Like Beach Bunnies, But Different

You may have noticed that I haven't been blogging about weekly outings to Seven Peaks this year, and that's because we're not going anymore. They changed their policy about bringing food into the park and that pretty much ruined things for us. Amie and Melinda are still going and have been happy with it, though they have to go outside the park to eat lunch, but the new policy felt like a betrayal to Michelle and I so we got refunds for our season passes.

Instead, we're going to our local pool, which allows food and is much closer. Landon and I met up with Michelle and her kids on Monday afternoon (Whitney was at a different pool with her friend Madison).


I brought cups of Tang-covered pebble ice for Michelle and I and made a believer out of her. I'm toying with the thought of putting Tang over vanilla ice cream for a creamsicle affect, doesn't that sound good?


This grasshopper took up residence on the handle of Michelle's bag, and though it was causing no harm, Eva was scandalized by its presence. Michelle didn't mind it sitting there, but apparently has bad childhood memories of hopping grasshoppers, so she wasn't keen on its random movements once it left her bag.

I actually rescued a grasshopper from the pool later in the day and was quite proud of myself for saving it from drowning. I was thinking this would be a good Karma-type thing, but then remembered the earwig I washed down my shower that morning and wondered if there are certain levels of bug-saving accolades. Surely killing bugs in your house is different than letting an innocent bug outside die, right? Maybe I'm crazy.


I decided that everything tastes better when at the pool (or beach). Landon always chooses
White Cheddar Cheez-its, and I brought Pringles. It could also be that they were both freshly newly opened, but I still think there's something more to it.


Michelle and I were very surprised to see blogging friend Lindsay sitting right in front of us with her beautiful new baby girl. Lindsay recognized Eva playing in the water and then spotted us. It was horrifying to be spotted in our swim ensembles, but it was still nice to talk to Lindsay.

I love the look of the water in the late-day sun!

Poor Michelle had shoes with some flip and no flop. Her recent $1 flip flops pulled apart and had to be trashed.

On Tuesday, Whitney and I spent 3 hours cleaning the garage (again!). She sorted through all the toy bins without complaint (amazing). She was motivated by the promise of going to the pool later in the day and by the delight she had each time she "found" a toy she thought was missing.

So we picked up Landon and his friend and finally got to the pool just after 5:00pm. The boys played great together, and Whitney played so well by herself. She used her dinosaur toy and goggles to create some sort of game. I love it that she's so independent!


Because we'd gotten to the pool so late, I was able to find a good spot in the shade to read my book. I had intended to swim with the kids, but when they didn't need my company and when I wasn't overheated I ended up loving my set-up. I could watch the kids in the pool and read my book in the comfort of my own chair. It was bliss!


Our location near the fence also gave us a handy way to hang our towels. I'm always trying to get the towels to dry in-between visits from the kids (though they never seem to appreciate or try this themselves) and this did the job beautifully. Who would have thought I'd voluntarily go to the pool multiple times a week?

**What snacks do you like to take to the pool?
Do you have issues with grasshoppers?
What's your policy on killing bugs in the house?
Do you try to dry towels in-between swim times?
Is there such a thing as pool bliss for you?**