The kids were good on our errands and it was hot out so we surprised them and stopped at the water park by our house to play in the free splash pad. While they were playing Owen said “Man, this is an awesome adventure!!” 🙂 Luckily I had old towels in the car.
Julie had promised the kids they could do water balloons and we were running out of time so tonight was finally the night! Of course it took longer to fill up the balloons then it did for the fight, but the kids had a blast.
They wanted to do more balloons but we convinced them that playing in the water wind be more fun!
Our local fireworks were tonight, so we had our “F It Friday” group together for a “Suck It Saturday” instead! After some delicious drinks (and refills!) and dinner…
…the kids played in the water while we watched and tried to stay out of the spray zone. One dad (Eric) joined in the fray…
Then it was off on a caravan to the equestrian center (where we watched from last year, too). The kids ran around and played and did sparklers…and eventually watched some of the fireworks. I think Owen sat with me and Katie for about five minutes and then he was off with his friends.
Both kids had fun and were happy and I got to spend another night with our great friends…and that’s just about all I can ask for. (Well, if Tom would have been there it would have been even better!) 🙂
I took Katie to Occoquan to do some Pokemoning and since it was so nice, we went for a walk across the bridge to the waterfall she loves.
The pool is still quite cold so Katie was playing in the puddle. 🙂
Finally getting in.
Since we were away house hunting, it was up to Gramma Jean and Grandpa David to take the kids to opening day of our community pool.
We were planning on taking the kids mini golfing on our last morning, but of course, today is the best weather day we’ve had all week so we went to the ocean instead! (We actually gave them the choice, but there was no hesitation.)
Today was a beach day in the morning as it was in the 60s by 9am! Owen LOVES playing in the waves and he won’t come to shore until you call him in! Katie would rather dig in the sand than be tossed around by waves. The water is fairly cold—to the adults! (Tom came down for a bit and jumped in with Owen but then came right back out!!) Gramma made Katie into a mermaid and then made a lobster for herself!
Then we ran into a familiar face—Nancy (used to work with Gramma)!
Our first trip down to the ocean—just to look—ended up with two totally soaked kids! We weren’t surprised. 🙂
Me and Gramma Jean could NOT get the twirly sticks to fly. Tom was easily able to.
I looked up and Owen was just standing the ocean with his hands in his pockets. LOL
Gramma Jean took this awesome picture of Katie. I think I’ll be hard pressed to take a better one this week.
We only went twice this summer—and today was the only time Owen got to go! Where did this summer go?! (Oh yeah, I was lazy and just always took them to our pool instead of driving a 45-minute round trip.) And Tom was home early today so he went with us! Unfortunately it was a bit chilly and the kids were cold after about a half hour.
So earlier this summer I bought three afternoon tickets for Pirate’s Cove Water Park from a deal site—and we finally got around to using them today (which we had to since they close on Labor Day!).
So we get there at 3, get the bag unpacked, get in the pool, and within 15 minutes, it was announced that everyone had to exit the main pool and it would reopen in one hour. (They didn’t say it was poop, but we were 99% sure that’s what it was.)
Ugh.
The whole point of this place (for me!) is that Katie and Owen can both go in the main pool so I don’t have to be in two places at once—the big waterslides with Owen or the kiddie pool with Katie (and neither has to be bored sitting out at the other). So first we went to the kiddie pool where Katie had fun and me and Owen sat on the edge of the pool. Then Owen wanted to do the big waterslides so we went over there for a bit and sat and watched him. (Katie was tall enough but she refused to try them…even though they weren’t much different than the one she loved in Kalkaska.) Then we went back to the kiddie pool and left Owen at the slides.
The hour passes and everyone gets back in the main pool. Within, I’d say, 30 minutes, they announced the pool was closed again for 45 minutes! And this time I know it was poop because I saw a lifeguard get gloves on and reach down into the pool…and then as we were filing out, I saw little pieces of poop all over.
SERIOUSLY, PEOPLE? I know you want your little ones to have fun in the “big” pool but COME ON. Have some respect for EVERYONE ELSE. The world doesn’t revolve around YOU. 👿
So, to recap, we got there at about 3:05 and were in the pool until 3:15 and then we were in the pool from 4:15-4:45. So 45 minutes total—and they close at 6! So I told the kids to pack up, we weren’t staying, and I was asking for a refund. They were actually dealing with a few rainchecks as we walked out, so the guy didn’t even question me and handed me a voucher for three full-day passes! So instead of just an afternoon, we now had a whole day! If we wanted to try it again, that is…
I loved the Facebook comments:
Once again this year, Owen decided to have his birthday party at the community pool with Costco pizzas and cake (which I forgot to get a picture of)! The trade off is that many of his friends are away on vacations…but even though we had a small turnout and it was about 110°, everyone had fun!
After his party, one of his friends came back to spend a few hours. They had fun playing Xbox and then building Legos.
After he left, Owen opened his gifts and was COMPLETELY GEEKED to get some Ninjago Legos, a bunch of Pokemon cards, a Nerf bow and arrow, a Star Wars board game, and $15 cash. This was my favorite card he got:
And it didn’t take long before Owen and Katie had their noses buried in Pokemon cards.
After the insanely hot weather lately, the pool is FINALLY at a temperature in which I will actually get in and stay in for a bit—85°! And maybe because it was almost 100° and the sun was blazing hot and a quick dip only kept me cooled off for maybe 10 minutes. So I got in the pool and floated around with the kids.
Does anyone else think she looks like Izzy here? That’s all I can see.
New friends (a 1st grade teacher I think I mentioned earlier in the summer).
Our neighbors and new friends, Kayleigh and her mom Julie (Julie was our house/cat sitter while we were on vacation).
Then I let Katie have her turn with the camera (since she didn’t get a turn the last time). She actually did pretty well overall, getting more usable ones than I’d predicted.
She did get her finger in quite a few. 🙂
The weather was great in the morning, and we could tell it was going to be a perfectly gorgeous day. Of course. GRRR. :p
And better pics from Sunset Rock.
But, since it was so nice, we decided to walk back to town instead of paying $15 for the shuttle.
Stopping to pick wild raspberries.
Stopping to rescue snails from the trail! They were all over!
Waiting for the boat off the island. 🙁
Grannie sent me pics all along the way. They stopped at McDonalds twice plus playgrounds…so they had a ball.
Finally at Papa and Grannie’s!
When the weather gives you crappy beach days, you improvise at home!
Cousins: Izzy (almost 14), Owen (7.5), Anna (12), and Katie (4)
This is the look we got when we asked Katie if she wanted to try the waterslide. She wanted nothing to do with it—even though she went down it before and loved it.
And then she up and decided she wanted to do it—and couldn’t get enough! After the first few times down, she didn’t even want Tom there to catch her. She just swam over to the edge all on her own!
The Pre-K ends one day before the rest of the school and it’s their tradition to have a water day! Katie was SO excited to wear her ladybug bathing suit to school! Tom was home early for a doctor’s appointment so we were both able to attend the event!
Circle time!
She always wants to sit in it (like she used to do when she was little) but it’s a different table plus she’s too big…so she “rinses” her feet in it.
After the events of the past few days, we wanted to let the kids have some fun!
And a compilation of slides…
I wish I had discovered the sprayground before the end of the summer—it’s quite close to home and the kids LOVE it.
I didn’t take many pics because we were there with friends (she has a little one so I sat with her and didn’t want my phone near the water) but I got this great one of Owen. 🙂
I love when the kids amuse themselves.
I had promised Owen we would take him so today was the day! Both kids had a blast! (I remembered to take cups!)
Owen was very proud of this:
She always wants to comb my hair but I only let her on days that I wash and condition it.
He said it was costume day so we did this (he can’t get in/out of his costumes by himself).
ABCs while shopping.
This is what she was busy doing while I wasn’t watching. And this is her pout when I tell her she needs to pick them all up.
She tried a ham and cheese (no condiment) sandwich—and actually ate most of it!
I decided to make my all-time favorite garlic toast today because the bread was on sale B1G1 at the store.
“Mama, I want to put the water in please.” Except 98% of it didn’t make it in.
Outdoor lap selfie!
The little stink beat me!!
I read about this place right after we moved here but it took awhile to actually get there! We went today with friends.
Katie wasn’t AS excited as I thought she’d be, but she did have fun.
