It's Bath Time...Mud Bath, That Is

Yesterday started out as one of those days. You know the kind - everyone is cranky and grumpy, fuses are short, and everyone's buttons are getting pushed. After a couple of hours like this, I decided we would just scrap our plans for the morning and try something - anything - different. First, we all changed into our "work clothes." Then we went and put down all the topsoil and fertilizer that our vegetable garden needs. The kids all had their little trowels and helped me mix everything in really good. They really enjoyed getting their hands in the mud. By this point, we had been outside for a while and were starting to feel better. Rather than go back inside, we trooped down to the "cut-through" to the nearby park. It is really a type of drainage area between two houses. Thanks to all the wet weather lately, there was a good bit of water - muddy water - in it. I told the kids to have fun, and did they ever! After about 30 minutes of running around and splashing in the brown liquid, we trooped back home, hosed off in the yard, and then jumped in the bathtub. Everyone emerged much cleaner and, more importantly, in much better moods. Some days, a run through the mud is just what everyone needs. :)

Here's the fearsome foursome about halfway through the mud bath.

This is not a great picture, but it did manage to catch what 3 of the 4 loved doing. Oddly enough, Reese does not like to splash in the mud, but Paige loves it, as do the boys.

Reese didn't want to walk out into the "deep part" by herself, so big brother Troy lent a hand.

Trent and Paige were having a hay day!

Troy's taking a rest from all the excitement.

Trent loves anything that allows him to get wet and muddy.

My girly-girl, Paige, did a little dance of joy. She LOVES splashing in the mud! Boy, were they ever covered in it!

Reese, on the other hand, wasn't too excited about mud getting everywhere. In fact, she put her hands over her face every time someone went splashing by.

The kids really wanted to show how full of water their boots were after our mud bath was over.