Idle Hands

     The boys spent a large portion of their free time today pulling the tabs off of a couple hundred sparkling water and beer cans.  Mostly water, for you judgmental folks.  It allowed me to have an entire phone conversation without interruption, so after running a quick cost/benefit analysis in my head, I let them proceed with the project.  After I got off the phone, they told me they were planning on making maracas (again) with the cans and the detached tabs.  

    Three things occurred to me after this conversation.  First, we probably drink way too much sparkling water.  Second, kids will eventually find something to do if you don't provide them with entertainment.  Third, if our boys are inspired to spend hours making maracas, we have probably failed them in the music education department.  I mean, maracas?!  That is not a cool instrument, unless you're in a mariachi band, and these boys are not.  Drums, cymbals, heck a tambourine has more clout.  

    Music is not my department.  If you know me, you know.  But, we can do better.  In addition to the maracas we have a ukulele and a miniature recorder in the house.  And so far, none of them make a joyful noise.  Ross has his work cut out for him.  

    On the upside, the boys were very invested in what they were doing, and we had a nice extended break from fighting and arguing.  On the downside, we now have a trail of cans across the garage and out to the patio that needs to be handled.  

    In retrospect this past time only mildly improved upon last week's when they spent the afternoon filling their pant legs with sand to see how fat they could get them.  

Maybe we should get ipads...