I don't know why I am surprised at the smaller things that keep children busy, happy and occupied for hours at a time.  Mark has played so much with this box and stuffed animals.   He will sit and play with it all for hours (if I let him)

And then running a close 2nd are his cowboy hat, stick horse and his rope.

He cracks me up how he'll add into his play books we have read.  While riding his horse (stick horse) the other day, he yelled out "I'm coming to help you Mike and Mary Ann"  (from Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel)