fun with friends

Finally some warm weather... and FINALLY some friends!! Wahoo! It doesn't seem that we were the only ones in 'winter hibernation' through the snowy months, but at last everyone is coming out to play!! And we're grateful to finally have some pint sized and adult sized compadres to hang out with!! :)

Orange Cat (aka Grace) spent the day with us a week or so ago, and we did some fun spring seed planting... spider hunting, water splashing, worm fetching, etc.

Making little holes to plant the seeds. It's so fun to be at that age where Maria can follow directions and really get into activities that she enjoys (ie: anything involving dirt!).

And after the dirt comes the water. This activity seriously occupied these two for about an hour! Actually Maria might still be outside using that spray bottle if it hadn't run out of water!

My sweet little gardener :) She remembers to water her seeds every day, and there's 4 little sprouts poking their heads out! She really has enjoyed this little project. (And so has Mommy!)

Making 'special angels' (aka Maria's indoor take on snow angels!) with Ree's new friends Carmen and Nick!

And while we adults were enjoying the super duper fun of cooking out and making new connections, the little ones took advantage of our, um, in-attentiveness to get good and muddy! Carmen was so hilarious jumping and kicking mud all over (Maria has found a true kindred spirit ;-D) much to the amusement of Nick and Ree. They kept looking at each other in awe over Carmen's 'daredevi'l mud playing! It was too funny! (And can you believe mine is still somewhat clean????!)

A cupcake picnic before bedtime... what a wonderful idea!! :-)

And the wee one's constant companion these days, Martha Menew Cat. (Yes, the entire name is necessary!) Here they are caught in the act of tying Dada's boots together so he wouldn't be able to leave for work... aww :-) Honestly, that's what she said she was doing... too incredibly sweet.

(now they're hiding!)