Summer came early-- so does the neighbor kid

This morning came like a freight train: we expected Sarah for a quick drop-in during a busy graduation weekend for Lesley, but she and Papa arrived just a hair early. Julia wasn't dressed, the boys were next door digging in the undeveloped lot, and I had just begun a quick mowing in the front lawn.

Whirlwind visit, tour of the house, some breakfast cakes and cantaloupe, and tea, and they were off again back to Houston, with Julia along to spend the weekend. Oh and on the way out the door, she suggests to the boys and Kyler, the boy next door who came by just as they were leaving, to make a little lemonade.

The boys took this idea to the streets: Dominic wrote up a makeshift lemonade sale sign on some scrap poster board, milo brought folding chairs out to the sidewalk, and I grimaced as the Houston crew and chief instigator sped off down the road, my morning usurped, bachelor dad groove off track.

We rolled up our sleeves and rode the momentum: Kyler cut lemons, Milo squeezed, and Dominic poured and strained. Meanwhile I gathered up the sugar, pitcher, and ice, and before long we had a big, cold pitcher of perfect lemonade! We all sampled the product before setting up shop, quality control.

The kids shared duties holding the signs and raising a clamor while I finished up my mowing job. Jonas followed nearby with the plastic, toy mower. The kids did pretty well-- a good handful of customers, all paying, only few buying (??) and they were ready to go prime! But once the first batch emptied, we closed up shop. Each boy helped clean up while I put together a small lunch to complement their earlier treats with Sarah.

With Jonas down for his nap, I encouraged Dominic and Milo to take full advantage of the house and their imaginations while I cleaned and sorted the dishes. It was a bit like pushing a dog by the leash, but eventually they did find their zone. I took some time to work out an idea I had for work until they came back requesting "screen time." I overlooked the irony as I denied them any computer time and instead encouraged them to work on something in the art room.

Eventually, we got to reading stories on the couch for a bit before Kyler returned again: this time he was inviting the boys to run in the sprinkler with him. Good idea, I thought, on this warm 80s day. Well it turned out he meant our yard and our sprinkler and water, but so ok. After soaking the front yard enough, they moved to the backyard-- and were distracted by the trampoline. Kyler ran next door to grab some ice pops, and the gathering wound down.

By 5:30p, Kyler was sent home, and the boys and I packed up and picked up Senelė for BBQ dinner at a place near her apartment.

A series if mis turns and memory slips later, and the boys eventually got to sleep only after ten..! It was an action packed, tiring, nonstop day probably typical of what we can expect come summer time.