What happens to children who spend the day in the heat?

Answer: They get overtired and miserable and dissolve into a meltdown at the end of the day.

BUT...we had a fun day otherwise. We managed to jam pack today with lots of summer activities. The kids were up at a reasonable, yet early time. Bean started the day with a poo in his pullup, but managed to have a successful day for the rest of it. He even figured out how to pee on the grass, so I anticipate many requests to pee outside now. Papa got to have a bit of a lay-in this morning. I'm not sure how successful it was with four kids running around, but at least he got to lay in bed. Uncle D and I went for a quick run before all of us headed out for the morning. First stop, the coffee shop where we enjoyed muffins, coffee and breakfast buns on their glorious patio. It was difficult to drag Auntie V away.

Next stop - the spray park. Uncle D got right in the action with the kids, running in and out of the sprinklers. The dads headed down the hill after 11am to find the soccer game and enjoy some kid-free time, while the moms stayed at the spray park with the kids until 1:30pm. It was a fun outing. We were even fortunate to run into C & H, who were there with both of their parents so there was lots of running around and playing. The kids circulated between the spray park, the playground and the picnic blanket for snacks for the couple of hours we were there. Baby Z even managed to get a snooze in the shade, after we found her almost asleep in the swing while the moms were chatting nearby.

Home for some lunch and then quiet time which involved watching Alvin and the Chipmunks to keep out of the heat (thanks, Nana!) The dads returned and we had another couple of hours of trying to stay out of the heat. Around 5pm we packed up the families (and dogs) and headed down to the beach for a picnic supper for the kids. They had a great time down at the water building sand castles and splashing in the freezing cold water. The dogs enjoyed a swim and then I took them home when they started squawking at the dads going down to the water without them. Back home again for ice cream sandwiches before bedtime and the meltdown madness that insued when the bedtime bell was rung. Once the house was settled, Auntie V and I headed into town for a ladies night out at the pub. We enjoyed a lovely pub dinner out on the patio, with the temperature being far more enjoyable with the sun gone behind the mountain.