An Attempt At Mud Pies

School has started, and summer break is officially over. While Autumn is my favorite time of the year, I’m already feeling nostalgic for the fun-filled days I was able to have with my boys over the summer. We took mini-vacations to the beach, spent days on the lake or at the bay, and just enjoyed the company of each other and our friends. I have this flickering memory from my childhood of making mud pies outside with some little girls. It was my first and only time playing in the mud.  I remember taking time to get my mud pancakes just right, scooping mud onto a plate and sprinkling my mud cake with dried dirt,  little bits of flowers, and clover. I felt like a baker.  Mud caked under my nails the way some cooks get covered in flour and other ingredients. I also remember feeling proud of my creations and pretending to eat them with my friends. I have learned to let my boys be boys and get dirty. It wasn’t something that came naturally to me, but I know getting out and enjoying the earth is fun.  My boys thrive in their creative, free, dirty play, and I wanted them to experience making mud pies the way I remembered making them. They can be a little rowdy and a little silly, so I thought I’d add some good friends of ours  (little girls) to the mix. Needless to say, the afternoon didn’t go quite as I imagined as you’ll see below. There wasn’t a single mud pie created, but there was laughter, the occasional tear at the shock of being so filthy, and bliss.  All in all, the day was a hit.  If they forget just how dirty they got on the day I thought they’d make mud pies…there’s photo proof to remind them forever.