Playdate Fun!

We had an awesome playdate last week! We met up with my two childhood/high school friends, Jen and Sarah, and their beautiful daughters. Jen is new to the Chicagoland area and Sarah lives in the City so we haven't seen each other in quite some time. I was very excited and it was fantastic to catch up.

The kids played nicely and we actually got a chance to talk quite a bit. A big thanks to our hostess Jen on that one. She had a great set-up for the kids--crafts, stickers, markers.

Reed and Elynor creating their masterpieces

Cora, as always, doing her own thing

(drinking two juice boxes...after finishing her first, she realized that hers didn't have Elmo on it. Time to go back for seconds!)

Group photo of the kiddos (minus a defiant Cora)

Reed, Elynor, Hadley, Annikah

I certainly hope we can do this again sooner than later. Jen, however, is expecting her second child in the next two weeks. I think we'll give her a little time to acclimate to life as a family of four. I am SO excited for her!

(Also another special thanks to Jen... I nabbed these photos from her blog. Mine didn't turn out that great. Plus during the group shot I was trying desperately to coerce Cora to sit up on the couch, so I didn't really catch a good shot.)

Reed's Buddies

We had our monthly play group on Wednesday and Reed got a chance to catch up with his neighborhood crew.

This was their roundtable discussion on the merits of Baby Mum-Mum rice crackers. I think it ended with a consensus that they are fun and delicious after they continued to steal them from each other until everyone had some.

Buzz off Mom! Can't you see that I am in the tent with Addie!

Babies and Coffee...

Today Reed and I hosted the monthly playdate with moms and their babies here in the neighborhood. We had a good turnout which meant a full house of tikes mostly between 9-11 months old with a few older siblings. With all these cute faces it seemed like a perfect photo opportunity. From left to right: Benjamin, Reed, Addie, Max, and AnnaLizette. Big Siblings Ava and Caleb also had a good time. Lochen and Adeline also joined us too. We had cookies, some great bread from Herb's Bakery (thanks Sarah!), coffee, tea, and nice conversation. And no meltdowns...a raging success!

And 10 minutes after everyone left Reed was out cold. All that playing can wear a boy out.

A play date at the mall

Reed had a very fun play date today and for that reason, I get this opportunity to write this blog. He is sound asleep. All the excitement tuckered the poor boy out. Our neighbor Adrienne and her son Quinton came by and picked up Reed and me and we headed to the mall. It was good for us moms to stretch our legs and get a little walking in. Then the boys played for a while on the kids area (which was surprisingly clean). The boys had a ball playing and watching all the other kids.


After the playground, we moved on to the carousel. It was a first for them both and they both seemed to like it, although Adrienne and I felt a little queasy for a minute when they got the thing up to full speed. It was going a little fast for my taste, but maybe that's just because I was clutching Reed. In case anyone is worried about Reed or Quinton's safety on the big horses, there were harnesses around them to prevent them from falling off.


All the playing had really worked up their appetites so snacking was next on the list. Thank goodness for finger foods. Quinton was also good at sharing today too. He was feeding Reed his cut up grapes and Reed was loving it.


I think Reed and Quinton will be enjoying many more play dates in the future. We are especially excited about the weather improving and play outside soon!