June is well under way (how is it already almost the middle of the month???!!!) and we are melting enjoying the warmth of summer.
I would say that we’ve been beating the heat at the pool, but when we showed up this week ready for a swim, we were rather disappointed to see that the pool was empty and closed until the weekend. Something about teenagers being lifeguards and school still in session.
C’mon people. Priorities.
Jumping for joy on the day the pool opened. Probably would have been cruel to take a picture of their crestfallen faces when we couldn’t go…
So almost everyday this week I’ve been dreaming of splash pads, puddle jumpers, and watermelon in our lounge chairs, but it wasn’t meant to be. At least there’s always the cool water of the river and popsicles in a shady backyard.
(Also, this post on essential pool gear by another mom of three was spot on, at least for us too).
At home, I’m one step closer to making my kids’ mud kitchen in the backyard. My one step being pulling all the junk ‘stored’ behind our shed over to the future spot and leaving it there for a while longer.
Best case scenario, it will be a real case of “trash to treasure.”
Worst case scenario, I’ve given my husband a chance to say “I told you so.” Not that he would…
Nonetheless, I’m optimistic that the mud kitchen is going to be a big hit. Especially after watching my kids play with the old sink laying on the ground next to an under-the-bed container full of water. Just like the Nester says, “it doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.”
see the “after” picture of our repurposed mud kitchen here
Or, it doesn’t have to be Pinterest perfect, made with pallets you found free on the side of the road, or color coordinated to be a hit with kids.
Next week, my husband and father-in-law have promised to help me with the parts that require power tools. Because while I’m all for feminine capability, I’m also very good with delegating. Shared work? Yes please.
I’m excited to share it with you, in all its repurposed goodness, and to add a pin to Pinterest that is a bit more simple functionality and less, well, like the backyard kids’ book I can’t help but pick up every time we go to Lowes. For the love of magical multi-storied tree houses, let’s keep it simple people.
This picture isn’t at all related, but you can see why I had to share it, right? SUUMMERRRR.
Speaking of Pinterest, I’ve been busy planning my eldest’s birthday party. Those two things go hand in hand these days, right?
He wants a dinosaur party. Just like last year. But since last year I was still coming out of the newborn fog, we just had food and dinosaur tails. We didn’t dig in the sandbox for dinosaur fossils and he hasn’t let me forget it all year.
This year there will be fossils.
Or else I will have to keep having dinosaur parties every year like some kid’s birthday party version of Groundhog Day. Over and over until I get it right.
I think the current push to not overcomplicate birthdays is a wonderful idea, but really I think it’s just another occasion of doing what works for your family and not feeling judged if it’s different than what a friend would do. My friend Kaylyn puts together amazing parties. Me? Not so much. But that’s ok.
I’m ordering what I can off of Amazon and planning a few simple activities and food for thirty. Or forty. Or twenty. Hopefully I’ll know better next week…
Really, all the kids want is cake anyway.
Let them eat cake.
{UPDATE: Our outdoor dinosaur party was a success, including this menu for fifty)
The cake was ALL I did for my second son’s party this winter.
I don’t usually blog at night because by this time my mommy brain has exerted itself to the limit where safe operation is now questionable. If the aforementioned happenings in our home this week are intelligible, I plead leniency. Too much toddler screaming, toilet missing, and forgotten loads of laundry (all today) have taken their toll.
I will leave you with a promise to share one of our favorite chicken dishes as soon as possible. We had it tonight and I was again reminded of the fact that it needs to be shared.
Quick and tasty and coming soon! 😉
Check out the recipe for this almond & parmesan crusted chicken!
What has your week been like? Any summer projects you’re working on?
[…] dough was almost as last minute as possible, but after neglecting to make them the year before and hearing about it whenever birthdays were mentioned, I didn’t want to leave them out of this year’s […]