I'm always on the lookout for interesting things to see, do, experience, learn or create.  I saw this idea for a sensory tub at  Still Parenting and thought they looked like fun but figured my kids were a little too old for it. Still, I have a habit of collecting pretty things and I couldn't help thinking this would be the perfect use for them.  I asked my 8 year old what she thought and she said it sounded fun. So I bought a bag of rice and a cheap plastic tub and rounded up my treasures from the various places they've been stored over the years. Aravis and her friend helped add some food coloring to the rice and then we mixed in rocks, shells, glass beads, colorful beans and a few plastic toys. She and her friend had lots of fun sifting through the rice to find buried treasure. 

Aravis loves digging through it. Her friends have loved it. Kids who are here playing at the house have loved it. Tanner and I have noticed that its very addicting once you begin to run your fingers through it. And the baby loves to kick and wiggle her toes in it.

I brought out a tub of soapy water and Aravis washed all of the treasures she dug out. 

Once washed, we sorted them and  placed them on a towel to dry.

 Then, I was instructed to put my treasure in a plastic bag......

and bring it to the bank lady who exchanged my treasure for a million dollars.

 

I took my million dollars to the toy store and bought lots of toys for my little girl who was waiting at home. Then, we put everything back so we can do it again sometime.