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!