You Know It's Hot When...

You get so sweaty playing Wii that you can't pry your shirt off!! That was Luke yesterday. Audrey and I were in the basement (me putting toys away, she was discovering toys I had taken out of her room and put down there - it was like Christmas, or a Birthday!). Anyhow, the temp in the basement was perfect, nice and cool. Luke came downstairs with one arm out of his shirt and trying to get it over his head but it was stuck to him! He was playing Wii wearing shorts and a long-sleeved shirt (he didn't take my suggestion of putting a short-sleeved shirt on) and apparently it was an active game because he was so sweaty! I helped pull his shirt off and after that he played in just his shorts. When Audrey and I had finished cleaning up we came upstairs to a stifling 82 degrees. It was a no-brainer to turn the AC on.

Earlier in the morning I successfully sneaked the kiddie pool upstairs and out the sliding door while the kids watched PBS in the living room. They were glued to the tv and it's amazing they didn't see the big blue round object go past them. I even filled it without them noticing the hose was running. Audrey saw it a few hours later and immediately changed into her swim suit and we went out after lunch. The kids spent about an hour splashing around then were too hot so we headed back into the AC. Audrey did spend some more time in the pool later in the evening, after we'd taken a walk. I went out to empty the water and she decided to help me by getting in and playing some more, in her clothes. Why take the time to change? She then proceeded to start singing and dancing for me and I had to get Ben so he could watch. We had never seen her perform like this! She usually gets shy and hushes up when we even just smile at her while she sings. Not this time! It was a whole performance of made-up songs and dances in the pool. She even bowed, wanting our acknowledgment.

Other goings on: Audrey turns 4 on Friday! Luke is doing really well in tee ball and rarely has to use the tee. He only has 10 days, wait, 9 days left as a 1st grader!

I am a co-chair for the playground design committee for Luke's new school that opens this fall. The Garner Gators with the school colors of black and gold. Our goal is to make the playground fully accessible - for physically and mentally challenged people of all ages. Garner will have a K-2 special ed class and next fall they will add a 3-6th grade class. The biggest challenge, obviously, is raising the money. An accessible structure and surface is more expensive than one that is not and the early estimate on price is upwards of $200,000 - that is for two structures and the surfaces. The new school will have one structure for the K-2nd graders and a separate structure for the 3rd-6th graders. The school district gave us $50,000 which is very generous, but it is up to our fund raising committee to raise the rest. We are currently selling bricks that we will incorporate into the landscaping somehow and they can be engraved. I believe they are $75 and $150 (two different sizes). Let me know if you would like to purchase a brick or if you would like to donate directly to the project you can send a check to the ICCSD Foundation or donate here: http://www.iccsdfoundation.org/give.htm
Please be sure to designate your donation to the PLAYGROUND fund!!
Okay, shameless plug over. :-)