Activity Jar

Our schedule around here runs pretty consistently.  It has to or one of two things happens:

1. People are late to school or
2. Mommy goes crazy

I get up at 7:00 to squeeze in a 20 minute workout before the rest of the house stirs.

Dylan wakes up at 7:30, and while he drinks his bottle, I begin my dedicated one hour of cleaning.

By 8:30, the other two are generally up, and I make breakfast.

At 9:00, the kids get dressed while I double-check school bags, diaper bags, purses, etc. to make sure everyone has everything they need for the day.

At 9:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Dylan goes down for a nap, and I make the final preparations to get Alex off to school.

But as Dylan goes down on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, it's the hour the older boys look forward to most:  THE ACTIVITY JAR.

The activity jar is filled with strips of paper on which are written various activities including crafts, games, and storytime.  As per the request of a facebook friend, here are some of the ideas:

• Hungry Hungry Hippos
• Mario Party 8
• Write a letter to friends
• Storytime
• Sidewalk paint (cornstarch, water, and food coloring in muffin cups)
• Twister
• Wii Fit Plus
• Playdoh
• Finger paint
• Salt trays (small amount of salt in a cake pan, kids can draw in it)
• Dance party
• Puzzles

Each MWF, the kids get to draw an activity out, and together we play for about an hour, unemcumbered by baby brother, who truly does mess up everything.  And the kids love the activity jar so much, we can also use it for weekend bribery.  "If your chores are done by 10:30, there will be time to do the activity jar before Dylan wakes up..."

Here's the highlights of the first paper slip chosen: sidewalk paint.  (Thanks to Sarah's blog - shown in the background - for the great idea.  Sorry guys, can't link it... it's private.)