Sunday, August 23, 2009

Babies* and Baked Ham

We had our first play date here at the house since the installation of The Playgrand in our backyard. I invited over a group of ladies, all of whom were friends first, and all have kids that are the exact same age as Sophie. I've mentioned it before, but there was a rash of fertility in our circle round about December '06/January '07. Completely unknown to each other, we were all trying (successfully, as it turns out) to get pregnant at the same time and then it was like "I'm PREGNANT!" "WHAT?! I'm pregnant, too!" "Wait, you're both pregnant? No?! ME TOO!" And so on. So lucky little Sophie has about a half dozen friends who are all within weeks of her age-wise. Do you see group camping trips and the like in our future?

So anyway, three of these ladies and their offspring joined us for some play and lunch on Saturday. I made a ham (my first, I think it came out okay) and a pineapple souffle (which is more like a bread pudding and was really yummy and super easy). The other moms brought delicious goodies and we had ourselves a feast.

After which the real play began. First the kids showed off their musical skills:






















Does my daughter look like she's in her element or what? Not only does she get to pound away at the piano, one of her favorite activities, but she gets to do it with friends. Heaven!

After this, we braved the damp (it had monsooned the 24 hours leading up to the play date), heat and humidity to get the kids outside to play.















We were schvitzing like crazy, but the kids were totally unfazed. In between swings, they had an assembly line going up the ramp and down the slide. (That's Sophie on the top right corner.)

Far too quickly, there was eye rubbing and fussing as our toddlers ran out of steam. An afternoon of play is tiresome business. Before everyone left, we attempted to get a group picture, much like the ones we've taken at past play dates, but getting all of the kids to sit down for a photo these days is like herding cats. This is the closest we came to a line-up:















I suppose we'll have to wait a few years (like ten) until we'll be able to get them all to sit quietly while we take their photo.

I so enjoy these play dates. Although I see all of them at our monthly dinners, we have been banned by the childless of our group from mommy-talk, so it is only on these occasions that we can open up. It is an opportunity to complain about husbands** and the high cost of pre-schools. To brag or commiserate about what our little ones are or aren't doing. To relax among women who are going through the same things.

It was a lovely time. Sophie (and I) napped for hours after they left. Can't wait for the next get together. Truly.

*Not so much anymore. Sigh.

**Not mine, of course, he's perfect. Love you, Neil!

14 comments:

  1. That's awesome. How lucky for you (and Sophie) that you have a group of friends like that with kiddos the same age.

    Have I mentioned all my friends are (still) single? Sigh.

    I'm very envious ;-)

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  2. That looks like so much fun! I wish I had a group of friends who all had kids in a similar age range. Most of my friends kids are either much older or younger. Boo. Playdates have become few and far between around here with slim pickings. LOL!

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  3. How awesome to have a group of friends like that!

    There will be mommy talk allowed in Tennessee, just so you know.

    Love the pics!

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  4. What lucky ducks you BOTH are to have such a great group of pals! And I LOVE that pic of Sophie with her peeps at the piano!

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  5. That's actually very cool that you have a group like that. The kids are all so cute and it shows in the couch pic just how tired they were, lol. I like the little one on the end trying to hold that other little one on there, lol.

    Reminds me of trying to take the annual christmas photo, lol!

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  6. Playdates are super fun, aren't they? And yes, trying to get a group shot of the kids is next to impossible! Argh, no matter how hard you try, it will never work out perfectly! But it's still a cute picture!

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  7. looks like so much fun - you are so lucky! none of my friends have children my kids age!

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  8. I may need a nap just after reading this!

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  9. Having a built in playgroup from your group of friends is awesome. I am so lucky that it happened that way for me, too. I treasure that those kids and moms, and the time we all spend together!!

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  10. Friends! Kids! Friends with kids! You're living my dream, CaraBee.

    Sounds like a wonderful get together!

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  11. How fantastic, I can't believe you found the time to cook, too!!
    Sophie looks so cute here. What fun to have a crew of moms to keep you sane. Yay!

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  12. How fantastic, I can't believe you found the time to cook, too!!
    Sophie looks so cute here. What fun to have a crew of moms to keep you sane. Yay!

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  13. Friends for life, that's what this is! Your playset rocks! Love the piano playing too.

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Give me some sugar, baby!