Water play

I have come up with another activity to quiet the 5:00 whining and fussing.  This one is better for their brains than my Food Network solution but considerably messier.  Ella calls it water play and that pretty much sums it up.  A giant pitcher of water, a big bowl of ice, several bowls and measuring spoons.  Two nearly naked kids out on the porch.  It is amazing how much fun they both have pouring the water from bowl to bowl.  It is also amazing how quickly they are soaked from top to bottom.  Toward the end last night, I found Ella "washing" Dash's hair and him giggling uncontrollably. But they sure do love it and it gives me 20 minutes to cook dinner in relative peace (not counting the dozen interruptions for new water and ice).

Ella is in fact wearing underwear in this photo. 

Her reason?  So she doesn't get a splinter in her bottom.