Water Table & Sidewalk Chalk {Summer Bucket List}

Between Texas heat and potty training quadruplets, my sanity is questionable most days.  One lifesaver has been water play.   Our Little Tikes water table and iconic pink NICU bathtubs have been well used this summer.  I try to introduce novel items with water play to keep it engaging.  If I’m dressing four kids in swimsuits and setting up water, it has to last at least an hour, preferably longer.

1. Little People Bath Station

I was inspired by My Nearest and Dearest to set up a Little People water park and bath station on the front porch.  I gave each of the kids a tub filled with water, a mini bottle of baby wash, a wash cloth, and a few Little People dolls.  They spent the entire morning scrubbing dolls and squirting soap.  Lots of clean fun!

2. Dish Washing Station

I borrowed this idea from a neighbor because it was brilliant.  I gave each child tub of water, a stack of play dishes, a scrub brush (I found super cute ones with animal handles at the Dollar Tree), and a Softsoap bottle filled with a little bubble bath and water. They got busy washing their dishes, and then scrubbing the patio before they jumped into the tubs themselves.  It’s hard to imagine they used to take a bath in these tubs and can barely fit inside now.

As the quads splashed around, my tootsies enjoyed a Mary Kay foot soak followed by energizing mint lotion.  I was in a foul mood that day thanks to countless potty accidents paired with many tantrums.  My little Mom foot spa worked amazingly at changing my demeanor.  I felt rejuvenated and the kids behavior seemed drastically better when I felt better.

Then….

Bath time in the NICU. Rylin is on the left and Harper the right.

And now…

3.  Condiment Bottle Squirters

Another day, I set up shop on the front porch.  I situated myself on an angle so I could supervise water play on the porch and sidewalk chalk drawings on the driveway. For water play, I used the NICU tubs and Softsoap bottles with bubbles, but also gave each of the quads an assortment of empty condiment bottles filled with colored water to mix.  I enjoyed another foot soak, this time whilst sipping fresh lemonade.   From time to time, the kids would give me a little foot treatment by pouring bubbles over my calves, which was sweet.  When we were finished playing we dumped the water tubs over the sidewalk chalk art to clean the driveway.

I love knocking out two bucket list items all at once!  Stay tuned as we wrap up the bucket list.

1. Movies
2. Sea Life Aquarium
3. Train ride
4. Fire station tour
5. Library story time
6. Sprayground
7. Zoo
8. Bahama Buck’s
9. Frozen yogurt
10. Community pool
11. Grill dinner outside
12. Water Table
13. Inflatable Pool
14. Sprinklers
15. Ice Cream
16. Indoor playgrounds
17. Lee’s Grilled Cheese
18. Blow bubbles
19. Chalk drawings
20. Board games
21. Play dates
22. Summer Reading Club
23. Dance classes
24. Fireworks
25. Sleep over with grandparents
26. Nature Walks
27. Bounce house
28. Popsicles
29. S’mores
30. Sparklers
31. Water pistol duels

hugs,

Amber

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