Bosom Friends

Winter in Maine is cold with short days, so there is not much playing outside to be done.  I've been noticing lately that playing inside is a totally different "art" than playing outside.  While the kiddos have had plenty of time to develop their outside playing skills, we are just now being pushed to discover the indoors.  They've always enjoyed drawing and working on crafts, train tracks, building with blocks, but we've been working on playing board games, Simon Says, Mother May I?, and other indoor games.  One of our favorite boardgames of late is called "The Ladybug Game," and it's especially fun to have something the kids can play together.  The only obstacle is little Raindrop who likes to "help" by scattering the pieces and cards all over the floor.

One of the best parts of our trip down South was the return to the great outdoors.  The temperatures reached the 60's and 70's during a good part of our trip, and we laughed at the big trash bag sitting in the trunk of the van with all our winter gear.  The kids spent hours outside every day (often barefoot and in shorts), and it was truly beautiful to be reminded of the joy they experience playing outside - and to see that they play outside well.  This is especially encouraging since they have a long way to go with the inside playing thing :)

One of our best outside playing stretches came when we went down to stay with BMa and Daddy-O while Hubry did research at a nearby library.  My bosom friend, Mrs. Elisha Boggs, came to visit us in Warner Robins, and brought her three kids (who just happen to be my kids' bosom friends).  Even though we hadn't seen each other in 6 months, as Elisha said, the kids didn't skip a beat.  George Wilder and Amelia came running in the door as if they'd always lived there, and a few minutes later they were all four running outside in a pack to pick up where they left off.  One of my favorite images, though I don't have an actual photo, is of the four of them sitting over a little bridge with homemade fishing poles pretending to fish.  There were forts scattered throughout the front and back yards, little treasures and secrets, stories and crafts, walks, more flying of kites, and a picnic at a nearby park.  And of course, there were many sweet conversations between the Mamas.

Peek-a-boo

I'm going to jump...

Photo credits go to BMa and Daddy-O

Posing

In Action