Summer time

Reading my friend, Megan's blog always prompts me get back to mine. Shame on her for taking so much time off! Haha! Good grief, it's been awhile! Let's see, what's happened since April...Avery celebrated her first birthday; Elliot received his First Communion; Elliot played his first season of kid's pitch baseball, and 8-year old All Stars; Matt spent a lot of time out-of-town working in East Chicago in the spring; I planted a stick that is turning into a tree; Elliot finally started swimming!!!; we went to Holiday World; we bought memberships to the Children's Museum and Zoo, which we've used only on the occasion of their purchase; Elliot has been allowed to go around the block to get his friend Christopher without adult supervision; we took a trip to Fair Oaks Dairy where I acted like a kid and ended up with an broken pinkie toe; went to Big Splash Adventure in French Lick; took up walking/running at Eagle Creek with Jessica, talked ourselves into training for the mini and then quit; Matt and I bought Rock Band for our birthdays; I enjoyed almost monthly Girl's Nights with my girlfriends; Elliot started CYO Football, Matt's back to working in East Chicago (so we've come full circle)...

So, we haven't spent a lot of time outside this summer because it's been so stinking HOT! It's hard to motivate myself to spend time in the heat, let alone taking multiple little people out there with me. On the occasions that we have ventured outside, I find that once I start putting shoes on the first kid, the others know what's happening and then they all run to the door and start screaming. So, the 20-minute process of getting shoes, sunscreen, hats, toys, etc. for all the little people and getting them outside turns into a scream fest that leaves me wondering why I even bother...oh yeah, because I need to get out of this house as badly as they do! In the meantime, you would think from the sound of things that I'm leading them to slaughter instead of outside to play. Ugh!

Yesterday was Elliot's last day of summer vacation and it was not entirely oppressive outside, so I decided that we should spend as much time outside as possible. This finally happened at 4pm! Naps were complete, while the three little people ate snacks I put on my own shoes (out of their eyesight), and grabbed a blanket for the baby to sit on. That was all it took. Amelia (2) knew immediately what was happening and started the mantra, "I wanna go outside, Manda". Amelia has now finished her snack--the fastest I've ever seen her clear her plate--and is down from the table following me as I gather toys from around the house. "I wanna go outside, Manda". Each time, I take a load of stuff outside (about 5 trips in all), she follows me to the door. "I wanna go outside, Manda". Now, the other two little ones have finished their snacks. I get them cleaned up and down from their respective high chairs and booster seats. "I wanna go outside, Manda. I put my shoes on". Now Avery kicks in, "Shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes..." Now both of them are following me around. I sit them down to put their shoes on. "We go outside, Manda? Put shoes on?" "Shoes, shoes, shoes, shoes..."

We made it. Hailey (9 mos) screams when I first sit her on the blanket, but once I sit down next to her, she's okay. Avery and Amelia are playing in the water table (a plastic storage tote full of water and toys, sitting atop a plastic kids table). Elliot is hitting golf balls. While I've told him that I don't think this is a good idea, he assures me that since he's only using his putter, the balls won't be launched into the air. Everyone is content for a bit. Hailey has crawled off the blanket and is happy to be pulling grass up by the handful. Avery has ventured away from the water table to go down the slide.

Oh good, here comes the Republic truck. I thought I hadn't gotten my recycling out early enough and missed it. Turns out they're just late. Amelia is still nearby at the water table and I tell her to watch the truck pick up the tote and dump it into the truck. She's excited. Then it starts. A blood-curdling scream! Avery has gone bonkers at the sound and sight of the truck that has stopped in front of our house and stolen our recycling. Elliot swoops into "save" his sister. She's petrified. Her legs are visibly trembling. I'm yelling at Elliot to put her down. I'm afraid that his reaction will affirm in her mind that she has a reason to be scared. The screaming continues while the truck turns around in the cul-de-sac and comes back to pick up my neighbor's recycling. Amelia has begun to scream just for the sake of it. I'm encouraging everyone to wave to the nice man inside the big truck. "Wow, it's loud. Bye, bye big truck. See you later." Amelia follows my trend. Avery is still in hysterics. Now, every car that passes, causes additional screaming. Oh, look, the Republic truck has gone around the block and is passing by again. Screaming! "Bye, bye, big truck".

A few minutes have passed and Avery is still a little freaked each time a car drives by, but has ventured away from me and back over to the slide. A car comes by with it's stereo blasting, bass reverberating off the windows of the house. Avery looks at the car with a little trepidation, then starts dancing! Hee hee! That's my girl! She's finally over it...until the UPS truck pulls up across the street. The screaming ensues. Now, Amelia has decided that there really must be something frightening and she starts screaming in earnest. It's time to go inside!