Mud

It is not my friend and I hate it.

The dudes think that it is their best friend and they love it.

So, we need to come to a meeting of the minds on this one, because I just did something I never do, something I hate to do.

I just gave a midday bath.

I know, crazy huh?

I guess I should have known that the park would be muddy, and the slides would be wet, since it rained for about 16 hours straight yesterday.

But, the weather today is amazing, and school is out, and the kids were driving me cuckoo (by 8am), so I went ahead and set up a play date at the park.

And, Girly Mom (what I'll call my friend who has daughters) was all for it. I'm not sure that I would have listened, but she didn't even try to talk me out of it.

So, off we go for a play and a picnic at the neighborhood park. Hooray!

And, when we finally got there the place was disgusting. Every slide was wet, the swings were hovering above murky puddles, and even the grass was peppered with mini mudslides.

What's a girl to do? I have to let them play, of course.

I encouraged them to stay out of the wettest parts. I cajoled them away from the deepest puddles. I steered them towards the driest play equipment. But, alas, it was for naught.

The three of them (along with our Girly friends) were dotted with mud and grime after only a few minutes of play.

Which was okay (not really, but whatever) for the most part. They were having fun, they were not fighting, at least not as much as usual, and I was talking to grown ups. Hooray, again!

And then, #3 somehow (somehow being #1 & #2 tussling) got knocked flat on his back in a puddle, where he squirmed and flailed about, unable to free himself while I made my way over to retrieve him.

It was in his hair, his shirt, his pants, his socks, and his shoes. And for good measure, he rolled over on got some on his nose.

Ergo, the midday bath.

On a positive note, midday baths lead to something I love: nap time. Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!