For the birds

So far, the kids have not had much outdoor playtime.  We take them to the park, and for walks, but since Makayla is not yet walking, we haven't given them a chance to roam around in an outdoor area and get good and dirty, until yesterday.

With Makayla and Austin's friend over for the week, and the sun taunting us through the finger-paint-stained windows, I decided to lay out a large blanket for Makayla and set the kids loose on our gated, covered, patio. 

I brought out with us some small tubs of birdseed that Makayla's teachers left with us from a sensory play activity we did in the fall. 

As usual, Austin was not at all interested, but was VERY excited to be running around outside and sticking his fingers in all kinds of new messy places....giving me a near anxiety attack.   Here, Austin is mowing the obviously, heavily overgrown cement for us.  Thank you, Monkey!

Looking for goodies in the dirt.  He found what apparently is a very valuable stick.  The girls highjacked him for the stick later in the afternoon.

Makayla wiggles her little fingers in to the birdseed and swishes it around. 

Austin has a look to see what the birdseed is all about.

 

And that's that, there goes the birdseed! That's ok, turns out, it's almost as fun putting the birdseed back into the bin!  I hope Makayla keeps up this attitude towards cleaning up! (There's the stick again!)

 Makayla says, "Mommy, what is your foot doing in the tub of birdseed?"

Uh-oh...we don't eat birdseed!  How am I going to explain this to your mother???

 

Conspiring.... (He still has that stick!)

 Birdseed EVERYWHERE!

Stirring the birdseed with her magic wand.  You'll notice this is Austin's prized stick from his backyard exploration expedition.

 Makayla had so much fun with the birdseed!

And some birdseed that Makayla threw in Austin's hair.

I don't think the kids would have ever gotten bored out there.  It's not a huge space, but big enough for them to explore and get filthy doing it!  It's supposed to be raining this coming week, but I have a feeling we'll be spending a lot of time this spring and summer on that patio.