Monday, July 27, 2009

How to make your own fun when it rains ALL THE TIME

I don't know if you've noticed, but it's been a bit rainy this summer.

In fact, today was the first day we saw sunshine in Waterloo for at least a week. Maybe more. And that sunshine was broken up with the occasional downpour.

So, when my two nieces were over late this afternoon while my sister-in-law was at the dentist, we just had to take advantage of the break in the weather to run around outside. We headed around the corner to Emily's new school to play at the playground. I promised popsicles on the way home.

As we got to the school we noticed two things: (1) a GIANT bee hive hanging in a tree right above our heads on a person's lawn (not to sound too sadistic but in my experience those are eradicated before they get bigger than the average person's head... right? At least, that's what I've done. On the other hand, this was high enough that the bees didn't get too annoyed by us and the girls (and I) loved watching them go in and out of their architectural marvel) and (2) the giant black cloud gathering above us.

We played for about 10 minutes before the rain started. Just a sprinkle really. Nothing to worry about. Then the downpour. We headed for shelter under the climbers. After a few minutes I realized waiting it out could have us there for another hour so I shouted: "Who wants to walk in the rain and get popsicles?!" The answer was a resounding: "I do!"

As we walked through the downpour back toward the corner store, Claire said "This is the most fun I've ever had!" That's kind of how I was feeling at that moment too. I love walking in the rain in the summer. The temperature was warm, the rain was really wet and heavy and the kids thought it was hilarious. It was one of those summer moments that we all look forward to in the depths of February.

And then Emily slipped and landed smack in a deep mud puddle right on her bum. If I'd had the camera with me I would have snapped a photo before helping her up. I'm a good mum like that.

We got our popsicles and walked home. Hope chose chocolate, no surprise there. She loves chocolate. Anything chocolate. And when it comes to popsicles, she attacks them ferociously. And if you think that would mean taking some mean bites out of them, you'd be so wrong. She licks them until they are so completely melted and falling apart that they are unrecognizable as anything but a brown sticky puddle.

And thus, this was Hope at the end of our walk today:

I think we took great advantage of the few moments of sun, don't you?

1 comment:

Shan said...

Sounds like it was a great rainy day! Playing in the rain is a big hit here too.