Pool

One of the big reasons we bought our house was the neighborhood pool. Since the pool opened 9 days ago Alyce and I have been to pool 4 times.  The pool is pretty great for both kids and adults. It has slides, fountains, and walk in access so the kids can go as deep as they are comfortable with.  I like the pool because we are only 9 houses away and it only takes a few minutes to get there on foot.

Alyce isn't a fan of the slide structure. It shoots water all over the place and if you get to close to it will splash you. Alyce dislikes getting her face wet so much that she will stop what she's doing, get out of the pool, and dry her face off. When we were at the pool this weekend we had a breakthrough that will get Alyce closer to the spray. I gave Alyce the baseball cap I was wearing and told her that it would keep the rain off her head and out of her face. That must have been enough because as long as she was wearing my hat she'd go up on the slide.  Not down it mind you, that would get her face wet.

Tonight after mowing the lawn Alyce and I took a trip to the pool to cool off. A few minutes after we jumped in Alyce's friend Madison showed up. Madison is a girl Alyce met while we were out for a walk one night a few weeks ago. While I was conversing with a neighbor Alyce walked over, said hi to Madison, and they started playing together. I kept my eye on them from across the pool but my involvement was not needed. They two of them played as if they had been friends forever. After 10 minutes Alyce noticed that I wasn't around and started to look for me. Even when she found me and made eye contact she didn't come over. I think she just wanted to check in.

While they were off playing I talked with Madison's mom Kim. We went on about our kids. Kim described Madison as a girl who never met a stranger. I went on to describe that Alyce is reserved and that she could learn a lot from a girl like Madison. I'm hoping that the two of them will become close friends over the summer and during school. Madison is also 4 and her birthday is just 20 days before Alyce's.

Later on near closing time I joined in the play. I was the kid's safety net so they could jump off the the edge of the pool into the "deep water" as Alyce likes to call the 3'6" deep end of the pool. Both kids had inner tubes or "floaties" around their waist so I was there to make sure they didn't jump on each other and not much else. Alyce didn't seem to have much of a problem with water splashing on her face as long as Madison was around; go figure.

When closing time finally came Alyce ran and grabbed her towel to bring it over to Madison so she could dry off with her friend. When the two parted company they shared a hug and yelled bye to each other as we turned down our respective streets.

The entire trip to the pool tonight was an absolute joy. I pleased me to no end seeing my little girl crack open her shell and have some unbridled fun. I could have sat there all night watching the two go round and round.  I have a feeling i'll be seeing a lot of the pool this summer. I'm ok with that.

Playing in the Water

Yesterday after getting back from our vacation we hung out at Mom's parents house for fathers day.  While we were there Alyce was outside on the deck playing with her own little pool.  Alyce's pool consists of a snow sled filled up with water.  It is a great way to hold water since it only gets about a few inches deep and provide lots of surface area for laying down in the water or floating lots of toys.

Alyce also had a second green bucket of water that she would transfer water to from the sled.  She used two milk jugs to do the transfers.  The cutest thing about Alyce pouring out the water was that she would tap the jug a few times to make sure the last drop made it into the bucket.




With all the toys she has she gets the most enjoyment from two milk jugs and some tap water.

Grams and Grandpa Time

On Saturday mom and I both went to the hospital to see our friend's new baby Gideon. He is a cutie and we hope that 30 years from now he and Alyce will get married (hey you never know).


While we were at the hospital Alyce was hanging out with Grams and Grandpa. Grams doesn't like being called Grandma because she thinks is sounds old. Even though she isn't "Grandma" she still gets the joy that comes with being one. Alyce spent most of the time playing in the water on their deck or watching animals on the deck. I know Alyce is having a good time at their house because whenever we drop her off for babysitting she is never sad to see us go and doesn't come running to us when we get back. Grams and Grandpa are going to be big help next weekend as we go on a mini vacation for 4 days. I can't wait!