If you can't play at the beach....

Another freezing day here today, too cold to play outside due to frostbite warning. I don't mind the winter but I do love the warmer weather when playing outside is an option most days. Despite the beauty of snowy landscapes - I can't help but drool over the thought of warm sunshine, beach, ocean, sandcastles, paddling toes in the water....

I figured if we can't go to the beach - the beach can come to us. I grabbed a tray, couldn't access any sand as the sandbox is frozen shut and buried beneath a lot of snow so I raided the kitchen and found cornmeal and oats - perfect sand and pebbles/shells, some scrunched up blue tissue from the craft supplies, a few rocks to hold it in place - a few small characters and T2 and her friend K had all they needed for some beach time imaginative play....