What a difference a couple days can make!

I needed a break. It is summer time and things have been a bit crazy and I really just needed to go somewhere, away from it all, and enjoy myself! But without money for a room at the beach or somewhere else relaxing, I was at a loss as to where to go! I have been wanting to get down to Monmouth to visit my Aunt and Uncle so I asked, could we do a sleepover? Aunt Renetta said OF COURSE, come on down! So the two little ones and I set off on our adventure, starting with the drive through car wash! Joseph use to be terrified of it and honestly I don't think I have ever driven through one myself, so it was a fun new experience! We drove what seemed like forever to the kids(about 45 minutes) and stopped at Walmart in McMinnville. From there it was probably only about a half hour to Monmouth. It is a beautiful drive and the kids watched for animals along the way even getting to see some buffalo!

We got up to the door and Joseph knocked, and knocked and then knocked again! Then we heard Aunt Renetta cheering from inside the house! What a fun reception that was for the kids. She was so excited to see them and got them special juice drinks, made rice crispy treats and had all the makings for smores!

OK, time out for a moment! I am a mother. I am use to mothering my kids and making sure they are respectful and careful and not a bother to anyone else. My dear sweet Aunt made them feel right at home. Have you ever heard the words, "Don't worry if you spill your juice on the floor, its ok" or "you can eat in any room of the house, its fine with me"?? They have a beautiful new dining room set and I told Joseph to be careful playing with his cars on it, but Renetta said, "Don't worry about it". In her home, my kids were free to be kids and it felt so nice!

So it was probably the hottest week of the summer, it got up to 97 that first day. We took the kids down to the park and they played in the fountain.
Later we talked Uncle Rich into going with us to the Dallas aquatic center to swim! Renetta is helping me train for a Sprint Triathlon at the end of July, so she was teaching me techniques for lap swimming. I can swim fairly well, but had a lot to learn about endurance swimming and utilizing my energy efficiently! Uncle Rich stayed with the kids in the smaller pool and Renetta and I swam 20 laps together. I did it! It was hard, but I did do it! Annalina and Uncle Rich went down the water slide again and again and then Annalina swung into the pool on the rope swing and used the diving board. Joseph was pretty scared when he first got in the water. There is a big water feature and then a lazy river that makes the current in the small pool pretty strong. But by the time we joined them, he was floating in an inner tube, having a great time with Uncle Rich! It was soooo much fun to watch my kids having such a great time, and to be there with my Aunt and Uncle!

We had Pizza for dinner and Uncle Rich cooked it on the BBQ! There was much discussion on whether this would work, and the pizza did burn on the bottom, but it was SO good! I am tempted to try that next time we get a pizza!

Renetta, the kids and I slept out in the yard and Renetta and I stayed up until about 2am talking. I found that Renetta and I have so much in common! It was so nice to just chat freely with someone who loves me and understands me! I love my Auntie Renetta and I am so grateful to have her in my life!

The next morning Rich and Renetta took us bike riding around Monmouth, then the kids ran through the sprinklers while Renetta and I rode some more! Before heading home the kids talked Renetta and I into going back to the swimming pool. She took the kids so I could do some laps! I swam and swam and really wanted to get my 20 laps in. I was thinking a lap is down and back, so I was counting each length of the pool, but just had to quit at 30. I was so sad to have to go tell Renetta I could not do it on my own! 40 lengths was just too many for me! She laughed at me and explained I only needed to do 20 lengths! Yippee!! Not only had I done it on my own, I had overdone it by 10 laps! I feel confident that I can go the distance on the swimming part! Now to put it all together!!

We headed home from the swimming pool. The kids were exhausted and content after a fun couple days in Monmouth! I feel energized and ready to get back to life and its many challenges! Thank you Uncle Rich and Auntie Renetta for allowing us to come stay with you!