There is something about summer and bright vinyl kiddie pools filled with about three inches of cold water and about 2 inches of dead grass, that makes me long for the summers of my childhood.Remember those days? I think the best thing about having kids (besides the tantrums, the attitude and the constant crying and meltdowns, of course) is getting to relive all the best moments of your own childhood through them. I don't quite remember what is so appealing about sitting in a dirty puddle of water, but something was obviously appealing as I spent quite a good deal of my life as a preschooler sitting in one.
Here I am, circa 1985, a fierce little basketballer (or would that bewater polo player?) in my own kiddie pool with my brother.
And now that I have two daughters of my own, they will probably spend quite a good deal of their lives as preschoolers sitting in them, too. Gracie and Annelie are more than happy to oblige, of course. They know just what that appeal is. Unfortunately, instead of a grassy backyard, they have had to put up with dirt. So, instead of 2 inches of itchy, dead grass floating all around them...
... they get about 2 inches of mud and rocks. Which they are more than happy with, as that means they get bath time immediately after pool time.
For a one year old and a three year old, that is like winning the lottery. As for me-- well, its nice to be able to kick my feet up, sit back and watch my kids just be kids as they splash in their gritty, dirty kiddie pool, making childhood memories of their own.
Oh gosh! Ain't that the truth! I remember siting it dirty grass and leaf filled cootie water! Ahh, to be a kid.
ReplyDeleteFor us, it's currently the sprinkler. The girls love it (Ryah will stand in it until she's shivering cold). Peri's the one who gets within a foot of the stream and starts to squeal and run away. Ah youth. :o)
ReplyDeleteThe good ol' days! I remember them well.
ReplyDeleteLooks like they are having a ball!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun they are having..I laughed when I saw, My Little Pony in the water..I have my youngest daughters all packed away for her..
ReplyDeleteOh this is so true - I remember my girls making mud pies in their kiddie pools!
ReplyDeletewhat fun! I remember these days!
ReplyDeleteOh man - I used to have one of those green turtle sandboxes when I was a wee tot (1984) - one day I decided I'd prefer a pool, so without finding a parent to dump the sand into something else, I just filled it with water from the hose. I bet my mom loved me for that.
ReplyDeleteOh, you're such a good mom to give the girls baths after swimming. I was lucky in that our kids' inflatable pool was on the deck, so it didn't accumulate dirt so fast. (Just dead bugs.) And since I had way too many children and too little time, I would let the little ones play in the pool after supper and then, before they could come back in the house, I'd shampoo their heads and hose them off. And we all (most importantly, MOM) got to skip freakin bath time for that day.
ReplyDeleteAs for my "good old days"...they involved a sprinkler and several mangy little brothers.
Thanks for the big smile!
ReplyDeleteI have a photo of my nieces and goddesschild (who are all college age now) in a similar pool with their Barbies. I remember that day - because I got in that warm, dirty pool with them!
I'm glad I did!
:)
cute cute cute! And, you have a new banner..love it!
ReplyDeleteOh yes. The kids always had great fun with the little pool. We have a big pool now and my daughter suddenly is so popular this summer! LOL
ReplyDeleteSo so true!!! I remember doing the same thing. So much fun.
ReplyDelete:-) melanie
What a great post! Looks like your little sweeties are having the time of their lives!
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for stopping by my blog. I see you are also an artist. I really enjoyed your sock monkey art and the viewfinder photos. With tea set wishes for your little darlings...
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Monica
This brings back some great memories! My girls our teenagers now, and I miss those kiddie pool days!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment on my blog. It is nice to hear that we are not alone in the struggles of motherhood. It is also nice to share in the joys as well.
ReplyDeleteHow stinkin' cute ore they...I was a very fortunate child and grew up with a pool. I had quite a terrifying experience, way before pools required gates & locks. It was early, usually I was a late riser but I remember getting up earlier than every one else, I was bored and what does a bored toddler do, get into mischief...I decided to go for a spin on my tricycle...around the pool, yeah I said *around* the pool on the 24 inch walkway/ cooldeck...peddle...peddle...peddle...wait I can't paddle my back tri-tire is over the edge and eventually I tipped over *into* the pool. I would say I was about 4 years old and wearing one of those long flannel Little House on the Prairie type nightgowns, the type that wrap around your head and tangle your arms as your sinking to your doom in freezin' cold water. My brother, who *had* to have been alerted by my guardian angels, came to my rescue, he was 8 and dived into a freezing pool to save his lil sister. Wow I had forgot about that story and I toootttaaaalllyyy got off subject there...sorry. Now we have the dead grass inflatable pools, that only last one or two times, my dog bites them.
ReplyDeleteI have another off subject comment on your blog, how do you get all those neat frames and special fx on your pics?
I love the Gnome Sweet Gnome collection...I'll be getting some of those real soon.
So SOrry this freakin' small autobiography...I rant unexplainably sometimes
Take care lady
Rowan WIllow
aka Tiffany
LOL Elegant- that is so true with kids- they love dirt in their swimming pool. Mine leaves mud pies in there.
ReplyDeletedue to water restrictions, we are no longer allowed to have sprinklers on with kids running through them...but theya re definitely some of the best childhood summer memories!
ReplyDeletecan't wait for summer - i'm going to fill the boys little pool with water and toys (currently an outdoor ball pit...it was bought by my sister and sister in-law as a sand pit but there was no way I was going to fill it with sand! lol)- they will have an absolute ball :))
Mmm... nuthin' says summer like the little inflatable pool with dirty water! It cracks me up how 8 inches of water can suddenly become "swimming pool" in a child's mind. If only we could all transport ourselves into summer paradise so easily...
ReplyDelete