Two Weeks To Go!

I am trying to get everything on my "to do" list done by this Saturday so that I can relax for a few days before the scheduled delivery (of course, this is all based on her not deciding to arrive early!) Aubrey's party is Friday at the dance studio and her Nana and Gramps are coming down (hooray!) to attend. If I work hard this week and get everything else done, after the party I should be down to the "normal" tasks with no special projects. Preparing home and family for a new arrival is certainly a lot of work, but so very exciting. One of my last projects: I am finishing a list of activity bags to prepare for the preschoolers while I am off to the hospital. Here are a few of my easiest/favorites ...

• The circulars from a Sunday paper, 4 pieces of differently colored construction paper, and glue. The kids have to find as many pictures as possible that have the same color as the paper and glue them to that paper.
• Printed paper with rows of 4 shapes in different orders (easy to do with MS Word!), printed paper with the same shapes all mixed up to cut out. The kids cut out the mixed up shapes and then organized them to look like the rows. You can then use the cut-out shapes to make different pictures in another bag!
• Printed paper with pictures of common backyard items (like a leaf, etc). The kids take the paper outside and find the items. When they find the item they can take a picture (Aubrey has a kid camera) or draw the item or simply show me.
• A deck of cards all mixed up. The kids are supposed to sort the cards - Eli can sort by color, Aubrey by number, etc. I include a list of "ways to sort" to remind myself of the possibilities.
• Construction paper, stickers, markers ... kids make cards for relatives, friends, me.
• Mystery CD - pick any music CD you want, the kids listen to the CD, pick a song, and make up a dance to go with that song.
  
• Extra photos that you have cut to make "puzzles" that the kids put together. They especially love it when they are in the picture!
• Action cards: printed pictures of kids doing different actions (such as jumping jacks, or running). The kids "pull" a card and do that action. You can also do this with cards of different animals (like a bunny) that the kids have to "act out".
• Construction - using Legos or pipe cleaners or whatever you have, build something and take a picture. Print out the picture and deconstruct the materials. The kids have to try to recreate the item with the materials.
• Other Toy Time - take a picture of toys that you have in cubbies, etc (like the collection of Tag books) and print the pictures so that each toy "set" is featured in its own picture. Then, when it is time, the kids "draw a card" and go play with those toys until the timer goes off
  

I am sure there are many better ideas - but these were a few of mine. The possibilities are really limitless and once you have the bags set up they last for a few uses!!