beating the heat at the sprayground

I don't want to wish my summer away because our lives are going to get crazy in just a few short weeks; but, it has been too hot for my taste lately. I like to imagine that is my Dad is smiling at the "heat units" and that this year the corn harvest will be over before December. That helps a little when I'm using half a bottle of sunscreen a day and sweating like a buffalo. (Pigs don't sweat so that comparison always bothered me.)

Last week we spent two afternoons in a row at the Greenwood Village spray ground. Tuesday evening we went just before dinner time and the park was emptying out as other families packed up to go home for dinner. We had the place mostly to ourselves. When the cloud cover came in Jace started shivering, too cold in the water. He soon discovered that he could climb the steep grassy hill behind the play area and terrify us by running back down. Joel showed him how to roll down the hill, which was only slightly less frightening for me to watch. (This is the same kid who got super nervous on the carousel.)

Photo: That's Elaine with her scooter in the background and the hill that Jace started playing on when he was done with the water.

Joel and Jace, alone on the spray ground.

Scaling one side of the steep hill. The photo does not do justice to the grade.

When we returned to Palmer's house, where we were spending the night because Gary was out of town traveling, the power went out. Dinner was a little crazy as we hunted for flashlights and tried to figure out what to fix with no microwave or stove. Joel found the camp stove and cooked some hot dogs. The power, thankfully, came back on before Jace went to bed so at least his room had air conditioning. Joel and I ended the evening with a trip to Baskin Robbins. Ice Cream is the cherry on top of any summer day.