From Swimming Pool to Ball Pit!

I had no idea that "winterizing" your kids outside toys would be so much work! It's so fun to break out those things (the pool, the sandbox, the water table) at the beginning of the warm weather. Cleaning it as the end of the fall- no so much! Of course had I cleaned them right away in September instead of hastily stashing them in the garage (while preparing for a BBQ at our house) it might have been easier. As a result last week you could have found me squeezed into our little bathroom with Lily's swimming pool in the shower (I was scrubbing it down with soap and bleach). Swimming pools aren't meant to fit in showers- enough said. But once it was all clean a new toy was created. Thanks to our friend Steph and the 200 ball bit plastic balls she let us borrow- Lily's swimming pool became an incredibly fun ball pit (at least for two days)! We had to return the balls, but it was a fun toy while it lasted (and made me think that if we are ever able to finish the basement into a play room that this toy would be worth having)! In the meantime I thought I would share with you a few things I learned during my first season of kiddie pools. So here is my kiddie pool wisdom:

1. Stick to simple pools. The ones with slides and inflatable monkey heads may look fun, but are apparently horribly scary to a toddler (even a brave one like ours)!

2. Expect to clean your kiddie pool (drain, clean, and add fresh water) every couple of days- otherwise you will quickly end up with a pool of dead bugs, grass, and grime (among other things)!:)

3. Toddlers will never just "splash their hands in the pool" as you hope. Expect that they will end up soaked every time you let them anywhere near the pool!

4. Dropping rocks in the pool is just as much fun (or really more fun) than any pool toys you can buy (at least for a toddler)!

5. It's wise to "winterize" your pool before winter actually hits! Storing it (still kinda wet) in your garage will only result in mildew (and spiders)!

6. Despite all of these things having a kiddie pool is very much worth the effort- literally hours of summer fun with very little crying (except for when it's time to go in)!