Magnolia Coasts: We are Outdoor Living.

These days we are outdoor living. The pool is full, sprinkler is on, grass is green and long and tickling our ankles. We've pulled our kitchen table outside into the garden for the summer where we intend on eating lunch and supper. We are just soaking it all up.

But don't be deceived by the photos. There is plenty of mess and chaos in this house too--there are abandoned wet towels and bathing suits and training underwear in piles around the house, grass clippings and dirt in the pool and on the hardwood, a naked little potty-training boy running around the house and backyard, whose face is sticky from homemade Popsicles and who leaves dirty handprints on every door and wall. There are plenty of "indoor toys" that have made their way into the pool. And so many stories that that I am refraining from sharing here on the blog.... Let's just say, it is all far from glamorous, I'm afraid. Anyone who has actually visited will know this to be true. Gabriel sprayed me in my full length dress with hose yesterday and the dog jumped up and ate a chicken drumstick off the table in the garden. This house is buuuussssy.

However, we are enjoying our chaotic, messy days and all the fun and craziness they bring--sprinkler fun, playdates in the sun, barbequing every meal we can manage, sunhats and sunscreen and bare feet. Gabriel is a water hound, he can't seem to get enough and wants to be outside from the time he wakes up until sunset. (I've let him out with the dog in the morning in his pyjamas while I gather breakfast). He is forever wanting the hose or the sprinkler on and can't be trusted not to jump in the wading pool fully clothed. I've pulled Maggie's activity centre outside too so we are all able to get some fresh air. Gabriel has actually started calling her "May-gEE" now and letting us know that she belongs to him by attending to her every squeal or cry with frenetic kisses (and little love pinches). "That's MY beebee" he says, "She's 'tute." Maggie just grabs his head full of hair and nuzzles her face into it, leaving behind a puddle of drool.

This kid seriously knows how to have fun. I wouldn't consider myself a naturally "fun" person. It hasn't been high on priority list, so Gabriel's been my mentor. Until the splash pads open, we are making our own happen.

We are experimenting making our own popsicles--mango/canteloupe, kiwi/mango/yogurt, raspberry/mango/yogurt. Got any other favorites? Share!

We sit and watch all the craziness from these chairs. Ok, and by sit, I mean for like an entire two minutes all day in five second intervals when I am not cleaning up a mess, fetching a snack or rescuing various items from the pool.