Fun in Our Own Backyard

So, the other afternoon, Princess Natalie was BEGGING me to go outside. By 3pm, I tend to be in a royally lazy mood and would prefer to sit on the couch, holding Princess Ruthie, watching TV, cuddled up next to the eldest. However, I know that to be a good Queen, I need to enrich my children's lives by doing things I don't always feel like doing. I gathered up a blanket, sunglasses, Boppy pillow, baby, flip flops, water, cellphone, my attitude, and headed out the door. After nearly tripping over Willow (the palace dog), we settled on the grass. Princess Natalie walked around, checking out flowers, bugs, and piles of dog poo while I got Princess Ruthie quieted in the Boppy and relaxed on the blanket. The independent exploration only lasted so long...soon Princess N incessantly asked me to play with her. I LOVE playing with her, don't get me wrong. She is so smart, funny, imaginative, intelligent...I could go on and on. However, when we go outside, there are lots of things I need to keep my eye on. Willow is a great pet, but she isn't always aware of her surroundings, especially when playing outside. With Princess R on the blanket, Willow running around with a stick twice the length of her body, and Princess N constantly twirling around, inevitably falling numerous times after dizzying herself, I MUST protect the baby. She has already been unintentially squished a few times by the eldest daughter...Oops!

I racked my brain with creative ideas to keep her happy and busy while also protecting my youngest offspring. That's when it happened...an AHA mommy moment! In a matter of seconds, I created a mini-game with educational, imaginative, and entertainment value. Even better, I could play this game WITH Princess N from the comfort of my blanket (well, as comfortable as a blanket on top of a lumpy lawn, sticks, and black walnuts can be). All I had to do was ask Princess Natalie to bring me something of a certain shape, color, and/or size. I watched her transform from a bored toddler into an excited explorer as I said, "Can you find something yellow? What about something in the shape of a rectangle? Or how about something larger than your hand?" She would joyously search throughout the yard, deck, shed, and sand box for something that would match the description and run it back to me with such pride as she awaited my approval. To make it even more fun, the blanket we were sitting on was a quilt made by my mom from tons of squares of fabric in different patterns and colors. Princess N took it upon herself to put the objects she collected on an approved square on the quilt that somehow matched (she made that choice...). The yellow dandelion was stored on the square that had bee hives and honey bee fabric, the rectangular wood chip was placed on the patch that was brown. It was so much fun! This occupied Princess Natalie for about 20 minutes. When she started to get tired of it, we switched to taking turns playing I Spy. Needless to say, it was a successful outdoor adventure in our own backyard. What's your favorite outdoor adventure with your prince or princess?