While the rest of the US gets ready for autumn, leaving behind outdoor activities, we are ending our self-imposed hibernation. It is just too hot to do much outside all summer here. But once the temperature drops, we head outside and activities begin again.
The end of summer seemed to launch the beginning of the active season. The weekend of autumn equinox, we went to watch the Ballet Under the Stars. It’s an annual outdoor ballet put on by Ballet Arizona. Pack a picnic and have lots of fun. We met up with friends and the kids watched, danced and ate a box of Joe-Joes (for anyones not in the know, those are Trader Joe’s oreos). That same weekend there was the family party for our homeschool group, a BBQ with friends, a mom’s night out dinner, a casino night hosted by my mom’s group. The end of summer was upon us.
With the return of cooler temperatures (still probably not cool by most people’s estimation), we’re heading back outdoors too. After a summer of me walking the dog late at night so it was slightly less hot, we are now able to head out as a group. To accommodate all the different speeds, we use a variety of transportation devices: scooters, rollerblades and bicycles. We’ve been heading out after dinner to take the dog around the block. It isn’t the 3 miles I had been doing alone, but we’ll build up distance as we go; we’re very out of practice.
And gathering have begun again as well. In the last week we’ve been to the zoo with friends, been over to some friends’ house for dinner, had a random stop-by playdate and gone to a clothing swap. (Clothing swaps are a good, good thing. Rather than everyone donating their clothes to Goodwill, etc, and then buying new clothes, have a clothing swap. Grab a group of friends and have everyone bring your kids’ outgrown clothing. Make piles by size and then just take what you need. Then donate the rest. )
We’re currently out of town and about to go apple picking. We may have to drive a bit, but we can pretend it’s autumn.
