We had such a fun weekend this weekend.  It was our weekend with my stepson, Nico, and it was also one of the first really, REALLY hot days that we've had here in Santa Barbara this year.   We had an easy day trying to catch up on things since we've been gone so much lately, and we finally couldn't stand it any longer....we had to get out the pool. We got the yard set up and the bottom of our little pool scrubbed and we couldn't find the pump!  We were all so hot, we had to do something. I was digging around in the laundry room and found another pool we could use.  Small, but enough for us all to get wet and get out of this heat. Chuck and I went to work getting it's three sections blown up and we started filling it with water.  Ahhhh....you could SMELL how much cooler it was in the back yard. We made an easy dinner of hotdogs and salads and sat outside and ate as we watched the pool fill up.  I think all of us were ready to jump in.   Especially Toby and Nico. Nico surprised me by being the first one in, then Toby and Elvis joined him and so did I after clearing the dishes.  Chuck joined us after he finished his dinner and we were all much happier than we'd been all day. We laughed so hard at Toby and Elvis in their little life jackets swimming from one side to the other. Chuck and Nico (who, together, often can't be trusted if I leave the room!) were coaxing Toby into the water with pieces of hot dog.  I came back outside and Toby was on the edge of the pool trying so hard to reach Nico but not get in the water.  It really was hysterical.  We laughed so much my stomach hurt. Toby really loves the water but when it gets too deep and is over his head, he doesn't like it as much.  When it was filling, he was in there and loving it. Nico was the water kid of the day, although I think splashing his dad was really the highlight of it all.   Nico and I were loving it and Chuck just didn't want to be splashed..... which made us splash more, of course. It was a real fun day and I just loved Nico's deep laughter when Toby was climbing on him trying to get that piece of hot dog.  It was the funniest thing. Times like that I wish I had the video camera handy. Now, the search is on to find the pump for the bigger pool...so stay tuned for more pool fun with Toby, Elvis, Nico, Chuck and I.  I'm sure this summer we will probably wear our little pool out. Summer is here!!! Men at work.  One pool can't be put up today, but we have found another! Nico watching patiently.   Toby is so food motivated, he kept an eye on the table as we were putting all the food on it.  He jumped on the pool's edge, walked all the way around without even wavering and sat right there to keep an eye on the food as the pool was filling. Bored with waiting for us to sit down to dinner, Toby takes a little break and gets the extra benefit of the cool air coming off of the pool as it's being filled. However, he won't budge from here, he does have food he needs to watch. Waiting is his specialty. Elvis trying to figure out if it's worth getting near all that water for a bite or two of hot dog. Nico takes the first plunge.  Toby, of course, moves to be sure he has an eye on Chuck, who is still eating. Nico's splashing it up.....Toby, totally focused on the dinner table. Two cutie pies. Okay, Toby, time for a swim! Ahhhh, how refreshing.... Nico and Toby staying cool. Here comes little Elvie.....can you tell he doesn't like water quite as much as Toby does? Elvis trying to climb up on Nico. The pool we were TRYING to put up is behind this pool.   When we find the pump we may just keep up both pools.  I think Nico and the boys will have lots of fun swimming this summer. Toby's ready for another lap. I think Elvis is ready to get out.  The water was REALLY cold. Time for the boys to get out.  I think Chuck is FINALLY ready to get in. Nico has waited all day to splash his dad. A little splashing begins and Nico is WAY relaxed. Lots of fun on a hot summer Sunday afternoon. Don't forget to come back after we get the REAL pool up. We'll have hotdogs too! Bye!