I had to go and complain about the heat. Sunday was a mix of sun and clouds. It was a little cooler than it had been for the last week or two. We asked the kids if we should “beach it” or go 4×4-ing. They opted to hop into the 4Runner.
All was well for about thirty minutes. I was shown a location that Matthew and the kids had been to, but that I had not seen before.
Before we knew it the storm clouds rolled in and lightning strikes were hitting the hills around us. Nothing new, I know. Matthew made the sweet call of booking it to the truck (instead of asking three wee people to RUN LIKE THE WIND) and swinging back to pick us up. Mere moments after we loaded all of the kids into the vehicle we were pelted with some seriously hard rain. As we drove home we dodged lighting and braced ourselves against the crazy downpour.
Apart from (and including) the drama of Sunday afternoon, we have really been battling the heat. A while back we were put on tight watering restrictions. These were not your regular restrictions where we were allowed to water on alternating days.
We were told not to water. At all. EVER.
This did not sit well with us. We have a vast lawn that our kids (and their friends) frolic on daily. Burnt grass is like rough straw. NOT GOOD on soft little feet. We also have a large garden that requires water so that the fruits and vegetables we have planted will thrive.
About a month ago, we did what a number of our neighbours have done. We uncapped the well that serviced our property before the fancy new water system (that now HAS NO WATER) was installed about ten years ago. This well, that we share with our closest neighbour, spouts clear cold water at five gallons per minute. Matthew and our neighbour have worked hard to install a system that gives each of us a tap to do with the water as we please.
We choose to water the lawn, which includes a sprinkler.
We all know what happens when a sprinkler is turned on.
Um, Nathan?
That would be WATER on your arm.
Graham enjoyed himself.
A little.
Emily managed to make the best of it.
I think the three of them enjoyed themselves.
I put down the camera and joined them in the fun. Running through the sprinkler brings me back to being a kid. Running, and laughing, and completely carefree.
Never mind the fact that it keeps me from spontaneously combusting from the heat.
What are you doing to stay cool?
24 Comments
Haha, they look like entrants in a wet t-shirt competition! All white t-shirts, all wet! Hehe 
I am doing NOTHING to stay cool. It is freezing here. Middle-of-winter freezing (with rain, hail and wind to boot). Wish I could send you some of our excess water!
DYING for summer here!!!
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Comment by Hannah on August 18th, 2008 @ 3:14 amWET T-SHIRT CONTEST!!!
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Comment by Mrs. Wilson on August 18th, 2008 @ 4:26 amI haven’t run through sprinklers in a long time… Our sprinklers run at 3 AM; in Vegas we have restrictions on the hours we can water the lawn during the summer. And I haven’t 100% figured out a foolproof way to stay cool here!
Cute pictures, you’re so talented!
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Comment by Jill - GlossyVeneer on August 18th, 2008 @ 8:07 amThose pictures rock!
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Comment by Dayna on August 18th, 2008 @ 8:25 amI love Emily’s expressions. My kids are away … I am laying around in the A/C.
mommyknows’s last blog post..A New Camera (and a new contest)
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Comment by mommyknows on August 18th, 2008 @ 9:17 amGreat photos, seems like there’s no keeping things cool around here. I can’t wait for FALL!!!!!
Ashley’s last blog post..What’s one more?
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Comment by Ashley on August 18th, 2008 @ 9:19 amDid you have a Slip n’ Slide when you were a kid? The long, plastic yellow thing that you put under the sprinklers and slid down on your belly? That was the best. Would also rip the skin off your stomach if it wasn’t wet enough, but DETAILS.
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Comment by Moose on August 18th, 2008 @ 9:50 amThe picture of Emily hugging Matthew is killing me with its cuteness.
Last night was SO HOT and I wouldn’t stop complaining. Today? It is raining. Again I will not stop complaining
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Comment by hills on August 18th, 2008 @ 9:56 amRunning in the sprinklers is THE BEST! As is shown by all these great pictures! FUN!
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Comment by Elaine on August 18th, 2008 @ 10:45 amDrinking high calorie frozen bevvies like frapps and slurpees and blissfully not worrying about how fat they’re making me. The only perk of being pregnant in August.
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Comment by Amanda on August 18th, 2008 @ 10:51 amLooks like great fun!!
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Comment by Elizabeth on August 18th, 2008 @ 11:53 amWhat fun pics!
We have AC so it’s all good!
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Comment by Kristin on August 18th, 2008 @ 3:27 pmAdorable pics Angella. I’m glad y’all have access to a well, since you are under such strict water restrictions.
those pictures are just darling, I’m glad you joined them.
We’re doing coffee malts and pool visits and staying inside to stay cool.
rachel’s last blog post..Mouthwatering Monday: Coffee Malts
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Comment by rachel on August 18th, 2008 @ 3:53 pmHahaaa! Their expressions are HILARIOUS. Hopefully it’ll cool down by you soon!
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Comment by metalia on August 18th, 2008 @ 5:21 pmThat is the best picture of her EVER!!! *lol*
And wow you’re grass is really green!
Maria’s last blog post..This Space For Rent.
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Comment by Maria on August 18th, 2008 @ 8:08 pm‘You’re grass’? Really Maria? Wow. You’re an idiot.
Maria’s last blog post..This Space For Rent.
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Comment by Maria on August 18th, 2008 @ 8:09 pmI love that Emily has a skirt on through all of that.
slynnro’s last blog post..In Which I Channel Sandra Lee
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Comment by slynnro on August 18th, 2008 @ 8:53 pmWe have a pool, but now what I REALLY want is a sprinkler! Fantastic photos!
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Comment by smizzo on August 18th, 2008 @ 8:55 pmThe only way I survive is with A/C!!! Not many people in our town have it, so I feel very lucky! Those sprinkler pictures are the best! And that dear little Emily hugging her daddy – you can almost hear her giggling!
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Comment by Michele on August 18th, 2008 @ 9:10 pmEmily is my kind of girl 
Running in the sprinkler in a skirt!
We escaped to the beach on Saturday. Ouchie tummy + super hot weather = Cranky Rhi, so my sweet, sweet boy took me out of town where it was FORTY DEGREES COOLER.
Silly, Oregon!
Rhi’s last blog post..We have a winner! Okay, we have a few!
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Comment by Rhi on August 18th, 2008 @ 9:31 pmit hasn’t been too bad here, last week it was chilly. I am sure that once school starts up next week it will be terrible, then they will want to play in the hose. Well at least the younger one will.
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Comment by Heather on August 19th, 2008 @ 8:40 amI love that photo of Emily and Matthew. She looks thrilled!
Heather B.’s last blog post..What the good ones are made of
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Comment by Heather B. on August 21st, 2008 @ 3:19 am[...] they are wearing jackets. I had to go and complain/brag about the heat. Summer got all pouty on me and hid in the corner. Come back, summer! I promise to be good! [...]
Comment by Dutch Blitz » Always Be My Baby on August 26th, 2008 @ 2:37 pmLine and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>
Um, in San Francisco, shouldn’t you be asking what we’re doing to stay WARM?
It is “winter” here after all!
Camels & Chocolate’s last blog post..Under the Sea
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Comment by Camels & Chocolate on August 18th, 2008 @ 12:45 am