The Return of Playdates 2012

Our weird warm weather continues here in the Ohio Valley. On my Spring Break, I always have the gramerlings over to make Easter candy. I picked this day, as thunderstorms were predicted. Looks pretty stormy to me. I knew, owing to the warm sun and blue sky, that no one would want to sit around the table painting candy molds, so out we went. Baby Giddy-up enjoyed a visit with his pretty little cousin Miss Bugg.

I love this discovery that sticking out a tiniest toe finds a whole new texture.
Hmm, what is that I feel?

Ahhh, this is the way Bean now rides in the Dolphin Swing. All stories now include Daddy and Afghanistan.

We were proud and happy to include a new Playdate member this year. Aunt Lois joined us today and plans to be a part of our Playdates. She walked in with just her cane. After a bad fall last week and a still purple/black noggin, I was mighty relieved to see her moving around so well. I so love that Playdates will now be four generations. I love that it is important to her to know these children who are so very important to me.

Time for a little lawn mower repair for heading to the creek.

Stay tuned for some hysterical pictures of Gideon's discovery that the mold he was painting held something tasty. So funny.

So Long Summer

The last Playdate is always a bit bittersweet- this one, the worst yet. I was so sad about summer being done that I could hardly enjoy the day.

There are a lot of crazy things coming down in our state, education wise right now, and it hurts my feelings to have to send these kiddos into that environment. It hurts my feelings that keeping my job means I have to participate in the craziness. I fancy how much better I could teach these wee folk my own self. Unfortunately, I need a paycheck. So boo, hoo, hoo!

The last Playdate was for science experimenting. We made snow, grew fish eggs, and here we were making and observing lava lamps created with oil, water, colored water and Alka Seltzer. Miss Linee, being three and quite a precocious littlest bit, seems to be the Playdate Student of the Week.

I told them to keep their eye on their bottle to see what happened to the oil after it was shaken.

Yes, go ahead and laugh, Miss Linee's eye is indeed right on the bottle.

Well, I guess we've made progress over the summer. Usually BJ screams when I look his direction.

For a couple of years, Bean has taken over the roll of swinging Miss Linee. Now she has picked up the torch and is swinging Buttercup.

Buttercup wasn't here when we made hula hoops, so she was a bit fascinated by them. Miss Bugg and Linee were showing her the ropes. The day we made them, Bugg could hardly do it. Now she is rocking that hoop.

This is Davy Warrior- just because. I suppose most children paint on paper. I have paper, but their joy is painting themselves and they take this art expression very seriously.

Here comes the bride and there go my magic lillies- every last one of them.

BJ would keep on stretching until he could get a big drink.

Baby Boy can turn on the sweet like nothing you ever saw. Now, it doesn't interest him to do that much, but he can. He was passing out kisses here.

Bean didn't celebrate his birthday with our side of the family, so I got Cars cupcakes for snacks and we sang, "Happy Birthday."

The boy likes his icing.

I so love how Bean thinks and plans for Playdates. He had been telling me about a science experiment he was working on. He discovered the difference in the way pen caps held water based on whether or not the cap had a hole. He brought lots of caps to share. Later he told me that he didn't think anyone was too impressed with his experiment. I think it looks like he has a captive audience here. I told him I was impressed, because I was.

Time to pack up this shop and open my classroom. I'm glad to have a picture journal of the summer. I loved having Auntie SuZQ and her grandkids join us this year. So closes Playdate 2011, though Missy Bugg requested a Playdate for her September birthday. We'll see. Hope you have some fun left in your summer!

Away We Go

Way back in the winter, when I was missing sunshine and gramerlings, I had an idea-dear me.

I've been having Playdate for five years. I'm not sure if a Playdate has ever ended without a disgruntled wee folk loudly protesting the end of the fun. Seldom do they end without a request for a sleepover. My idea, when ice bound in January, was to find a place by the water, somewhere to have a big sleepover and day after day of sunshine and play.

I asked Ol' Mother Hubbard if she would consider such an idea. She clearly was having some mid-winter depression and jumped on the idea. So, I started looking and lo and behold found exactly what I was looking for.

Since then, I've worked, planned, shopped, packed and worried, oh and prayed and prayed. It's a long way where we're heading, so we'll stop and spend the night. Some big blessings- we were gifted rooms coming and going by one friend and another friend got my car all checked out. Handy Man and Farmer John have been most supportive. Aunt G-lou made all the little girls vintage pillowcase dresses for beach pictures.

Seriously, it looks like we are moving out. I have no idea how I'm going to get all this stuff in my car. Aunt SuZQ will smile and nod and be happy to tell you that she is not the least surprised owing to my obsessive-compulsive ways.

Anyway, I'll be absent from this space for awhile. Handy Man and Uncle Jimi will do a fine job minding the chickie girls, pooch, and bunnies. They draw the line at blogging. I don't have a laptop, and you know I will have seven hundred pictures I think you need to see. Oh well.

This will be the longest I've ever been away from home, so I'd love for our little caravan to be in your prayers as we head out today.

And if prayers continue for Kaye, Big D, Aunt Bett, and Bob, I know they'd be as happy as me.

Here's to a Playdate that rocks the Cazbah!

Time for Tea and Frogs- Not Together

My mama decided to part with some little keepsakes that long sat in a huge picture window with many shelves. This was a house and a few years ago. She told me to take them for tea parties. I did. They were much enjoyed throughout Playdate. Aunt SuZQ brought some spearmint tea that was equally enjoyed.

Hey Ms. Shell Mabelle, what did you find this time?

Whoa, three of those big tad-frogs.

Baby Boy is again thrilled, only this week, they are tad-frogs, not crayfish.

Annabelle was so tickled holding that slippery tad-frog.

The kids so enjoy the creek catch and release. While they watched during Playdate, the tad-frogs last appendage separated from his body-fascinating. At first he only had one arm and two legs, but we sent him back with four working parts.

Baby Gideon is mostly amused at all the chaos. He loves being outside, but it's time to say, "So long!"

Hula-Hooping

Ummm, another ridiculous amount of pictures. Goodness, we have some busy Playdates.
Last week, while reading at SouleMama's site, she had a visiting blogger that had a tutorial on making your own hula-hoop. Well now, I thought that was pretty neat and something I had never tried. So I trotted down to the Home Depot in search of poly pipe-nothing. I shared my despair with Handy Man and he was on a mission, but, alas, neither our little neighborhood hardware, nor Tractor Supply had the required poly pipe. Next, I complained to Pete, who ran to the Ace Hardware and all supplies were found!

First we distributed the pipe. Nine feet for the little ones, ten for the bigger ones. Next, you dip one end in hot water and push in the connector. If you want a noisy hula-hoop, you have to add some beebees. Then dip and connect the other end.

If you are Baby Boy or Baby Gideon you just entertain yourself with a little tea party, or some lovies.

Now for the first round of fun-decorating your hoop with electrical and duct tape in a variety of colors.

.

A few flower blossoms adds to the prettiness, don't ya think?

Now, who is the best at hooping.

Big Al did it in his usual dramatic fashion, while Matt-Man barely moved in his stoic way.

As is typical, some had more trouble than others, but most stayed with it and worked hard.

Little Miss Linee was cracking me up. She had those hip moves down pat.

Bean just got better and better-love the boots.

Turns out it was worth all the fuss and bother and much fun and lots and lots of movement was enjoyed by all.

Still to come-tea parties, frogs and a visit from Uncle Jimi.

We aren't in Kansas anymore Toto!

I was sitting at Lilly's, being treated to fine dining in the extreme by a dear friend, when it started sprinkling last night, about eight o'clock. Finishing up and getting to the car provided a good soaking. We flipped on the radio to discover a tornado had been sighted near Churchill Downs and was headed straight for the Highlands. Happy day! Somewhat alarming for a couple of reasons. Rae-rae lives near Churchill downs and we were driving down the street where it was expected to hit next. We kept heading north, out of harm's way, thank the Lord! Still a bit stressful, as Rae wasn't answering her phone. I comforted myself with the notion that in her haste to get that boy to the basement, she'd left her phone. That was indeed the situation. Their local alarm sounded, then after a time the warning ended. Michael walked outside to check it out and saw the funnel cloud arriving a bit after it's scheduled warning time. Aggghhhh. Lord bless those folks who received damage!

Speaking of storms-we were frolicking in the creek on Tuesday when it started sprinkling.

Good skip Ol' Henry

Baby Boy was intrigued by the crayfish. He said, "Look, a tad-frog!"

When the sprinkling turned to rain my little creek sprites welcomed the cloudburst with a rain dance!

In response, the rain came faster, then thunder accompanied by his friend lighting. Out of the creek! What to do?

Snuggle up on the porch with yummy snacks, good stories and silly songs. Well,well, now I know 19 people fit on the front porch.

So happy that Aunt SuZQ has been able to join the fray this year. Always great to have another creek sprite snuggler.

Gideon is quite intrigued by all these wee folk. He loves it when they give him their undivided attention and they love when he smiles, laughs and squeals at them.

The storm finally headed out to another location and I brought Merry and Pippin out to play.

Such blessings, these special days.