Pool Party

It's been wicked hot here the past few days.  Maia has been beating the heat by going to the pool practically every day with Joy.  When she asked to go to the park yesterday, I just couldn't bring myself to load up our gear, the smallest kiddo, and drag our sweaty selves to the park and back in this humidity.  So, I told Mo we could set up our inflatable pool instead.  By "we," of course, I meant "Brad can do it."  He was such a trooper.  :)

Remember this?

Mo, July 2009

She's changed a bit, huh?  :)

Maia was a champ.  

That pool water was pretty much straight from the hose, and it was fuh-REEZING!

Sam was finishing up his nap inside when we were outside--don't worry, we brought the monitor out so we could hear when he woke up.

We brought Barney out with us, and he decided to get into the pool when Brad got in with Maia, too.  I didn't get a picture of that, but trust me when I tell you that wet dog smells fantastic.

 Maia wanted to play with her chalk, too.  The chalk and container were both gifts from her Uncle Brian and Aunt Karen, and she LOVES them (both the chalk and the people who gave it to her!)  :)

 I was out running errands before all of this, and when I drove up to the house I saw Brad tracing Maia with the chalk in the driveway.  Brad filled in the rest while Maia played in the pool, so when she was done, she found a "Chalk Maia."

Sam finally woke up, and I fed him and brought him out to join the fun.  Prepare yourself for a bit of a photo-dump here, but I just can't help myself from taking pictures of that kid.  I think he is just scrumptious!!  :)

He's checking out Papa's chalk-work...

...and he's a harsh critic.

 I'm apparently not the only one who thinks Sam is edible.

(I like the panicked look on Sam's face, too)

 My fellas!

Sigh.  What a cutie!

(and the baby's not too shabby, either!)

Maia decided that she would run down the sidewalk a ways to gather some dried grass clippings.  

 Am I the only parent who practically has a heart-attack whenever her child runs fast on the sidewalk?  I can't even begin to count how many times I say, "Slow down, buddy!" in any given week.  Poor kid.

Maia showed Sam her grassy treasure.  He was nonplussed.

Maia, however, knew that the grass should clearly be thrown into the pool right away. 

 I jokingly encouraged Maia to sit down in the water, and was surprised when she actually went for it.  Did I mention the water was seriously glacial?  I think you can see it on her face in the photo above.

 She might be freaked out by sprinklers, but she's no weanie when it comes to cold pool water!

Towards the end of our time outside in the pool, Maia thought it would be fun to yell.  So she did.

She said, "Oh, I think I hear an echo!"  

That was pretty cool, so she decided to SCREAM.

That kid has pipes!  

(Please note that she wore her goggles throughout most of our time outside)

It was a super-fun afternoon, even though Maia finally did tire of me taking photos.  

She said, "Mama, don't ever take a picture of me again.  Never EVER!"

Good thing I've got another one!  :)