Mother nature and I are no longer on speaking terms. She teased me two weeks ago with sun and warm temperatures and cheery birds singing outside my open windows. Then something happened, I’m not sure what but I’m pretty sure PMS was involved because my beautiful spring weather disappeared and April showers have taken over May. Not cool. 

This has left me stuck inside with three kids who have cabin fever hangover from the winter. Coming up with new ways to entertain them when all they want is to be outside has proven to be a challenge, and by challenge. Oh who am I kidding, it’s near impossible. There’s only so much play-doh, Barbies, colouring and dress-up (and Spring Cleaning cause I'm still plugging away at it!) I can take before it feels like my brain is oozing out of my ears. But they are MY kids so at least they inherited at least some of my likes. By favourite activity is movie afternoon (Yay!). I went out and bought a bunch of really cheap old cartoons (like Looney Tunes, Land Before Time, etc...) that I tucked away and I pull a new one out on rainy days and we turn our family room into a movie theatre.

I re-arrange the furniture, make special snacks, pull the curtains closed and we cuddle up and watch a movie and I get a reprieve from “But mommy, I want to go outsiiiiiiiide!” when it’s pouring (seriously, do you find your kids whine more when it rains? Mine do. It’s nuts.). I think the kids’ favourite part is the snacks though to be honest (again, they’re MY kids). I don’t usually let them have copious amounts for junk but when we have movie afternoon I put out bowls of gummie bears, chocolates, chips, popcorn and anything else I might have had time to whip up. They don’t sit very still while watching the movie but that’s okay, its our family room, bouncing is allowed.

Here are some ideas on how to have your own movie afternoon:

Rearrange the furniture to look like a theatre. Reposition the couch in front of the TV, if you have child-sized chairs put them in front to create rows. You can also just throw an air mattress or a bunch of pillows on the floor and sprawl out. 

Pick out a movie you’ve never seen before. Rent, stream from Netflix or do what I did and find some cheap older movies, kids don’t care if the graphics aren’t cutting edge.

Turn off the ringer. Don’t take calls, check email, or play around on social media. Really make it family time, your kids will notice and appreciate it.

Have some fun snacks! Think “anything you can get at a movie theatre”, popcorn, slushie drinks, nachos, candy, chocolate, and even some you can’t like these really cute cupcakes! 

Popcorn Bucket Cupcakes

1 box Betty Crocker French Vanilla Cake Mix
(eggs, water, and oil as per box instructions)
1 tub Betty Crocker Rainbow Bits Frosting
Miniature Marshmallows
Wilton Yellow Food Colour Mist
Gummie Bears or Other Candies 

Instructions: 

1. Make cupcakes following the instructions on the box. When cooled, frost with the icing. 
2. Using a small sharp knife cut little slits in the marshmallows to make them look like popped popcorn kernels. 
3. Arrange marshmallows over top of the cupcake using the frosting to hold them in place. 
4. Spray lightly with the yellow food mist to make it look like buttered popcorn. 
5. Add gummie bears or any other candy you like whe you’re at the movie theatre. 
6. Wrap cupcakes in popcorn bucket wrappers and settle in for a fun afternoon!