Fireworks and Fireflies: social distancing {week eleven ~ cooling off "old school" style}

After a long and glorious spring, NC is starting to deliver the heat. The pool has opened, but social distancing is not being enforced, so we're looking for ways to stay cool. An impulsive splurge on an old school slip n' slide may well be the best $20 I've spent during quarantine!

At first all the teenagers were "too cool for school" to try it out, but eventually DQ broke down and took a few slides.

And what were the other two teens doing while all sorts of fun was happening on the slide? I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count...

One reading. One "grimacing" for the camera. Pretty much sums up my life.

And why can't I grow hair like this kid?

Baking continues to be one of the most popular ways to combat boredom in the house. Sunday immediately after church the elementary set teamed up to bake a "brookie." Yes, it was as good as it looks!

The slack line had started to become not as exciting so we switched the upper line for a "ninja line."

Sunday afternoon we had a little family game time. Yardzee brought the dice game outdoors...and besides, any game is more fun when you can juggle the pieces!

(meanwhile inside...)

After Yardzee we were hot and needed a refresher. Slip 'n slide again for the win!

DQ, adding style to everything, even a simple slide.

These three stayed at it for an impressive amount of time, even pulling off some synchronized slides before it was all said and done.

It looked like so much fun that I decided to take a few slips myself. (photo included because I realize, if there's no photo it didn't really happen...)

Monday was Memorial Day so we had Ian all to ourselves for the day. We decided to explore yet another nature preserve in the area and were rewarded with many beautiful flowers to appreciate along our walk.

One of the things I will remember about these years, pockets full of flat rocks deemed "perfect for skipping" and the crew veering off of trails anytime they lead near still water to see how far they can get a rock to defy gravity and skim across the surface.

Black-Eyed Susans always make me think of our rehearsal dinner. We had pig pickin' with all the traditional southern sides so we could invite all our out of town family to join us in hopes that we'd get to talk to everyone a little. The table cloths were red checked and the centerpieces were Black-Eyed Susans in mason jars tied with twine. It was a perfect evening of good food (provided by one of my mom's dear friends as a wedding gift) and visiting with our family from all over the country. My aunt even managed to hijack part of the evening by having everyone simultaneously don golden Burger King crowns to remind me of a funny moment during wedding planning. Amazing how a simple visual can bring so many wonderful memories back...

A few years ago Ian brought home his old whiteboard from work that was going to be trashed. We meant for it to live in the playroom, but somehow it became a question board for the family and has residence in the front hallway. I love the different styles of answers we get...

On day during our afternoon walk (yes, still going strong though I suspect we'll have to change the time of day before long) I had to stop and get a better look at ~ and smell of ~ these flowers. They don't quite look like plumeria, but they sure smelled like it! And if an image can bring back floods of memories, this smell took me back to the trip I took as a nanny to Hawaii in 1997.

And the funny of the week...

My budding expert baker (this kid knows what to pull from the pantry to cover most any dessert treat) learned a valuable lesson when it comes to cocoa powder. If you pull the measuring spoon/cup too quickly toward you through the powder you'll create quite a cloud!