Busy day...

Yesterday we had a lot planned.  Z went to Bugs and Butterflies in the morning, and I took the little boys to the Zoo to meet some friends.  It was kind of nice to just be able to pull the wagon and chat and not have to worry about Z at the same time.  But it was literally 97 degrees outside, and it was just so hot!  The boys did really well, and saw a few animals.  At least they actually recognized that they were looking at animals, and that the animals were moving.  That is a success. 
We came home, ate lunch, and took naps, then met a our good friends at their neighborhood pool.  And this is where the real success comes in. 
Between me and Rachelle, we have 7 boys, ages 5 and under, and we took them all to the pool by ourselves. 
We started with the biggest challenge:  I am not able to take the wagon in with me.  So I have to get all my kids across the lot, down a hill, past the big pool, and into the gated baby pool by myself.  Oh yeah, add in 4 lifejackets, 2 towels, and a huge backpack.  I held 2 hands, Z held the third (for a minute, anyway, then I was left with all 3 hands).  The little boys did REALLY well though, until we had to wait to be checked in, when they got into the recycle bin (including aluminum beer cans) and the sandfilled cigarette bins.  YUCK.  But we made it safely through and into the gated baby pool.  It was slow going, but we did it. 
And the boys did so well!  I took life jacket just in case, but since it was gated, I wasn't worried.  There were other people there too, and I have no problem with  a "village" helping me ("um, one is on that chair; um, did you see him fall?").  No one was judgmental, just helpful, which was nice.  All of our boys played in the baby pool, then Rachelle took the 2 big boys and her baby into the big pool, while I kept my 3 little ones and her middle one in the baby pool.  I was a bit nervous, since Z has not been in a big pool at all in over 2 years (we kind of totally missed the pool last summer!).  He did ok, but it took some warming up.
And then, maybe this was the biggest challenge, now that I think about it...the cleaning up.  I had to change the 3 little boys out of swim diapers (one poopy), keep them from getting back in, try to feed them snacks (it was close to 6), pick up the toys we brought, gather the gear, and keep Z from going ballistic.  And THEN follow the same trek back to the car (past the big pool, up the hill, across the lot).  And they were tired and whiny and Z didn't want to help.  The way out wasn't as good as the way in, but no one fell in the big pool, and they all were holding hands with someone else as we crossed the lot. 
We both drove thru McDonalds for dinner, then went back to her house and ate. 
We were both actually pretty proud of ourselves, and willing to do it again.  I'm not sure if it will be easier next time since we know what we're facing, or harder, as the kids get more used to it and more daring. 
Summer is young, though, and we will try again!

A hot summer night

Last weekend was HOT.  Actually, it has been hot a lot recently (um, summer). 
So after dinner one night, a non-bath night, we headed out to the backyard, and I started to water the garden.  Then the boys. 
So.  Much.  Fun.
L took awhile to warm up to it, but the other boys loved it.  Especially Z.  And I could be pretty crazy with him.  He ran up and down and back and forth and I just drilled him with the hose.  He finally stripped down, and with Spiderman on his bottom, I just couldn't resist spraying his rear as much as I could...what a target!  And he thought it was the best thing in the world.
It was one of those nights where I didn't mind at all when I got wet too, it was that hot.
It was just kind of perfect. 

Z, pre-stripped to undies, pre-I won't let him have the hose anymore. 

  C

N-seriously, this kid loves to swing.  He just goes over and tugs on the swing and whines until we get him up. 

L in mid run. 

We barely even bother trying to sit on our swing anymore (a Mother's Day gift from 3 years ago).  They all climb up and just take it over.  (C, N, L)

C loved the water so much, the next day when I finally took the hose away from him (without turning it on), he climbed up on the deck, hauled down the SlipNSlide, and brought it over to me.  If I hadn't told Z no about a million times already, I would have turned it on for C, because of his persistence! 

Slip N Slide

I wanted to get a Slip N Slide for Z, and finally did after he tried it out at the neighbor's house.  He is not great at it at all, yet.  He runs, drops to his knees, and army crawls down it.  Pretty funny.  But he enjoys it. 

The neighbor also had a small ring for the little boys that we tried.  C is about the only one who "enjoys" it, and I use that term pretty loosely!  I think that it is still just too cold for them, and they're still unsure of it.  They'll get there. 

I even put the coveted red chair in the middle to try to entice them over...

C

L and C (you can see how excited L is)

L

N

Isn't he beautiful?  Get over those eyes. 

C was even willing to try out the Slip N Slide. 

C playing with Z while N tries to get away.