This is How We Do It.

After a long 3-day weekend of work around the house last week, we started Saturday off by tearing out our old sliding glass door and replacing it with french doors.

They look amazing. But it was 108 with almost 40% humidity that day, and it took 6 hours to get the job done.

That same day, my mom showed up with the beauty above: a 15' wide by 42" deep above ground pool. It's no diving pool, true, but it was heaven to my tired and sweaty body last night. It took awhile to get it set up, since it required assembly and pre-leveling of the ground first, as well as sand put in a thin layer on the ground to help level and cushion it. Not to mention, it's going to take something like 10 hours to get it full all the way to the top. But none of that mattered, because after splashing in about 6 inches of water before bed last night, the kids were up at 5:30 this morning begging to swim. We spent hours today in this pool, the kids getting their water legs and splashing and giggling and Darrick and I just enjoying our very own watering hole.

In my dream world, we'd have an in-ground pool with a baja step and a waterfall and a diving board. But in real life, this pool is pretty sweet and it was worth every single drop of sweat that went into assembling it just to see my kids so happy. As a bonus, my mom bought it for more than half off the regular retail price because it was on clearance at Big Lots (local discount store).

I can't wait to sink into this baby after work tomorrow!

The pool fills to 42", but we didn't fill it all the way to the top. With it filled where it is now, both Luca and Rohan can stand and walk on their own without assistance. We're going to leave it there until they both get a little more sure-footed.

In the meantime, it's noodles and rings and practice blowing bubbles.