Aloha from Florida

For a child, it is in the simplicity of play that the complexity of life

is sorted like puzzle pieces joined together to make sense of the world.

~ L. R. Knost

At the last minute (i.e., after the party had already started), one of our regular families asked if they could bring some cousins with them - who were visiting from out of town.

It turned out there were SEVEN cousins, bringing the guest count to our July pool party up to 28!  Our biggest crowd ever - the pool looked like a public pool:  

For the first time ever, we actually ran out of food!  

Happily, the food is not the main draw...  

It kind of amazes me that two dozen kids can keep themselves happily occupied for hours in a swimming pool - no TV, no video games, no technology - no need for adults to propose or organize games - just mix in some life jackets, some goggles, and a couple of pool toys and sit back and watch... 

We celebrated two July birthdays - a 51-year-old and a 12-year-old.  The 12-year-old selected "Hawaii" as the theme and I was able to provide leis, grass skirts and even a coconut bra for the guests of honor!  

I'll let you figure out who is who...  ;)

We even had a tiki-shaped pinata - which the 12-year-old managed to bust open on her second swing - hence the distinct lack of pinata pictures in this post!  ;)

I may be biased, but even with the food shortage, I think it turned out to be a really fine Hawaii-kind of a day in Florida.  :)

(And no, I haven't forgotten that I owe you an update on my "Just say No" vow...)