Sensory Activities- Surfing

I just found a neat site with loads of fun stuff to do, thanks to Facebook.  There was a link to sensory activities, and I am always looking for some good sensory activities for the kids.  I found some new ideas, was reminded of some old, and still have not seen our favorite sensory activity of all time.  In order to share the awesomeness of that activity, I am going to detail that experience here, but with a word of caution.  Many, many people think we are insane, so attempt what we do at your own risk of life, limb, and sanity.

One day, not long after having baby number four, our little David, the kids wanted to go swimming.  This was a problem because we live in PA.  And it was February.  In our last house we had a HUGE bathtub and I would put all the kids, and at times even some cousins, in the tub in swim suits.  No huge tub here, sadly.  And they would not let up about swimming.  Isaac ran to get his suit, and I had an idea.  One born of desperation, the haze that comes after a newborn, and the winter blues.  I sent the kids to get on swim suits as I scrambled around to get ready.

As they were getting dressed I got beach towels and sunscreen.  I found my favorite reggae CD.  I got the baby shampoo, and Mr. Dave as we so fondly called our tiny guy.  I had the kids cover themselves with sunscreen while I swept the kitchen floor and blasted the music to set the stage.  We, well, actually they, were going surfing.  I moved everything out of the kitchen and had the kids stand on the towels on the floor. 

I squirted a whole bunch of baby shampoo on the floor and climbed up on the counter, perching myself by the sink.    I used the sprayer from the sink to squirt the kids and floor.  They were covered with water and bubbles and started slipping and sliding all over the place on their "surf boards".  I sat on the counter all criss cross applesauce nursing a newborn, hosing my kids every time they stopped being slippy until almost time for Andy to get home. 

We made quite a mess.  And had so much fun. 

I carefully climbed down, got some dry towels to mop up any leftover water and tossed the kids in the shower with their swimsuits still on.  As they rinsed off I put David down for a nap and put the towels in the wash. 

By the time Andy came home I had a clean kitchen floor, a napping baby, three squeaky clean, happy, snacking kids, and some freshly laundered towels still warm from the dryer.  It was an epic win for the day. 

We have never done it again, and Isaac does not remember it.  David, while there, did not get to participate. Perhaps we will have a repeat of that day, the one the girls call 'the day we knew Mommy had really lost her mind'.  My floor has not been cleaned in quite a while...