June Play Date

I was missing all the big play dates we used to have regularly when Meo was a baby and longing for a backyard full of children playing together so we invited a whole bunch of our friends over to play. But the day called for rain and I quickly realized that instead of having a dozen children under three playing in our big back yard, they would in fact be crammed into our not-so-large home. But we had fun anyways!

Stella and Meo

For snacks, I made some banana and flax seed muffins which were sweetened with local maple syrup instead of sugar. I also made our infamous raisin bars which is a regular snack in our home. Both were made with almost all organic ingredients, were vegan, and chock full of protein, iron, and omega-3's. Robbie was busy the night before squeezing 6 lemons to make fresh honey lemonade with local honey.

Overall, I think things went really well even though we were all stuck inside. The toddlers did a pretty good job about sharing and taking turns, and there wasn't really any fighting. They happily played "independently together".

Sarah meeting little Link

Stella really would rather keep cooking in the kitchen

Alison and Luke are here!

Noah and Meo playing farm with Noel

happy baby Colin, who is not napping, and chatty Conor

Sarah reading to Luke, Charlie and Meo

Conor

Noah

All told there were 15 kids aged three and under. Three of which were babies.

Colin and Link

Avery, Colin and Link are all very close in age, within a month of one another. It was nice to have the babies be able to play together in a world where toddlers rule.

Link was able to get in an hour long swing nap during the play date which helped keep him happy and lively. Meo on the otherhand got a little overstimulated and tired. So at one point Noah really wanted to go upstairs and play trains in Meo's room, and Meo wanted to sleep, so Noel went up with the pair of them and they happily played trains together in the quiet of Meo's forest room.

Link is a new sitter (today is only his third day sitting on his own at all), and he is very excited about his new skill.

Both boys did well sharing toys and playing with friends. Link really like the sequin heart on Stella's shirt.

But Link did NOT want to share his favorite yellow tambourine.

Colin and Link

Noah and Meo

Neve and Conor

Lachlan and Colin

Leela and Link

Meo, Conor and Leela

We had such a nice time with all our friends, both grown up ones and little ones. We are very grateful for everyone who made the long drive out to our house in the woods, and can't wait for more play dates in the sunshine.