poolside party

If there is one homeowners wish I could have granted it would be the installation of a backyard pool. An in-ground pool surrounded by plush, chaise style lounge chairs and tables with bright red umbrellas. A shallow end and a deep with a diving board, for me to practice my cannon balls. The pool boy in a Speedo serving pina coladas is optional. {Sweetie, I'm kidding. That would be you of course!}

I've always dreamed of lounging and playing with my boys in our very own backyard pool and of having pool parties in the summer, inviting friends over and staying up late to swim in the moonlight. But for now, that's a dream and a field of soy beans is my backyard. So we decided to have a pool party at the Farmer City swimming pool instead to celebrate Henry's birthday with his friends.

I have to give Erica all of the credit for this idea. When I told her we were thinking about renting the Farmer City pool for Henry's birthday party, she suggested a popsicle party; serving popsicles and juice boxes in lieu of cakes and cupcakes. I immediately loved it and decided to keep things simple and totally summer-evening-at-the-pool relaxed.



And so at 6:00 in the evening on Friday, August 6, the pool was all ours; shallow end and deep, chaise lounge chairs and diving board, lifeguards and all. It was the closest thing to having our own backyard pool bash and I, for one, loved every minute.






















The parents sat in chairs and ate Dilly Bars and talked about our plans to enjoy these last sweet days of summer while we watched the boys jump and dive and cannon ball into the deep end. My boys took their first daring jumps off the diving board and kicked and splashed around in the kiddie pool. Popsicle juice dripped from little chins, rootbeer bottles clinked, and Henry opened his gifts. The night ended with a few last jumps and dives and swims while the sun set behind us.

It wasn't our own backyard pool, but it definitely was the next best thing.