Rainy Day Play

We had the best Spring play date with my friend Lindsay and her son Baxter. We originally met through soccer this past fall and have had a blast getting to know them all year! Lindsay is a dancer by profession and a wonderful mommy! The boys get along so well and we always have a ton of fun together. This play date was no exception. We have been getting lots of rain in May. When we scheduled the play date we were assuming it would be clear and sunny so the boys could ride bikes and play outside.  Well, when we woke up it was raining buckets.  That didn't stop us from playing outside.   Lindsay has an awesome patio in her backyard with a canopy that kept us out of the rain (for a little bit).  So we got busy getting in touch with our creative side.

The boys started out painting wood blocks using all sorts of techniques.

Lindsay is demonstrating the use of a paper towel to dab a textured surface with the paint.

The boys- all three of them totally intrigued.  Magic!

Gavin covered in paint.  They of course, wore old clothes for the occasion.  So, we gave them permission to be free with their creativity.

At least Lindsay and Baxter wanted to pose for me.  Xavier was too busy with his project to turn around.

Here Lindsay is trying to get Xavier to make hand prints on his board.  He didn't go for it.

He had other methods up his sleeve.

No brush needed.  Xavier started taking the paint bottles and dabbing them on the "canvas".

Gavin had other pursuits, namely MUD.  Wonderful, ooey, gooey, squishy MUD!

All while holding a cup of crackers.  Those must have tasted delicious.

The next activity was gardening.  Lindsay showed the boys how to plant flowers.  They totally loved it.  Xavier even planted a single flower in a small pot for me to take home. 

Gavin just enjoyed undoing what everyone else was doing.  

Gardening pros.

Gardening apprentice.

Gavin's next activity- finding his own shower.  

Boy did he need it.  Check out the mud on his forehead.  

Third activity: Sand table.

Xavier's paint and mud splashed face.  Proof of a hard day's work.

Fourth activity: playing in the mud and making mud pies.  I think this was the boys favorite activity.  

Fifth activity: Bike derby in the backyard.  Since there was a huge amount of space it kind of turned into bumper bikes, but they were smiling either way.

Watch out- Gavin's coming through!  This was the best rainy day play ever!  We were out in the rain for 3 hours.  I couldn't believe it when I looked at the clock.  Time flew and the boys didn't even whine or complain once.  Now that IS MAGIC!