Advent Activities: Day 5 and Sensory Bin

Today we reread the same passage as yesterday in Luke, but this time our discussion focused on Mary.

Our ornament today was to make a clothespin Mary.

It kind of bugged Naomi that she was abstract, and didn't have arms. I can't say that I blame her. However she quickly got over it when she heard she could decorate her dress with glitter glue. I mean, doesn't glitter glue solve all your problems in an instant?? ;)


I also wanted to share today our Christmas sensory bin! I had been saving our sensory bin for today because I knew Jim would be gone for a business trip, and it would be a fun way to fill the time. Boy did it ever! The kids were THRILLED when they saw the new bin sitting out, and played with it the ENTIRE morning! Naomi didn't even get dressed! I dressed Nathan, and he promptly took both his socks and shirt off. Why? Because that's how he rolls these days. ;)

Digging into the Christmas bin. Naomi went right for the little Nativity set, and Nathan immediately started gather the small jingle bells.

 

Nathan gathered and dumped the jingle bells about a thousand times.

 

Naomi set to work welcoming the people from the Nativity, and promptly moved them into one of our Little People houses.

 

Still gathering jingle bells.

 

Nathan found the mini paint tray I'd added to the bin, and I showed him the spoon. He instantly started spooning the bells into the tray. He was extremely proud of himself!

He moved from that to spooning the bells from the tray, into the small container, and stirring them up. These bells were definitely choking hazards, so I watched him like a hawk, but he didn't even try to put them in his mouth!

When Naomi caught sight of the tray she decided it was time to feed baby Jesus and his entourage a nice meal.

What could be more fitting for a king than a meal of bells?? ;)  (I had to run into the kitchen and get another spoon as to avoid sharing issues.)

Nathan eventually tired of the bells and got out his trusty diggers. This little digger and ramps are hands down his favorite toy. I made a soft pile of "snow" for him to slide his digger into.

 

Then there was a terrible blizzard and Nathan had to work hard at plowing his roads, and pushing the "snow" into his pile. He did this for an HOUR!

Naomi wanted her own road/slide, so we made a big one for her. She let Nathan help her slide the Nativity people down it.

 

Making patterns with the jingle bells.

 

Sensory bin bliss. The kids LOVE them, Daddy (Mr. Neat Freak), not so much. We find it is best to explore them when he is gone, and that works for all of us. ;-)

There you have it for today. Don't expect such a long post tomorrow! Until then!

Karla