Just Another Tuesday

As I sit here staring out the kitchen window wait for whatever it is I’m going to write about today to come through, I see a crow in the bird feeder. Really, it’s a bird bath, but we put food in it for the crows. He didn’t bring me any ideas either. Not even a shiny thing.

Bang had a short playdate with a friend because our cooking class was cancelled due an unforeseen emergency. So a friend came over. Instead of playing with the toys they played with the mop and vacuum. This is my kind of playdate!

We already gathered up the garbage for Kyle and Lewis. They came with their big garbage truck to pick up our garbage. The recycling truck is here now. This is also a big deal. Bang plasters himself to the window to watch. Though, he doesn’t like to get close. He says they’re too loud.

We are currently sitting here watching Justin Time and eating apples. After lunch is finished, we’ll be heading out to take down the trampoline. Time to winterize it by putting it away. While it does open a good bit of space in the backyard, it’s also an easy source of entertainment and exercise.

Halloween is coming up. We’ve received an invite to a Halloween party this weekend. Unfortunately, it’s in Australia. So I think we’ll have to decline this year. We’ll go trick or treating instead. We’ve developed a bit of a Halloween tradition since moving here.

First we go see Nanny and Guppy in the next town over. They love to see the kids and they always put together a wicked treat bag for the kids. We visit a couple friends houses while we’re there. Then it’s back to our town for supper at McDonald’s. Something fast and easy so we can get back to candy collecting. Then we visit Nanny and Pop. Again, another wicked treat bag for the kids. We’ll walk around the block trick or treating. Then drive to a few friends houses.

Back home we consolidate the loot, give the kids one small treat from the pile, then ship them off to bed. We don’t get many trick or treaters where we live. We just leave a bowl of treats on the front porch with a note instructing the treaters to take one or two. Sometime there is still some left when we get home, sometimes it’s gone. Either way works for us.  We enjoy going out more than we do staying home and handing out. It’s a family event for us.

We have some fun costumes this year. It’s the first year we’ve all dressed to the same theme. I won’t give it away until after Halloween, though. Sorry, not sorry. Some have seen it since we were just at a kids Halloween party last weekend. Some parents, including DW and I dressed up as well.

So we’re just hanging out on this regular Tuesday. We have some jobs to do. But mostly we’re just anxiously waiting to go trick-or-treating.

What are you up to today?

Advertisement

The Children and The Rain

While California is experiencing it’s fourth year of a severe drought, we here in Maritime Canada are not. It only rained twice last week – once for three days and once for four. The veggies and flowers and grass are loving it. However, this isn’t about that.

This is about letting children be children. It’s about letting your inner child out to play every now and then. It’s about playing in the rain.

There’s not much that is as childish as playing in the rain. We’ve all been caught in the rain, of course. Needing to get to/from the car in a torrential downpour or you just happen to be outside when the heavens open up. But intentionally going outside while it is raining is sure to induce giddy laughter.

Twice in the past week we have done just that. We splashed in the kiddie pool. We jumped on the trampoline. We set up the slip and slide on the hill. We splashed in puddles. We even had the neighbor’s kids join us.

I’m thankful I am young (ish) and healthy (and childish) enough to run, jump and play with two rambunctious boys. The trampoline is assembled in the spring and taken down for winter. In between it sees use every day. It’s not as slippery in the rain as it appears to be. The slip and slide is self watered when it rains. It makes for some fun photos, too. As does puddle jumping. Just take a look!

So, in conclusion, rain doesn’t just make the veggies and flowers and the grass grow. It doesn’t just wash away the dirt and grime of the world. It washes away inhibitions, it helps the child (inner and outer) grow strong and healthy. Have you played with yours lately?

Where am I?

Hi ya folks! Took a bit of hiatus there. Finished with the month long challenge in April and took a bit of time away from the blog. I’ve still been visiting a bit here and there (if I missed you let me know and I’ll come see you, too!). Life has gotten a bit crazy at house. Crash and Bang are seriously testing our parenting skills. Not to mention our sanity and patience. But more on that later. It’s still in draft form.

The trampoline is set up so that’s been going wide open. Shoes come off when they get on the trampoline and they don’t go back on. We’ve arrived at barefoot season. I sort of enjoy the black feet. Now I hear, “Dad, come jump with us! Dad, come launch us! Dad, will you popcorn us?”. Yes, yes, and yes. Most of the time. The ice and snow in the sandbox has finally thawed so the diggers are back in action.

To my readers in Australia, enjoy the fall. It’s my favorite season. It always provides perfect weather for running! I was explaining to Crash that while it’s getting warmer here, it’s getting colder there. He was amazed, naturally.