I should say, a dog day in the life. Not as in canine, but as in the darn hot dog days of summer. Phew! It’s blazing around here. These are the days when you need to make hay between 5:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. or wait until 7:00 p.m. The in-between becomes a sluggish daze.
That said, I wonder why I chose one of these days to “capture” with my family. But, too late. You are in for a riveting treat.
Speaking of making hay, I had plans to get out of bed at 5:15 and get the ole’ exercise done while early and cool. But that was before Jameson woke up at 1:15 needing to be tucked back in, and before I laid in bed staring at the ceiling until 2:25, and before Harper woke up at 3:20 with a nose bleed. If you are thinking of having kids, I just need to warn you. Yes, the newborn days are crazy. However, I’m sorry to say, it’s not like things are always unicorns and rainbows once they’ve slept through the night a few times.
I got up at 6:15 instead (hi sweet kids, who always get up early even if you are up in the night) and chugged two mugs of coffee before considering pushing my cardiovascular system in any type of way. I did a quick run and came back home for a little leg workout. Meanwhile, the kiddos ate breakfast and convinced Daddy to watch them do cartwheels and somersaults on repeat in the family room.
Harper is always up for a good family room sweat session :).
After a quick smoothie, I was ready to tackle the home project du jour. It was time to stain the kids’ swing set. We have a lovely play set for Harper and Jameson, but the Colorado sun takes color right out of things.
Yikes! See?
The project became a family affair.
It would feel so rewarding to show an “after” picture now, but that is not going to happen just yet. The wood soaked up stain like my legs soak up lotion! We may need a couple of coats here.
When my little guy needed a stain break, we went out to play baseball and then back inside to make a treat.
After a quick lunch and clean up, the kiddos got settled in with a movie and puppy chow while Jason and I had a staff meeting about our school district’s reopening plan for this fall. It was so very good to see the many faces of my colleagues (via the computer screen) whom I’d missed for these months. However, that hour and a half was a doozy. I don’t know if I came out with more answers or more questions.
Ask the teacher in me about whether or not our kids should head back to school, and I say “of course!” There is no substitution for in-person learning.
Ask the parent in me, and I am a bit more bamboozled. We have been told to social distance for months. My kids haven’t been out to a public store since March. But, in five weeks I guess I’ll just throw them back in? Sink or swim?
After far too much screen time (but bless that screen that kept them so quiet through our lengthy meetings), we roused Harper and Jameson and went for a little ride. While we were waiting for Jason to drop off his car to be checked, the three of us had a little dance party. One benefit of being quarantined is that simple things feel really fun. Who says a little Michael Jackson and a party in the car can’t be a day’s highlight?
Then it was back home for a little beauty salon play. Jameson was Harper’s first victim, but when he tired of that, they turned to the stuffed animals.
After play, it was dinner and a rousing game of Sorry. Then, we took an evening walk to Grandma and Grandpa’s where we danced on the patio and had a little ice cream.
I love the light in the evening. I also love coming home.
Harper and Jameson took baths and snuggled into bed, shutting the book on one hot summer day. As soon as the kiddos were tucked in, Jason and I tucked ourselves in with a book and the news.
How are you spending your days?
Be well and safe, and may air conditioning be with you.
