Play dates a plenty!

Since August, play dates have dwindled dramatically for our little group. I started teaching, sarah began preschool and daycare, and this year, as an added hurdle, one of the founding families in our group, the Allens, moved to Georgia for one year. We have met a few short times this fall, but not as frequently as we would like. What can I say, life happens. But when Julie called to say they would be back in town for an extended stay, we decided to make time for a couple of our favorite gatherings. The first would be at the Coleman household. Check out the fun below.

.

We definitely have noticed a difference in the activities the girls choose over the years. This is the first playdate in which dressing up became a major focus. Julie and the family arrived a little late, so I didn't get Maura in the dress up photos. I am sure there will be many more days of dress up in our future.

I especially loved this photo. Doesn't Lily look cute? !

Then we moved on to our first culinary activity ever...Baking and painting gngerbread cookies! Notice Lily using green to it's fullest potential.

Sarah chose to stick with a blue paint with white accent icing (our little Wildcat).

Maura's cookies are in the forground, she chose a rainbow color design. I thought I got her in the photo as well (uh-oh, sorry Maura).

Here is Sarah's finished product. Aren't they cute? (Well, except for the scary eyes) :>)

Later in the week, we met for a second play date at Julie's parents home. We love going here. They have a finished basement and wide open outdoor play spaces. Here is Tristan enjoying all of the action. He is getting so big!

Here is the lovely Maura complete with a new fashionable bob haircut. She says she looks just like her Mommy.

This is Liam, the latest addition to our play dates. He is a neighbor of Julie and Dawn. He is very sweet.

This was the focus of the day: Julie's dog's cage! I promise we did not put them up to this. We could hardly get them out for lunch! Who knew a dog cage could be so much fun!

Before we left, Sarah took the opportunity to run in the yard behind Julie's parents home. They have about five acres and I daydreamed that we will one day have something like this as she ran. It was a great week of fun and friendship. We feel so blessed to have these friends in our lives.