Kids' play

They always say that it doesn't take much to make a kid happy. Just give them a big box or a pile of dirt and they will have a blast!

I couldn't help but think of that as I looked through the photos "Grammy" sent from Christmas. 90% of the pictures were of the kids playing. But they weren't playing with their new presents and gifts. No, most of the time they were just playing with what was around: nature, their imaginations, random objects, each other, etc.

Here are some of the favorite things they enjoyed playing.

Hide and seek:


(This is 'M', my niece, hiding in the back of the truck.)


'B' and 'E' hiding.

Uncle Jeremy's bed when he wasn't on it (and sometimes when he was):


Grammy's elliptical:

(The kids actually thought it was great to put 2 or 3 of themselves on this and start going as fast as they could. I'm amazed we didn't have to pull a child out of the wall!)

The dogs:

Noodle war:

Pebbles & rocks:

(Little 'N' and 'E' spent quite a bit of time moving these pebbles from Pop's driveway to his flower bed. I'm sure Pop was thrilled!)

Pop's boat in the driveway:

(Some great imagination was happening here. Lots of pretend fishing, pirating, driving, house play, etc. We did have to take away the large metal pole they were using as a fishing rod after they whacked 2 people with it!)

Don't you have great memories of being a kid and just playing, care-free and bare-foot?

Oh, to be a kid again!

Also, we did get one good group shot of my dad's side of the family. This is "Grammy", "Pop", my siblings and the kids. Amazingly 'N' is the only one with eyes closed! That should be a Christmas miracle right there!