Spring Heatwave

Usually, April is a cool, wet month for us here in Seattle. This week was the antithesis of that traditional weather. We had HOT weather... I'm talking record-breaking weather multiple days in a row. We hit 91 degrees on Monday... IN APRIL!!! (Right ... global warming is a myth!)

Annika and Conor LOVED the premature heat and gleefully donned their swimsuits and took to playing in the backyard sprinkler. They giggled, splashed, jumped, played with squirt guns, slung mud, and cooled off with true childhood verve.

When the sun began to set and we called the kids inside, we were greeted with a chorus of "Ahhh!!! So soon?? Not yet!!" (Mind you, we weren't rushing them in and out of the sprinkler. They'd been outside for probably an hour and a half!)

Conor enjoying the sprinkler

I guess he can't be considered a hot head anymore!

Buca even got in on the sprinkler action!

Annika easing in to the water

Conor's new sport: sprinkler skateboarding

Annika flying through the water

Future Olympic sport: sprinkler sprinting

"Wow! Cold water!"

And now time for the squirt guns
(amazingly, the camera and I escaped  unscathed!)

Hot Sun, Almost Summer in the City

We've hit a bit of a heat wave here in Seattle. For those of you familiar with Seattle's typical June weather, hitting 85 degrees on June 7th is practically unheard of. It is bloomin' hot here!

To combat the heat a bit, we pulled out the sprinkler that Eric made last summer (impressed that he MADE a sprinkler? Yeah... so am I!) and let the kids continue their water time after their swim lessons this afternoon.

They had a marvelous time and beat the heat a bit... talk about a win!

Sprinkle Park Fun

It's no secret that we've had one heck of a warm streak of summer weather. Yes, people in other parts of the country are probably shaking their heads at how we react to temps over 80 degrees, but we aren't used to it and typically don't have AC, people... give us a break! ;)

To beat the heat one day last week, I packed up the kids and took them to a local park that has a sprinkle/water area. The kids hadn't been there before, so that was an added level of intrigue for the outing. Before we left home, I told them they needed to put on swim suits but wouldn't answer their questions asking where we were going. Muahahahah! I'm such an evil mom! ;)

As soon as we came over the top of the grassy knoll, the kids realized that we were in for a good (and watery) time. Annika was all in from the minute she saw where we were going and the fun that was about to be had. Conor was more hesitant; he wasn't quite sure of the "big kids" (aka the 8-10-year-old kiddos) who were also running around in the spouting water. Soon enough (and with a little encouragement from big sister), Conor go the hang of having fun at the sprinkle park.

The sprinkle park is basically made up of three concentric circles of sprinklers/water features. The outer circle is the most tame (for the small kids), the middle circle is more involved in terms of water activity, and then the inner area is comprised of some tall poles that have yellow half globes of water than fill with water and then tip over ... spilling water on anyone below. Conor mainly stuck to the outer ring of water fun, while Annika was EVERYWHERE... you've heard of tornado chasers, yes? She was a sprinkler/water chaser!! That kids darted here, there, and everywhere. She was in Heaven.

After an hour or so, the sun began to set, putting the sprinkle park into shadows, and chilling our soaked-to-the-bone kiddos. I wrapped them in towels, piled them into the warm car, drove home to a chorus of "when can we go back???", and took them home for warm baths.

Definitely a summer win for Annika and Conor. :)

Conor trying to control the spray

Water 1, Conor 0

Annika darting everywhere

She took a moment to clean her teeth... good oral hygiene is so important to her

Fun at the sprinkle park

Nothing like water up your nose to make you feel alive

Annika plotting her next move

Waiting, waiting, waiting for the water to fall

On to more important activities

Water run

FINALLY, the water fell

Conor attempting to lick the water off of his leg (I have no clue why!)

The cascading water feature

Conor, King of the Sprinkle Park

Conor's Sprinkler Fun

We have had an incredible summer this year. Some years have provided cool temperatures, cloudy skies, more rain that we knew what to do with, and many failed outdoor plans. This year, that is not the case. Our kids have had ample opportunities to play outside, run in the sprinkler, and enjoy a beautiful summer.

A couple of days ago, Annika wanted to ride her bike after dinner. Conor wanted to run through the sprinkler. Easy! I set them both up in the back yard and let them do their thing. I parked myself on a camp chair under the shady trees and happily watched the kids make the most of their evening. It was tranquil and fun ... the epitome of what a summer evening should be. And, yes, Conor held that stick the entire time he played in the sprinkler!

(Look closely, you can see our new hedge behind him!)

 

Spring Heat Wave

What we deem to be a heat wave here in Seattle is probably nothin' compared to what people in other parts of the world consider worthy of being called a heat wave. I tell those people, deal with it ... we're usually soggy here, so anything over 60 is a heat wave, darn it! :)

Last week, we had a play date scheduled with Annika's little buddy Allison. Fortunately, the weather was stupendous and the kids were able to have a play date that included running through the sprinkler in our front yard. They had a ball with the new sprinkler that I picked up for just such an occasion.

I'm pretty sure the kids' feet hardly touched our lawn most of the afternoon. As I look back through the pictures I took of them playing, hardly any of them included land based children. Instead, most pictures had leaping, jumping, hopping, or running little ones. So much fun. So many smiles.

After they tuckered themselves out, the kids headed to our deck, which was still bathed in warm sunshine, and enjoyed a picnic snack of grape popsicles and refreshing water. They set out towels (aka the tablecloth) as well as plastic plates, cups, and silverware on our kid-size picnic table. I'm not sure why they insisted on plastic forks, knives, and spoons, but who am I to judge what is and what is not proper popsicle picnic protocol??

Around and around and around they went

Up and over

Right on through

One of the few feet-on-ground moments of the afternoon

Allison leaping through the water

Airborne Annika

The girls enjoying their water and popsicle picnic

Popsicle boy

Best Sprinkler Day EVER

Summer has finally arrived in Seattle, and much to our shock, it was here in time for the 4th of July. The common joke around these parts is summer officially begins on July 5th, because we usually have soggy fireworks on the 4th.

It has been warm enough over the past few days for the kids to don their swimsuits and run through the sprinkler. Last year, Conor was a bit apprehensive about the sprinkler, but this year had no qualms about diving right in. Annika was an old pro at the sport and could hardly contain her excitement at the idea of running through the sprinkler.

The kids had an absolute blast running around getting wet and cooling off. Their giggled and laughed the entire time they were outside. Even when they were shivering and cold, they resisted leaving the sprinkler behind and wrapping up in their towels.

As we walked into the house, Annika proclaimed, "Best sprinkler day EVER!!" (Made my mommy heart so happy to hear that our kids are enjoying their childhood.)

Starting out with getting fingers wet

Conor enjoying the spray

Annika speeding through the sprinkler

Conor figuring out how sprinklers work

Sheer joy

Summer fun

Stopping for a little refreshment