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My family home has always been kid friendly. It wasn't the hub of social activity while I was growing up, but there was always something on hand for everyone to play with, regardless of age. Alas, children grow up. My youngest niece is now 15, and it has been years since hordes of children have assembled at my parents' house. Who knew they would prefer my aunt's house, with the indoor pool?
Now I have two boys. One is just discovering that he has feet, but the other – ah, he is a force to be reckoned with. I have watched his imagination grow by leaps and bounds in the past year. He no longer requires my input; he will happily sit while his toys have a conversation with each other, he will race cars on the moon and he will rescue every animal he has, from every possible danger.
At the end of my parents' yard is a shed. In this shed is an old blue box. This old blue box is full of toys that have been collected over the years, thrown in for countless kids to play with. My dad couldn't recall the last time it had been opened, and so was excited to see what was inside. It was a time capsule of sorts, discarded toys from different times in the life of our entire extended family. It was also a complete hodgepodge, consisting of original Star Wars
You won't win a prize if you can name everything in this box, but you can add an extra notch to your geek credentials if you can tell me what the ship is. We hoard things in my family – it's what we do. I also married into it, so I predict that in 20 years' time, when I open the tote boxes I periodically fill with discarded toys, I might have a surprise or two waiting for me. This old blue box certainly had a lot more on the inside than it appeared to contain from without. What would be in your toy box time capsule?
