I would have called this post "The Boys Of Summer," but that phrase and the Don Henley song bearing that title both remind me of this so-horrible-it-was-funny sex ed video they made us watch in University Seminar class my freshman year of college.
Dean and I went to the pool yesterday with some good friends. We had such a blast! I was very proud that a lot of the things we worked on last year, like putting your face in the water and exhaling when you jump in, stuck. He wore his arm floaties with no complaints and swam around like a fishy. He even asked to jump into the deep end. I caught him (tightly), but he did it. There's a pool at the house where we're staying on vacation. I have a feeling we'll be spending much of our time in it.
I was the good mom, diligently reapplying sunscreen to Dean, who was wearing an SPF 50 swimsuit and rashguard. We started swimming at 10:15. When we got out of the pool at 3:00 (we took a break at noon for lunch in the shade), his cheeks had the tiniest kisses of pink on them. When we got home and changed into our dry clothes, however, I looked in the mirror to discover that my own face looked like a raccoon, big white circles outlined in red. My shoulders are the color of a lobster with some very snazzy strap marks. It huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurts.
I have not had a sunburn in YEARS. I think the last time was during one of my summerstock gigs. We spent all day on a party barge promoting our shows as we cruised down the lake. One of the girls I was with suggested I rub Preparation H on my burn. I did. (If you think of what it's for, it kind of makes sense.) The burn instantly felt better and the red turned brown overnight. Score. I remembered this trick last night and quickly ran out for a tube of Prep H. GUESS WHAT DID NOT WORK!?!?!? Marcus, ever helpful, recommended soaking a washcloth in white vinegar and blotting my burned parts with it. I thought he was messing with me and that it would be horribly painful. Turns out, it's pretty soothing. The smell, however, is another thing. Our entire bedroom reeks of vinegar. Dean even noticed. He walked in and asked, "Mama, you making Easter eggs?" I got some aloe gel today, which has helped. I just can't believe I let this happen. I know better. Alas. Battle wounds and all.
We've been enjoying our summer so far. It has involved movies, popsicles, fireflies, some educational games, lots of playing with toys, stickers, painting, picture-taking, water fights and books. Dean has spent a lot of time in his underpants. (Oddly, right now he has on 2 pairs of shorts, but no shirt. I don't know.) We've all been trying to relax and just enjoy being at home. We hit the road next week for twenty fun-filled days with family and friends. We'll head to DC to visit our family, with whom we'll hit the beach for a week. On the 21st, I'll hop into the car with Alissa and head down to Charlotte for Type-A Con. There are no words to tell you how excited I am about this conference. I haven't been to a blogging conference since 2010 and I am very ready to recharge my battery and see my "tribe."
I hope each of you will have the time to enjoy the special things summer has to offer. Or at the very least, to eat a popsicle.
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