A Good Day At Play Group

After my last post I began to feel guilty about staying in today.  We did, after all, miss play group last week because it overlapped with one of The Princess's therapy sessions.

So I did what any self-respecting gal would do...I called my mommy and guilted her into going to play group with us.  I knew that if I had someone else to hold me accountable I'd actually make the effort and get out of the house for a couple of hours (unappealing as that thought may have been!).

Grumma caved pretty easily, and I de-jammied myself and my daughter in time to leave for the 4:30 play group one town over.

When we got there, it was just the parent liaison and her kiddos, and a rep from NISRA.  No other kids...that seemed odd, but we figured maybe they'd come later.

No dice.

Some may think this was a negative thing, but for my little girl it couldn't have been any better.  As you probably know by now, The Princessdoes not do well in crowds.  Nor does she excel at participating in large group activities, especially noisy ones.

So the entire play group today was her and two other kiddos.  Here's an outline of what we did, and how she responded:

Free play: The Princess ran around like a maniac (par for the course).
Circle time: She sat pretty well for the story, participated in the dances during song time (I had to move her little body, but she was doin' the hokey pokey and "I'm a Little Tea Pot" without protest).
Craft time: The Princess made another snowflake like the one we did at the last play group (this one went to Grumma since she and Grumpa didn't previously have an original piece of her art - yes, Nana, I'm aware of the lack in your house as well...you're next on the list!).
Structured play: She participated in the "snow ball fight", which consisted of throwing wads of scrunched-up paper at one another, and loved the parachute play.
Snack time: The Princess sat at the table with us to partake in a most excellent snack of animal crackers and apple juice (which Grumma proceeded to spill from Kiddo's neck to her ankle - too funny!) without protest.
Circle time (again): She sat with me, went through the goodbye song and even clapped by herself a couple of times before all was said and done.

This is only the second time we've ever made it all the way to the goodbye song.  And The Princess was not rocking, clutching her blanket or running for the door!  In fact, she pulled me into the center of the room for some good ol' spinning before she grabbed her coat and headed for the door.

Grumma and I toted The Princess and her artwork out to the car and crossed the street to Wal Mart.  Never, ever go into Wal Mart with my mother if you want to come out alive.  Somehow I forget this very important rule every time I go with her "to run in and pick something up real quick".

Over an hour later we made our way back to the car with our groceries (hers: far more plentiful than mine), only to find that Grumpa's trunk is completely jam-packed with stuff.  And the back seat of the car had already been consolidated to allow for The Princess's carseat on the way to play group...so we had to get creative. 

Everything fit, but only just.  That poor little car could use a good cleaning, Pop.  I know you're reading this.  Seriously...when was the last time you needed either of the two bowling balls in your trunk?  Or the lawn chair?  I love ya, dude, but your car is gross!  $20 and a bottle of kid wine, I'll clean it out for  ya.  :)

Now, after hanging out with The Hubbs and the princess for a couple of hours, it's getting dangerously close to jammie time again.  After all, tomorrow's a big day - my first 6+ hour school day...may as well get in all the veggin' I can before then.