eternally chaotic

The South: The heat and humidity can become annoyingly unbearable in the summer, temperatures rising way over 100 degrees.  To stay cool and enjoy our summer vacation we have decided to spend lots of much needed time in the cold refreshing waters.  Mommies and Daddies get to relax and kiddos are able to release wild energies that are built up and have a blast in the process.

It was very entertaining to watch the boy’s play with Jacob’s new flippers.  Isaac spent most of the day using them as paddles on his hands while riding his tube.  Jacob tried them for a short period and decided today wasn’t the day to learn (water guns were way more exciting).  Israel or should I say “Scuba Steve”, (lol) swam around the pool like a wild shark amusing us girls (Piper, Violet & I)

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What I thought might be a slow weekend has turned into quite the opposite.  The cold weather broke, amazingly only a few days after having snow on the ground, and the temperature has risen to a comfortable level in the sixties (or better).  Enough that an impromptu dinner was had with the Thompson family Friday night at a small park near their house.  We ate pizza, grapes and chocolate cake and played through the evening.  There was one moment in particular where I was wishing I had brought the camera.  Piper, Whitley, and Violet all crowded onto a tire swing suspended from some chains on swivel.  Once they were on and secure we spun them round and round all the while with each of the girls giggling and yelling for more.  Violet in particular had me laughing.  At first she sat down like the other girls but would not relinquish a piece of cake so she held on with only one hand.  Having never been on such a contraption before, let alone spun in circles on it, she certainly showed nothing but excitement.  Even during the few times when the single hand came free and  she started to come free did she barely flinch, only wanted to be sat right again so the spinning could continue.

The fun continued on Saturday.  We meet the Hewitsons, Thompsons, Farleys and many others at Jeronimoes to celebrate Conner’s forth birthday.  We have been to a few different jumpy gyms but this one was pretty fun.  It wasn’t crowded with overage kids and there was plenty of inflatables to pick from to keep even the pickiest of the bunch having fun.  Piper had a great time sliding and jumping with all her buddies.  There was enough even for the little kids that I wished later on (for a few short minutes) that I had brought Violet as well.

After an afternoon nap and recharge we were invited to dinner with the Hewitsons and Farleys.  This is where we were introduced to the toy of the summer.  I will likely hear about this marvelous contraption until I purchase it, and then I will continue to hear about it.  Michelle had mentioned to me in the past, and even showed me a picture of it, but seeing it in action certainly is better than a still any day.  The Extreme Coaster is what it is called.  Pretty cool toy – they need an adult version as well.  Piper took right to playing with it and certainly didn’t want to share once she started.  Next time we need to get two of them side-by-side and takes bets on how goes farther or faster.  Even Violet wanted in on the action so after she climbed the ramp we would put her in the car and let her ride it down just like the bigger kids.  I thought it might scare her or she might fall out but that wasn’t the case.  Violet loved it.  Even without the car to ride down she would climb to the top and scoot down the ramp on her bottom – all the same to her.  I didn’t get any video or photos but Paul took a few for me on his new toy:

Sunday came to quick as well.  We were supposed to meet the Farleys at the Zoo but ended up sleeping in too late and had plans in the afternoon with the Sways.  I didn’t remember to set my clock forward and hour to mark the end of daylight savings time and awoke to a message from Paul letting me know the were at the Zoo.  Sorry we missed you guys.  Once we finally go up Piper and Violet both were excited to see Zack and Kerri and their new little doggy, Princess – rightly named coming to our house.  We turned the afternoon into a cookout complete with sunshine, burgers, dogs, and fries.  The kids, and the dogs, wore themselves out – and us in the process.  Hard to believe the weekend has passed so quickly.  I guess after being mostly cooped up while it has been cold, wet, or both, any chance to play in the sun seems to fly by.

Spring is still a little ways off but this weekend the girls got their first taste of it.  Not only was it unseasonably warm out but they played outside nearly every minute of it.  After being stuffed in the house with only a few trips out, and those not for extended periods, into the bitterness of a cold winter it was a relief to get some fresh air.

Piper especially got some time to play in the backyard.  Solo time at that.  She asked if she could go out to play with her princess castle and dump trucks.  The weather was nice, the gate was shut, I had no reason why she couldn’t.  I didn’t think she would stay out for long, particularly on her own, but she suprised me by playing for about an hour.  I peaked out several times and even ventured out onto the deck to listen to her tell various imaginary people to do various tasks – I think the princess thing might be getting to her head – pretty soon we are all just going to be servants with tasks to perform – as long as someone else gets laundry I will be happy.  She even had on her Snow White dress which remained remarkably clean – likely due to the fact that her servants were doing all the work.

Later on Saturday we met a bunch of friends at the park.  This was a first for us and a rare treat.  Typcially we get to see one friend or another but seldom so many at the same time.  We met up at Pinckneyville Park, in a particular corner that doesn’t get to busy.  The kids played hard on the fortress of a playground and in particular on a tall, long, enclosed circular yellow slide.  They would all get in at the top and go down as a large mass.  Only did it a few times but it certainly looked like fun.

After a couple of hours playing we headed home only to learn that another friend, Kristen and Angel, were down the hill at another playground at the same time.  Everyone had the same idea thanks to the great weather.

Michelle and Zana, both with cameras captured a good shot of all the kids just before everyone left.

From left to right, back to front we have:  Whitley, Conner, Eli, Piper, Patrick, Joshua, Riley, and Violet.  What a great weekend!!!

The Girls kept busy this weekend.  It started Friday night with a My Little Pony movie extravaganza.  Zana gave the girls a dvd of the MLPs and once Piper found out it existed there was not stopping it from finding its way into the player.  Missy had let her watch it earlier in the week as well but I think that was only a taste, or at least a wetting of the appetite.  Interestingly enough Piper has only been recently interested in the ponies.  We picked her up a few, along with a small barn and accessories, but until she watched the movies about each pony I don’t think there was any real understanding with what they were – Princesses – Pony Princesses!!!  Now, after making the connection, she is all about them.  All of the sudden toys long dead in the play room have a new purpose.

Saturday was an early start as we went over to the Thompson’s for another playdate.  This time though we got to see Ansley and her new sister Calli as well, a rare treat for the girls indeed.  I know Piper enjoyed the company because she talked about it for the remainder of the day once we left post lunch (thanks Zana!!!).  Her and Whitley get along great and have seen much of each other recently but playing with Ansley outside of school is rare and it was good to see the three of them hang out and have fun.  There was even a time when the three of them went up stairs and played in Whitley’s room – amazingly there seemed to be no conflict, no musical dress swapping and no real drama to speak of.  The other three, Riley, Violet, and Calli played downstairs with each other.  It is fun to watch as they are significantly different in age and the interaction varies from actual playing, to tug of war over something, to chasing, to wrestling, to trying to do what the older girls are doing, wash-rinse-repeat.

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Piper and Violet spent this past weekend playing with Whitley, Cassidy, and Riley.  Well mainly it was Piper doing the playing and Violet getting dressed up and chased around by the older girls while they called her Ursula.

Saturday was a play date with the Thompson’s and girls spent the afternoon playing at their house.  The main game was obviously “I want to be <insert princess name here>” dressup where each of the girls picked an outfit and various accessories, chased each other around, grouped up and chased Violet and Riley, got bored with dressup and played with toys.  At some point Zana turned on some music, I think she said it was Hewy Lewis, a favorite of Whitley’s rock and roll selection, and all the kids started dancing.  I wish one of us would have had a camera to catch a few pictures of them dancing together.  All in all Saturday was a lot of fun. (more…)