We finally settled into our new digs enough to host our first play date with none other than our quad buddies, the Bells. After several trial and error play dates, Amber and I discovered that evening play dates are pure genius. Initially we tried the traditional daytime rendezvous and failed repeatedly. The babies usually played happily until nap time. However at nap time, the visitors protested voraciously and the host babies were upset by wailing visitors. This left two frazzled mammas with eight grouchy babies. It wasn’t pretty.
We now meet up after all babies are refreshed from naps and have several hours before bedtime. The hostess serves up dinner for everyone and the mammas enjoy a glass of vino while the kiddies play in harmony. I can honestly say this is the only way to have a relaxing play date with so many little ones.
Despite a week of flash flooding, we opted for an evening of water play. What better way to celebrate summer? In preparation for the event, I littered our backyard with water tables, a mini pool, slide and an assortment of water toys. While my quads snoozed, I prepared a picnic for everyone: P B & J triangles with berries and veggie sticks for the quads, pimento cheese for the adults, and cakeys for dessert (cake bars Rylin dubbed “cakeys”).
During the day, I showed the quads pictures of the Bell family and explained they were coming over. After nap, I dressed everyone in swimsuits and doused them in sunscreen as I reminded them of our company. Clearly they knew it was time to parr-tayy because all four began running circles in the den as they squealed in delight. When Amber and her crew arrived, I gave her the quick house tour then we ushered all eight babies outside. Thankfully, George was home from work a bit early so he helped set up the goods for water play (he was also instrumental in clean up efforts). Everything went swimmingly! All eight babies scampered around, finding ways to entertain themselves.
It didn’t take long before all eight babies were fully entertained with water play.
This is like a game of Where’s Waldo….can you spot all eight babies?
Mason and Trystan cozied up in the mini pool. Aren’t they adorable together?
I dropped some of our Color Dropz into the water tables and mini pool for a little pizzaz!
Amber helped dole out ice water to thirsty little beggars.
It looks like someone found the mud. No worries though, Amber and I had a solid clean up plan.
All eight of the quads now interact with each other, and don’t always stick to their familiar siblings, which indicates play date success in my book.
Look carefully in the background and you’ll see Harper bailing water from the mini pool to the galvanized bucket. He managed to fill it halfway with just that little red scoop!
As the dinner hour approached, I gathered our picnic trappings and brought them outside along with plastic dinnerware. Within seconds, all eight babies gathered around our Little Tykes picnic table where we dished out dinner. Our quads don’t have the best track record for eating meals away from their quad table so I wasn’t really sure what eight would do. They amazed us as they sat for the entire meal and gobbled up dinner. I suppose they worked up hearty appetites playing outside.
I couldn’t squeeze eight plates around the picnic table, but sharing is commonplace for multiples so it wasn’t a problem.
As the babies noshed on their picnic, Amber snatched ice water for everyone. She’s a pro at this!
After dinner, George became very popular as he was the cakey server.
When the sun began to set, George, Amber, and I created a pioneer style wash basin for the babies with our toy bucket. George filled it with warm water then Amber and I took turns sponge bathing our respective babies and wrapping them in dry towels. As each one was wrapped tightly, we lined them up in the den for a Veggie Tales movie. Amber and I managed to “bathe”, dry, and dress eight babies in pajamas (complete with lotion) in a matter of minutes. Impressive, I think. I turned on our classical lullaby playlist as everyone enjoyed perusing a few books and novel toys before bed. George tucked our babies into cribs as Amber and I loaded hers into the Suburban before we said farewell. Another successful play date for eight!
Ahhh, clean, dry and jammied babies with a few good reads before bed.
hugs!
Amber
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Four to Adore 
Love, Love, LOVE!!! Only wish I was there with y’all 🙂
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Me too! Can you imagine if all five of us had a play date?
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You need to add a water- wiggle , slip and slide and sprinkler. Dad
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Great birthday gift ideas, Poppa!
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Nice work! Looks like a good time was had by all.
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