The Year of the Play Date (Part I)

Throughout the 2021-2022 school year, we have had a standing play date at Papa and Grammy's house on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Our triplet grandchildren Pumpkin, Peanut, and Paquita (who turn 5 in August) have been enrolled in a pre-K program that meets on those days each week at the Catholic elementary school in our town.  Because it's about a 35-40 minute drive for our daughter-in-law Braveheart, she drops the big three off at school in the morning and then comes over to our house with their 2-year-old little sister Hermanita.  We have coffee and visit while Hermanita plays in the basement and gets a couple of hours of one-on-one (or three-on-one) time with her mom and grandparents, and then our DIL goes to pick up the triplets just before lunchtime.  Unless we have an appointment or something going on in the afternoon, Braveheart brings them back to our house and they all have lunch here and stay to play for an hour or two before heading home.  On the rare days when the eagerly anticipated after-school play date doesn't happen, the triplets are terribly disappointed.  If their little sister is in the car when Mom comes to get them at school, they know they're not coming over to our house that day--and unless they've been adequately prepared for that reality, they are apt to have melt-downs.  

It's nice to be so popular!  Honestly, though, I don't know if it's us or our house that they love most.  They're always very happy to see Papa and me, of course; but they also love playing with the toys in our basement playroom/kid haven.  We have lots of old books and toys that belonged to their dad and his brothers back in the day; but we've also purchased a number of playthings--both new and used, boy-friendly and girl-friendly--to add to the collection and make it so that there's something for everyone.

My son and his wife think Hermanita looks like me.
I'm flattered, but not sure.  Do you see a resemblance?

It's a very busy playroom on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Just finding a bug in the doorway provides endless fascination.

I can't imagine how different our life would be if we hadn't moved 5 years ago.

I also can't imagine what life would be like without this finished basement in our VA house!

This area of Papa and Grammy's house gets a lot of use,
I'll tell you!

Sometimes, more moms and kids join us for these play dates--because the more the merrier, right?  More on that tomorrow (I hope, but if not, soon!).