This week we saw our first tropical system of the season with Tropical Storm Colin. It wasn't a big one, but everyone sure acted like it was going to be. It's kind of that equivalent of when you live up north and they're like, 'it's going to be a blizzard out there!' and then you get an inch of snow. This happens with every storm, but we were under the impression two days of our final 'weekend' of kids being in school were going to be a total wash out (instead 1 day turned out to be decently rainy, but nothing else really).
Anyway, thinking I would have two days of being stuck inside thanks to the rain, I tried to come up with some fun activities. I googled fun things to do in the rain, and 'slip n slide's came up! I had never thought to do this before, and really it wouldn't work during 90 percent of rain storms here in Florida, because they are accompanied with thunder and lightning. But actually, for most of the day Monday, it was just rain. So we pulled out the slip n slide and got to tropical storm sliding! Forgive my steamy pictures, it was tricky to get my camera out there and keep it dry.
After Asa and Hayden were out sliding for awhile, a neighborhood kid showed up, and Calib decided to join in on the fun.
But our slip n slide from abstract art week really took it, and ripped. We had seen it coming, and bought a new one a couple days earlier, but I didn't see them setting it all up in the tropical storm.
I was wrong.
Peyton and I stayed inside watching from the windows for awhile. Until I told him he should go do it, because who knows when he'd get a chance to slip in slide during a tropical storm. That eventually convinced both him and me to take part in the fun.
Another one of our neighborhood friends came over and she took a little more egging on (you can see the boys all counting down for her to go), but she eventually did it a few times too.
And the baby pool made an appearance at everyone's request as well.
Overall, it was a super good time. I highly recommend slip and sliding in the rain.
Eventually the rain picked up (it was really pelting Asa and Calib by the time they came in), and the wind picked up- later that night we got some thunder and lightning too.
But being stuck inside isn't all bad. We saw the return of the pillow pool from last summer. Only, we brought out the inflatable baby pool I got at the end of summer at Target last year for 90 percent off.
It's bigger and comfier, and nobody loves a pillow pool more than Porkchop.
Asa and I spent some of our day in the pillow pool playing games.
We've had some neighborhood kids over, asking why we have a baby pool in our family room, but we tell them they can't knock it till they try it, and everyone has loved it. Peyton and Hayden are particularly enjoying the pool this go around.
But the biggest project of Tropical Storm Colin was the building of our epic blanket fort. Usually we wait till the first day of summer to build one that covers the whole house. This time we decided to make the structure more epic, and the size more manageable. We pulled out boards and PVC Pipe, and anything we could to make the structure more sound.
Asa took the sarissa from Alexander the Great (which is just two pool noodles on a long PVC Pipe) and stuck it behind the couch.
We anchored some brooms and mops to help us out too. And tying the PVC Pipe to the Audio Pier was a pretty good idea.
But I really like the entrance, where we took two chairs, put them on giant rubbermaid tubs, and put a board between the chairs. It made for a really good beam.
The result is a pretty awesome Fort Waterstraut.
That night we had tropical storm drinks. Note the inside out umbrellas, in honor of the storm.
We also had Publix subs for dinner in our blanket fort.
We've spent a lot of time in this blanket fort over the last week. The boys have slept in it every night since it was built.
The next morning some minor repairs, but overall, it's stayed up pretty well. Of course we've made some refinements like laying a blanket carpet, and adding some more coverage for the doorway.
But, in addition to us all spending a whole lot of time in this blanket fort, we've got some pets that are a fan too.
Asa and I have been having drinks and playing cards every night in the blanket fort, and I've been assured on Facebook this is a totally acceptable.
We included the TV in the blanket fort, so there are also a lot of video games being played from inside Fort Waterstraut.
And of course, late night snacks are had in it as well. Notice the fan, it keeps it nice and cool in there.
We have been up to some other things as well. We played our Memorial Day Edition of True American a few days late.
As an added bonus the first person to finish got a Reese's Big Cup. And the Publix bakery had the cutest little baby eclairs.
As usual, it was a good time. And I got to play too, which is awesome.
Deleno was in on the 'hot lava' part of the game, as he took refuge on Teddy Roosevelt island.
And, Calib was the first one there- and the winner. He had some easy presidents to ID this time around though. Lucky duck.
Ok, so Asa and I have an anniversary coming up. And we had planned on spending four days at Disney to celebrate, two at the Yacht Club and two at Fort Wilderness. But, our plans for Ellie fell through, and we didn't want her to have to stay at the kennel for four days, so we cut out the Yacht Club part of the trip, which was disappointing. We were hoping to go late July, but it turns out Calib won't be here then- so we're trying to make up for it. Next week we're having 'vacation week', which some fun things planned- but we also snuck in some activities we had hoped to do during a Disney day on Wednesday along with a trip to visit Cort and Holly who were at Disney for their vacation.
We got up early and made it to Splitsville at Disney Springs in time for the early bird pricing.
Splitsville is to bowling what Top Golf is to golf. It's like that activity, but it's also a whole experience. Asa got himself a Margarita, and we all got lunch.
Plus you know, there was bowling, and dancing.
You get an allotted amount of time- instead of bowling by the game. As a group of five, we got an hour and a half- you can see our total scores there.
Then we walked around Disney Springs for a bit- there's so much new stuff to do and see there. And so many new awesome places to eat, but most of them aren't on Tables in Wonderland, so we're saving them for after July when our TiW card expires.
But we couldn't resist stopping by Sprinkles to go to their cupcake ATM- yes, you read that right, it's an ATM for cupcakes!! You pick what you want, pay for it (and holy crap, it's $5.50 a cupcake!)...
...and then the door opens, and there's your cupcake!
We took our one red velvet cupcake over to the tables and all had a bite. It was quite good. But my gosh, $5.50 a cupcake!
Then we headed over to the Beach Club to meet up with Cort and Holly.
The Beach Club has the best pool at Disney, but they scan your magic band to get in, so we had to settle for swimming in the boring old quiet pool. But we had a good time anyway.
After some swimming, Cort and Holly went off for their dinner, and we went to Hurricane Hannah's. The boys were hoping to go there during our four day Disney stay, so I was making it up to them! I think they wanted the drinks more than the food.
We met back up with the Sattler's and went over to get ice cream at Beaches and Cream.
It was a quick visit, but it's always nice to see them when they are down in my neck of the woods.
And, it was a super fun Disney day, that made up a little bit for the fact we are only going to be here two days next week.
In other news, Calib's team won their last game of the season.
And we had some more friends send Hayden some replacement Pokemon cards after the deck-in-the-washer debacle. (Thanks again Jason & Jessica!)
Also, I took this picture, because Asa's funny.
Asa was in the office, normal business hours this week, so I met up with him for lunch. I was all set to go to Adventure Island and float along the lazy river by myself, since I couldn't get the kids on board with going. But then I ended up getting rained out.
Hayden had his first Build N Grow of the summer series of Avengers guys.
And we also made it to the summer reading kickoff party.
It was pretty awesome. And we got lots of info on the free programs throughout the summer.
That's it from here. We have some vacation like things planned for next week, but we're crossing our fingers we don't get rained out of them. Asa and I also have at least one date day to squeeze in there- and we plan on at least keeping the blanket fort up until we are going to Disney for a couple days- though we also plan on having a dinner party send off for the Fort too.
Next Up: Blanket Forts, Vacation Week, Disney, and 6 years of wedded bliss!
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