On Clubhouses

It seems as though clubhouses and children go together like me and food. The girls are constantly searching out and making their own little clubhouses. Said clubhouses usually entail a blanket draped over a chair and if they are lucky something else - adequate but only able to fit one person comfortably. So this spring there were a pretty fair number of fights over the fact that Emmuska would make a clubhouse to which Liberty would demand entrance, which demand was met with a flat no as there wasn't enough room, which refusal was met with an ignoring ear as Liberty tried to get in (because she wants to be in the cool clubhouse too) which would all result in a fight.  Finally in one of my moments of inspiration akin to the finger painting episode I said something to the effect that I would make a clubhouse big enough for both of them. (Yes I'm still working on seeking out help as regards this disorder of volunteering for insane projects...) Said clubhouse turned out like so:

Not too shabby eh? Actually it was a pretty nice clubhouse but quite naturally took a bit more work than I had anticipated (most of my 'brilliant' ideas do :D). In my head I saw me whipping this thing together and it just staying - wind and old cloths pins had different ideas.

Of course once the clubhouse was up it had to be decorated. Here Liberty seriously surveys the surroundings to best determine aesthetically pleasing blanket locations.

Yes. Right there will work just fine.

And there you have the interior of our well constructed and perfectly decorated clubhouse. Take a moment and note the snack 'table' on the bottom right corner of the picture. Because no clubhouse is complete without snacks.

Liberty - off to retrieve something else that the clubhouse needs to function properly.

Cheese sticks, apple sauce, graham crackers and yogurt. A veritable feast of clubhouse foods. - Time to dig in and fill those tummies left hungry from a days hard work.

I was pleased by how much the dogs enjoyed the clubhouse as well. It's always satisfying to see one's work appreciated by so many.

Of course the wind picked up so by the end of the day the clubhouse was once again in individual pieces waiting for our next attempt. Still it was a lot of fun and now we have a trampoline to aid in our clubhouse making. Next time we make one it will surely be a breeze. ;)

Warm Weather Picninc

As soon as the days starting turning warm around here we couldn't be outside enough. By mid-March we were outside as much as possible. This quite naturally meant eating outdoors as well. Here is one such picnic. In a fashion that matches my culinary senses we had quite the spread - PB&J, Cheeze-Its and apple juice.

Everybody left the blanket well fed...including the inanimate diners.

And filled with love as well. (There will be a post that will go into greater detail about this picture - I'm just waiting for the final piece...)

The girls friend Abby was over, enjoying the sunny afternoon with us. I love this picture of her - she is so photogenically gifted.

As is this girl - because honestly who else could pull off a shot like this what with food in her mouth and wind whipping her hair around. Yet she does it and still looks good.

Of course after the food has to come a little play time. And after a couple months inside outdoor play just can't be beat.