A Year of Playgroups - Spring 2008

We have had a great time this 2007-2008 school year with our church playgroups. There are about 3 to 6 of us moms, plus kids, that meet almost every Wednesday morning for these playgroups, which my friend Angie has done a great job organizing. Sometimes we just go to someone's house to play, but oftentimes we visit a local park or do another fun activity together. I have done a terrible job scrapbooking and sharing different photos of things the boys and I have done to enjoy our "local attractions," so thought it would be nice to take a look at some of the things our playgroup has done this year. The boys have made some good friends, especially Sam and Curtis who are between Todd's and Ryan's age. I will be posting these photos in two entries: one for 2007 and this one for 2008. [I may also do another post with a year's look at things they have done with some of their other playmates: Maddie and Wyatt.]

Though not a part of our official playgroups, we often run into some of the same friends at the weekly preschool storytime at the library. I love our library and think they do a great job with their storytimes. I have been taking Todd there regularly there since he was about 6 months old, and Ryan has been coming since birth (he usually acts a little more enthused than what it looks like in this photo taken in February). [Pictured here: Todd, Curtis, Claire, Jaden, Ryan]We visited The Heritage Museum in February. Though the museum in rather small, they have a nice children's room that the kids can enjoy for a good hour. Todd had a great time being teacher, though some of his students (like his brother Ryan) don't look all that interested in learning.

Even the boys enjoyed rearranging the furniture in this cute hands-on dollhouse. [Picture here: Sam, Todd, Ryan]

Going bike riding at Rocky Bayou State Park was a big hit in March. Todd and Curtis led the pack; Ryan and Claire lagged behind, but still had fun. [Pictured here: Todd, Curtis, Claire, Ryan]

Another trip to Rocky Bayou for a picnic and fun on the playground in April. [Picture here: Ryan, Sam, Todd]

Of course, I missed the great photo with all four boys on the tree branch. [Picture here: Curtis, Sam]

Ryan thought it was great fun being in the baby swing.

A popular annual spring activity is strawberry picking in Baker. We went to Akers of Strawberries in April.

It is impossible to leave Akers of Strawberries without getting one of their strawberry ice creams. This time I splurged and got the strawberry shortcake. A great price for a big serving of cool ice cream after your hard work in the fields.

Todd's birthday was on a Wednesday, which was very convenient: a ready-made party. Our playgroup was already scheduled for a picnic at Lincoln Park. All I had to do was supply some homemade chocolate cupcakes. Todd had a great time playing on the old jungle gym with his friends. [Pictured here: Todd, Curtis, Sam]

Though it wasn't a playgroup, all of our favorite playgroup families were involved in the church campout in April. I remembered to bring the boys' bikes, and that was one of Todd's favorite things about the campout--being able to ride back and forth to all of his friends' camp sites. Here, Todd shows Ryan a roly-poly that he caught while Curtis finds a new use for pliers.

The next morning all the kids had a great time playing on the beach, swimming, [Pictured here: Ryan, Sam, Todd, Curtis] . . .

and getting a good, close look at some hermit crabs.

In May the weather cooperated perfectly for our kite-flying activity at the "Caterpillar Park" (a name Todd and Ryan coined because of the climbing structure there).

Unfortunately, the kids quickly lost interest in the kites and had more fun playing with the water fountain (while the moms tried to unwind the kite strings--an impossible job!). [Pictured here: Sam, Makayla, Ryan, Todd]

Here, Todd sits at the top of the caterpillar.

One of Ryan's favorite things about the park: the digger.

Again, the weather cooperated perfectly for what was probably our last playgroup of the year. Though it was a little rough, the water was absolutely gorgeous at the beach this week. Todd was able to have a great morning at the beach with his friends, and still made it to school (only 10 minutes late!). [Pictured here: Sam, Curtis, Todd, Ryan]

Ryan had a blast using his friend's long-handled shovel. He kept digging the sand right where the waves crashed, and never got discouraged that there was nothing to show for his efforts.

I have a feeling that our playgroup days will slow down quite a bit over the summer. Though our family will certainly stay busy this summer, we'll miss playing each week with our friends.