Meet Cameron on a hot day

Well, only the one pic was suppose to make it into this post but I guess she's cute enough to not only introduce one of her big brothers but also show you our silly pool situation.


Cameron, is our 3rd born child. He will be 14 in August. Due to the size of our family (suffice it to say, large)Cameron is often called upon to be not only the perfect playmate (or personal slave to hear him tell it!) to his 3 year old brother but also the strong armed babysitter for his 1 year old sister (who he declares has a head much to big for the rest of her body, do you think?)

Cameron can be found most days in one of three ways. Playing his gamecube (which he earned the money for fair and square by babysitting "above and beyond" the regular family responsibility amount of babysiting for his siblings.) or reading a book (Huge Narnia, Lord of the Rings fan right now but has read so much I can't keep up) or on the computer IM-ing his brother at college or like minded Narnia cyber friends. He does like to organize kickball or capture the flag or whatever on our cul-de-sac with the neighbor kids or just hang out and shoot the breeze or hoops as well.

At 14, Cameron has left the "my little guy" phase behind and is heading into those deeper waters of figuring out what he really wants, who he really is and how he might get to those places. He is definitely a thinker and evaluator like his Dad so I am often feeling out of the loop with my boy these days, I am just to female to "get it" I'm told. ooookaaaay, whatever.

So days like today are to be cherished for however long they last. The sun was out, it was hot, way hot for these parts of the country, and Dad had dug out the "blow up pool" so the kids could have some fun. It became obvious it needed a patch but exactly where was the question we pondered as we continued to add water to the pool and air to the ring. . .eventually our pump died and we just gave up and then the summertime fun began.

Lazing around in a big puddle of water can be oh so fun. With snorkel and googles and imagination even more fun. Every now and then the pressure of the water in the pool would overcome the sides and the not quite filled ring and slosh over the sides like a waterfall. At one point, Jillie's little whale floaty was well on it's way to sailing right on out of the pool, baby and all! So comical albeit a bit scary as well. I don't take time enough to get out and play with the kids like that so it was a great day today.