Sprinkler Pool, Version 2.0

It's June 1 and a gorgeous day - time to break out this summer's sprinkler pool. Last year, we had one with a blow-up palm tree, an inflated slide, and some fun star-shaped floaties that kids used as frisbees. Sadly, the star/frisbees are all that remain of the Sprinkler Pool, Version 1.0. At the end of last summer, we decided it was so mangled and non-sprinkley as to merit the garbage can. That sprinkler pool was sooooooooo worth the $19.99 investment, and we were sad to see it go.

Today, we unveiled Sprinkler Pool, Version 2.0. It cost $14.99 at Target and is shaped like a giant frog. There is a spot near the frog's head where, when you've hooked it up to your hose, water squirts out and fills the rest of the pool. Jason started blowing it up during the girls' nap time. The minute he finished, there were 5 neighbor kids standing at the edge of our lawn, wearing bathing suits and toting beach towels. That's just what happens with the sprinkler pool; as Shannon says, "If you blow it up, they will come" a la Field of Dreams.

Annie hopped in, pondered the experience, and announced, "Daddy, I want it to be a heated pool." So Jason promptly hooked it up to our downstairs laundry sink via a very long hose, and the kids were warm enough to play for almost an hour while we parents lounged around and talked. Again, I predict that, after 20 - 30 afternoons this summer, the $14.99 investment is going to pay off pretty well for us all. Here's hoping 2.0 makes it to the end of the summer!