Beat the Heat in Houston

Summer is here. It's in the 90s, both temps and humidity. Ugh. When I step outside in the morning, it's so still, hot and oppressive. It actually feels better to me at noon, when the breeze is moving a bit. We've had a few thunderstorms, enough to save my lawn for a few more weeks. But otherwise, we're looking for fun things to do indoors.

Like the new toy I gave to Declan? I was doing some woodworking in the garage, and he's been enjoying toting our old broom around behind him. Well, the broom was too big for him, and he was knocking things over. So I put in on my miter saw and chopped it down, then I cut the icky bottom part of the bristles off, and voila! A new toy broom for Declan. Now I just have to teach him to use it. :) (Ignore the whole pantless thing. He was indoors and it's hot, so tshirt and diaper may be the uniform of the day during summer.)



If it's not too hot after dinner, and there's a good breeze going, we'll take him to the little (and I mean pathetically little) playground near the pool. It's falling apart and would fit inside my living room, but he doesn't know any better. First, there's the cool wagon ride down there.



Then he gets to play in the sand.


The slide is fun. No matter which way you go down it.




He really likes the swing.




Last Sunday, we decided to beat the heat by going to the Children's Museum. Unfortunately, it was a free day at the museum, so everyone was there.


But it gave Declan a chance to play with, or around, other toddlers. It was fun watching him interact. When he wanted to play with the doors, and someone else was in the way, well, he'd just push them out of the way. Because it's all about him. So we'd make him take turns, even though I know he didn't understand why we let some other kid play with HIS toy.

Driving down the road.


His favorite thing this trip were the miniature scenes behind various doors and screens.




Putting pegs in holes. He's much better at it now.


And of course, the sink is still a big hit.


It's very hard to get a good picture of a sleeping baby. Declan is such a light sleeper, he wakes up at the first picture.


Thursday, we went to a local park in the morning, and the first thing was saw was a turtle.


All this grass to run and play on, and he wants to sit in the parking lot playing with a drink lid.


It may look like he's enjoying running on the grass.


Don't be fooled.


In actuality, he's running toward the pond as fast as he can trundle. Until I redirect him to the bleachers, when he has fun running along them and exploring the tall grass.