Hot Summer Day

Bright and early this morning, I found myself driving Alex and our teenage guest to the high school as they readied to board a flight to Seattle for a 5 day trip. This was not his first trip away, but something about sending him on the plane felt a bit more uncomfortable. Alex was worried about his ears hurting terribly as they had six years ago when we flew to Miami. He has dreaded planes ever since. I was worried about the plane in general, as I am not fond of the lack of control one has when somehow suspended in the air in tons of metal that nature had surely intended to remain on the ground.

Tubby and I hung out in the parking lot for as long as possible. We had been among the first to arrive, waited while the bomb/drug sniffing dogs went through everyone's luggage and carry-ons, and 45 minutes later, the kids boarded the buses for the airport. We waved good-bye to Alex, already missing him before we got out of the parking lot. How am I ever going to make it through him leaving for college in a few years?

It was so HOT today, already 90 degrees by noon. Against my own desires, I helped the kids set up the waterslide in the back yard, which also gave me the afternoon job of waterpark supervisor. Loving the heat (not), I had an exhausting day just sitting there in the shade. The kids, on the other hand, had a blast climbing up and down the inflatable thing and splashing in the water below. The steamy weather did not dissuade them at all from running around the yard, making up new games. One of the favorites for the boys is setting up the Crazy Daisy sprinkler that flips and flaps all over the place erratically spraying water on everything within it's reaching perimeter. The boys like to make up ways to sneak up on the Daisy and overtake it. Today, they emptied large clear boxes from the garage which worked quite well for them to maneuver strategically, protected behind their see-through shields. It is always funny to see them combat a $10 sprinkler that often beats them at their own game.

Our backyard bliss ended abruptly as Laura fell victim to attack by lawn chair. Poor girl had been minding her own business, taking a break from the sun, lying on the ground in the shade, when all of a sudden, the wind came up from out of nowhere(as it is known to do on our point) and blew over a nearby chair, the sharp corner of the wooden arm rest causing a bleeding gash only half an inch from the corner of Laura's left eye. It was deep enough in the thin skinned area to bleed for the remainder of the afternoon and evening. When Daddy arrived home six hours later with some Dermabond, the small bleed finally stopped on it's own, and Laura avoided a painful $800 stitch at the local ER.

While Michael kept tabs at home on the injured, Crispy, Tubby, and I subjected ourselves to more heat exposure at the sunny, shadeless, baseball field where Jonny played tonight. The baby was a constant crank, not enjoying the hot weather. Big brother Crispy came to the rescue, pushing Tubby in the stroller along the sandy field, back and forth, until his own cheeks were bright red from exhaustion and he could do it no longer. Grandma Pam surprised us with a visit at the field, and she also took her turn attempting to appease the young lad, but to no avail. Jonny made a good hit, a close miss, and an almost really great catch. He sure is enjoying this...but tonight it was almost tortuous watching them all on that hot dusty field. We all just needed to get inside with some good A/C. I do not understand why no one else will take me up on my idea to move to Alaska. Seriously, let's go.