One of my favorite things to do in the world is to go on a walk with my husband. That’s actually one of the reasons we fell in love with Madison. It has some very beautiful lakes surrounded by trails for walking. The other day, as we walked in the humid, sticky weather, I was blessed with a “swingset moment.” The childhood memory whisked back before I even saw what was happening. I heard the high pitched screeches of excitement from three children, two of which were wearing their everyday clothes soaking wet, weighing them down like heavy blankets. The third child was a toddler who very proudly pranced around the yard, wearing only his diaper. 
Oh, the summertime joys of the sprinkler. The pure joy and giddiness you feel when the water chases you across the yard. The thrill of that ice cold water. The memories flooded me – leaning over the streaming water, the sudden urge to scream as the water gets you, the feel of the cold soggy grass under your toes. These kids were living the life I long to live – not one with drenched clothes and sopping wet hair, one with the freedom to laugh and scream from the amount of fun you are having. They were truly appreciating the simple joys in life (water and a hose).
Oh, do I love just dancing in the rain. My husband and I have passed this on to our children as well. One of my favorite pictures is when our children where playing in the rain with two of their cousins. The rain (no thunder or lightening) was coming down for so long that a river developed in the gutter of this quiet street. The four kids were splashing so hard they were soaked, the laughter loud, and the joy overflowing. My daughter, Nicole, and my niece, Meghan, were in summer clothes. The boys on the other hand were a little more adventurous; my son Lukas was in his diaper, and my nephew, Bryce, was in his underpants. I had a blast just taking a pictures of their excitement.
I totally identify with the cold water feeling! My favorite water-related memory is of when my brother was just moving into his new house. We live in the mountains of western North Carolina, full of red dirt; the new homesite had literally been dug into the side of the mountain. My niece and nephew and I (me being the oldest and most mature of the bunch…a ripe old 10) hosed down the red clay embankment and had an instant mudslide. We had the most fun that day, until it was time to go home and my mom made me walk the whole mile back because I was too dirty for the car!