Recently we’ve been on a home improvement kick. We’re seriously thinking about remodeling the kitchen and all four bathrooms (and now that we’ve got a ballpark figure of how much that would cost, we’re…still thinking about it, but not exactly diving into the idea). While we were at the San Jose Home and Garden show, we bought some vintage European posters to hang up — I slightly freaked out at the price, but Darin said, “It’s not like we’ve maxed out our home decoration budget.” Or had one at all, in fact.

One of my big pet peeves was the ratty shed on the side of the house. It was small, and it was dark, and it had a giant hole in the roof, and we’d had how much rain this winter? We have no garage. We needed a bigger shed that wasn’t a collection area for rainwater and tree branches. Next to the shed was a dog run area with a tiny little dog house and lots of fencing. We don’t have a dog, and the fence made it hard to get in and out of the area.

I called Mr. Handyman to have the shed, dog run, and fence taken down. And I called 1-800-Got-junk to haul the detritus away.

Of course, first I had to take everything out of the shed. Which I did. The bicycles, the moving boxes we still haven’t unpacked, lots of old paint cans (from the previous owner), and a saw (ditto). Since we have no garage, I put everything alongside the house — it would be fine there, because after all: the rainy season is over, right?

That rain last weekend? My bad. Who knew I’d found the exact steps of the 21st century rain dance?

The second half of the dance was completed with the party for Simon’s fourth birthday. I had rented the picnic area at the park two or three months ago, in order to get the spot right by the playground. Invitations went out during the heat wave of two weeks ago.

Then, last Friday: drizzle. I heard rain was forecast for Sunday. We were at an outdoors birthday party Friday afternoon, and the drizzle didn’t bother the kids one bit.

A little rain wouldn’t bother a bunch of four-year-olds. I plowed ahead with my plans.

The first half of the party was fine — overcast, a little drizzly now and then, but the kids seemed to be having fun.

Then, when it came time for the food, it started to rain a little harder. I had bought a lawn tent at Walgreen’s, thinking, “I won’t need this! I’ll just return it after the party!” Well, we hauled it out and set it up over the food table.

And not a moment too soon: the rain started coming down in buckets. The kids were around the picnic table, and the parents huddled around them. I hope it’s the kind of situation everyone looks back at and laughs. Either that or I’ve just ruined Simon’s chances for social advancement at his preschool.

(A poster the kids decorated was on the table. Within a minute after this shot the washable paints had totally washed away. Ah well.)