Some things we've been doing to entertain ourselves/keep cool this long, hot, dry summer.

Back yard swimming pool: Usually we discourage removing the water, but this year, we're actually glad when they transfer it around the yard a bit. Everything is dried and brown, but with any luck it's still just "dormant" and not "dead."

Using the wagon as a boat. Note that the bucket on the wagon handle is the anchor, which can be lowered or raised as needed.

Building block castles

Getting amazingly dirty at preschool (I call this "dirt goatee")

Painting with water colors. I am usually a firm believer in the "art at school" method, but the kids had fun with this on Monday afternoon when it was 98 degrees outside.

The happy face belies the reason for this picture, which was to document Daniel's first pizza cheese burn on his chin from the previous day. Ouch!

We made it through the tee-ball season with both boys sustaining interest and enthusiasm throughout. Parental enthusiasm waned toward the end, especially as the temperatures climbed into the upper 90s but stayed 1 degree below the cancellation cut-off (100 degrees.) It was the right call to have them on the two different teams this year, but I would not look to repeat the two hours in the park twice a week in the future. Next year Edward will move beyond Parks & Rec tee-ball though, so the issue is more likely to be the need to be in two places at once.

They've also both asked to sign up for soccer in the fall. Busy busy!