 3 weeks ago
    It can be so hard to keep this time of year about Jesus and not the 2-page Christmas Wish List one of our boys recently hung on the refrigerator. ‍♀️ Today I am partnering with  @zonderkidz  and  @thebeginnersbible  to share a bunch of fun and simple ways you can use their amazing products to celebrate the Christmas story in your home this holiday season! These products are the perfect stocking stuffers and are so helpful in bringing God’s Word to life for little ones. And the best news is that  @thebeginnersbible  is no assembly required! LINK IN PROFILE Photo credit-
  • by happyhomefairy 1 month ago
    One of the funniest comedy bits I have heard is by Jim Gaffigan on bedtime. As a father of 5, he says, ✨ “Bedtime is a crisis. It’s like a hostage negotiation… but in reverse. I will meet your demands… just stay in there!” ✨ In an effort to make it not a crisis every night, I am sharing 5 simple ways we try to help our boys get calm for bed  #ontheblog . Also, I am partnering with  @hmhkids  to giveaway a copy of the latest book in the  #littlebluetruck  series. It is the sweetest book - the perfect way
  • by happyhomefairy 2 months ago
    Ohhh sweet Baby Z. How can it be that we have had you with us for one whole year already? These last 12 months have been our favorite. Your smile and sweetness have made all of our lives brighter. ⭐️You keep waking up with more and more teeth. ⭐️You eat everything we give you - except . ⭐️You love to stand at the piano, hitting the keys and shaking your leg happily. ⭐️You haven’t slept through the night yet, but that’s okay. When you wake up, we all go running because we can’t wait to see you. ‍♀️ ⭐️You love
  • by happyhomefairy 3 months ago
    So thankful that Hurricane Dorian took a turn away from our area because if it hadn’t, we would not have been able to pop over to Mom-Mom’s house and celebrate her birthday with her yesterday. . I’ve been all tangled up in knots trying to think of something to get my mom for her birthday because what do you give to someone who you wish you could give EVERYTHING? No new shoe or gift card can express how much I love and admire and appreciate this lady. So we showed up on her doorstep with birthday headbands and party blowers
  • by happyhomefairy 4 months ago
    Just when I think that my little website might be winding down, the Lord brings an opportunity my way that makes me think He is not finished with Happy Home Fairy yet! I would love it if you would click the link in my bio to check out an interview I got to do recently for  @voyagemiami ! I feel so blessed to get to share some blog history and my heart there. Thank you all for hanging with me and supporting what I do. I truly love sharing life with y’all! ✨
  • by happyhomefairy 4 months ago
    Jet came to school without shoes, the baby didn’t make it out of his pajamas, the boys desperately need haircuts, and we read nothing on the summer reading list. We didn’t feel put together today, but we felt the fresh hope of new beginnings and sharpened pencils! ✏️✏️  #backtoschool 
Instagram

Copyright Happy Home Fairy © 2019  •  All Rights Reserved  •  Site Design by Emily White Designs

Privacy & Cookies: This site may use cookies to customize your experience. Learn more by reading our Privacy Policy.