"Mom, it's too hot..."

Well, yes, to say it's hot here in Midwest would be an understatement.  High temps. and heat indexes of low hundreds can make for some interesting days.  We have a kiddie pool on the deck that we use every year but this week has been the exception.  Unless it gets fresh water everyday (which doesn't happen) the water just heats up to much and then it's more like a hot bath than a refreshing dip.

The girls have actually been out in it in the morning time when the sun hasn't hit the deck yet and  it has proven to be a nice distraction from the heat.

We ventured to the city pool today and even that was warm.  Like, too warm.  But it was cooler than playing outside and better than being inside.

How do you beat the heat?

Two weeks ago Matthew and I built our own sprinkler using directions from Family Fun.  The kids have enjoyed it and the nice part about sprinklers right now is that the water is always cold!  So, no sitting in luke warm water.  Bleh.

This picture refreshes me.  It was taken last week when the water was brand new so that water Matthew is dumping is cold!  As I was cleaning up the pool I was dripping with sweat and wondered why I was trying so hard not to get wet.  So I didn't have my swim suit on, who cares? Certainly not me when it's this hot out and I'm in my own backyard!  Ahhhh, how refreshing it was to douse myself with the hose.  I can still remember it.

It's 6:42pm and still 97 degrees with a heat index of 103.  That's hot.

Here is Matthew measuring pipes for me to cut.

Doesn't this look like fun?  Ours is quite wobbly and 9 times out of 10 someone goes rogue with one of the pieces and has a spray fight.  I'm not sure if that makes any sense but it has taught me to let go of my expectations when it comes to kids and playing.  If they are still having fun, even though it's not how I thought it would be it's okay.  

Really it is.

And with that, I'll say goodnight.  It's time to get these tired kids ready for bed!

In your face...

I love summer for this reason alone.  You can run through the sprinkler and not get cold.  It's hot here in the midwest!  Our days almost always include water, whether it's at home or the public pool.  I love that this is a part of my kids' childhood.

Last week Ella Jane spent her afternoons at camp and this week it's Matthew's turn.  It's such a nice way to break up the combination of kids.  It's just the girls for the afternoons this week and today we decided to be outside with our homemade sprinkler.

Instead of running through look what they wanted to do instead...

Hope your summer is off to a great start!

Editing...

Now that Picnik is gone I've been looking for a new photo editing website.  Picmonkey seems to fit the bill so I'm having fun trying out a few new things.  Kind of goes with the overall sense of change, yes?

When it's not too scorching hot we bbq and lately while were at it we roast a marshmallow too.  Summer at our hosue usually involves a swim on the back deck or if the kids are really lucky, a trip to the local pool.

I like these pictures because it captures a lot of how we spend our time.  Our back deck sees a lot of sun (more so since we cut down two dying trees in preparation for a backyard redo) and while I love an afternoon swim I especially love watching the kids take an after dinner swim in the shade but still surrounded with warm air.

Ahhhh....

But then we have to wrangle them up for bed and that usually doesn't go as smoothly.  :)

A new look...

I'm trying on something new here.  I like change and I don't at the same time.  I rearrange furniture when I'm restless for something new.  I like that kind of change.  I don't really buy new clothes until I need them. I've gone shopping a few times to get some short sleeved t-shirts but haven't found any I like so as a result I just wear tank tops.  Isn't that funny, that I don't have any t-shirts?

Anyway, so there is a new look here and I'm trying to get used to it.  I think it may just grow on me.  Let's add a photo and see how that goes.

Mmmm...what do you think?

Four and a new baby bird...

 

We had Sara's party today with a few of her friends.  Who knew you could do so many things with a noodle?  I sure didn't.  These ideas came from the May issue of Family Fun magazine.  I changed it up a bit because I had younger kids but really, the possibilities are endless!  We tossed bean bags through these holes.  Big kids can toss javelines.

And look who hatched sometime this morning?  In between activities we checked on our newest little baby bird.

More active, outside fun...

Lemonade after all that running around.

Celebrating four.

Taking a break from the chaos that is a birthday party to capture ourselves.

Happy Birthday to our girl.

Because I wanted to see the date...

and the face of this girl to go with it.  She's FOUR today!  What a special girl she is and it is with great anticipation that she has been looking forward to this day.

Grandma and Grandpa are in town to celebrate wtih us.  Grandma's was yesterday so celebrating has been the name of the game.

And helping the kids with their knitting,

And reading bedtime stories,

And daytime stories,

and playing lots and lots of games.

My, this girl is growing up and changing fast.  Look at this face!  My goodness.

All are in bed now after a very busy day.  I know they had fun and I'm glad Sara got her wish; to spend her birthday with Grandma!

Do you see what I see?...

We've been seeing a lot of new things these days.  We found this mama's nest yesterday in our yard.  She's chosen an interesting place to be but very well hidden.  The only reason I found her was because she kept flying out everytime I walked by the side of the house. 

 

I'm not the only one seeing new things around here.  This guy can see a lot more clearly now!  Who knew?  It's funny, you just don't know until you know.  He gets to wear them all day everyday and thankfully he's quite taken to it. 

This girl decided to start a garden along side her mama.  The starts are finally taking off and I'm not sure who gets more excited; the kids or me when we see an itty bitty new little tomato srout.  It's really pretty amazing.

Excited to try this new venture of gardening.  I usually buy two tomato plants at Market and call it good.  But this year I thought I'd give the seedling thing a try.  It's very much a thrill and hoping they will continue to grow and produce once we get them into the ground!

Crazy, crazy, crazy...

Mmmm...my length between posts seem to be getting longer.  There are some months where I only find myself online a few times a week and I'm usually not here in this space.  I've been thinking a lot lately about how my life is very much not like everyone else's in this way.

I don't have a cell phone.

Ack! you say.  Right now, at this point in my life it just wouldn't benefit me.  It'd be one more thing for me to keep track of and honestly I'm not the kind of person who likes to talk on the phone in public anyway.

Not the norm.  I know.

Another thing I don't have?  A laptop.  So if I'm going to be on the computer I'm coming in here to the office and turning this desktop on and really, there are some days when I just don't feel like sitting still for 3-4 minutes while the computer boots up.

Thus the long absence I suppose.

My days of late seem to be crazy stressful.  Some of the kids are in this incredibly challenging place right now which means I'm usually too mad to come here and rave about them.  :)  ha ha.

We do have our good moments of course.  Everyone does.  So on that note a few photos from last month.

Shall we?

{At the maple syrup festival; the other bag was white, I'm not sure why this one is yellow}

{Sometimes we wonder why everyone has their own room when they all like to sleep in our bed}

{I love it when they just fall asleep. It's so sweet.}

{On their own accord, helping me remove wallpaper.}

{7:30am; hunting for worms}

{Sara}

{Ella Jane}

{I will never tire of this girls clothing combinations}

{The tinker toy invention that Matthew rigged up for Ella Jane's tissue.  Now "all she has to do" is pull from up above!}

{Sara digging for worms}

{Sara loves worms (so does Ella Jane) and is so gentle with them}

{Getting ready to play chess with Matthew}

{So much more fun to play Mario style}

{Sara on the trike}

And, in a very tiny nutshell that sums up our time in March.  Did you notice the snow in one shot and shorts in another?  It was very (and wonderfully) warm!  Although winter does have it's perks it reminded me that yes, I am indeed a warm weather gal.  Looking forward to more of it.