Today we were invited to a play date at my friend Joanna's house and we were all so very excited. My kids quite enjoy Stash and Peter, Joanna's boys and her boys just adore Addie and Harry. They actually live in the neighborhood just north of us and if it were possible to walk across gardens it would be faster to walk there than drive all the way around. They have such a lovely home with a massive back garden and we enjoyed an amazing afternoon with them. Harry jumped right on one of the motorized little cars.
Stash, Luke and Addie went straight for the sandbox.
Later I caught Harrison taking a break from the little car to give Luke a little push on the swing.
Joanna had said that the boys wanted to have play dates in the past but she was nervous about hosting anything. Well, Kerry and I got her over that fear and we both agreed that Joanna was the greatest hostess. She had this huge spread of goodies for the kids and for Kerry and I as well.
As always, one of my favorite things about meeting new people and having lunch with them is all the new things I learn about their cuisine. Joanna made this amazing salad with cubed up cheddar, sautéed mushrooms, corn, pasta, and mayonnaise for the dressing. I immediately asked for the recipe and of course in true Joanna format she said she just threw it together...no recipe...everything she makes is so amazing and she never has a recipe. Are we just so structured as Americans that we have to have a recipe for everything??? Of course she made us some Polish cakes that I wanted to eat them all. Kerry and I tried talking her into selling Polish cakes at the market somewhere as they would go so well.
Since most of the kids were a little older than Lexie Lou she hung out at the snacks table.
Next thing I know Joanna does the bravest thing I've ever see a mom do. She brought out a few pots of paint and told the kids to go ahead and paint the house (the little play house that is).
They had an absolute blast....it looked like the coolest thing ever to do, but I kept wondering about how to get all that paint out if they get it on their clothes. After a few minutes, I didn't care anymore and just let them have fun.
They all had so much fun painting and even little Lexie left the snacks table to join in.
They took a break from painting to catch bubbles blown by Stash's dad, Stan. He doesn't speak any English, but Joanna is very insistent that he at least waves hello to us all when we say hello to him. He is a very nice gentleman and my kids think he's pretty cool because he always has extra sweeties for them after preschool when he brings them for Stash and Peter.
Of course after all the painting they start playing with water to get washed off, but the cleaning off turned into an all out water stamping. They all got SOAKED!!! But again I think they all had more fun than a kid could have.
After the water episode it was getting about time to go so we borrowed some dry clothes to head home, but I think if you only saw this picture as the aftermath of a playdate that you would have to rate this as being a 10!!!
Thanks so much Joanna, Stan, Stash, Petrov, and Lukaz for being such wonderful friends and opening your home to us for such a lovely day and last few moments left in England.
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