Bendy Straws and Fuzzy Sticks

Looking for a way to pass two hours with your kids free from whining, fighting, crying and complaining? Buy a bag of bendy straws (at Wal-Mart, these are in the juice aisle) and a bag of fuzzy sticks and let them go nuts. We were supposed to be making native Brazilian flutes, but those were boring, and Simon discovered that you can make a bendy straw look like a person by attaching fuzzy stick arms. We had little stick-on rhinestones too, which make great eyes. I'm sure this taught them something (fine motor skills?), and they loved it. And, unlike many art projects, it didn't turn into a mom-will-you-make-this-for-me whine fest. Although I do make a pretty cool bendy straw bug.