Beating the Heat

With the summer temps reaching triple digits, there was only one way we could think of to beat the heat...

...Turn the deck into our own summer oasis.  Daddy and the big kids had a day together on Saturday while I travelled to Lewistown with Mara for the memorial service for Jill Richard.  And I think he had the right idea when he disappeared to Target on Friday afternoon for the necessary supplies to set up this pool for the kids.  Evidently they were in it all afternoon and had a blast.

When Mara and I returned from our trip, we even jumped in for a dip.  It was Mara's first time swimming, and I think she liked it.  Regardless, she looked adorable in her suit.  Me....well, not so much.  But it's about the kids, right?

Today we went to church, and then headed home for round 2 on the deck.  They're still having a blast.  Mara has had a nap in her crib for the first time, and is now happily playing beside me in her exersaucer while the big kids swim.  They even had a visit from the ice cream truck (who happened to be Jason's Key Club advisor from high school...the whole reason we ever met).  Needless to say, they enjoyed their Dora and Spiderman popsicles immensely.

We are appreciating these 80-ish temperatures a whole lot more than the super hot ones of the past few days.  VBS starts tomorrow, and with it the rat race of working and then hurrying home to get everyone fed, changed and packed up for the evening, along with snacks made to match what the other kids are having.  My prayers are for stamina for me and that the kids will have a really good time.  They're looking very forward to it.