Today two of these friends came to Brenham to visit. I had been looking forward to this day for weeks, maybe even months. We had seen each other at birthday parties for our children, but you know that no one can actually visit well at a birthday party, because the host is always busy and has lots on their mind and several people to visit with. So I was looking forward to today because no one had to host a party or visit with others. We could just sit and enjoy one another's company.
Did I mention we have kids? What was I thinking!? With kids you can't just sit and enjoy one another's company. For example, we were talking for only a few minutes when all of a sudden I see two little people run past the window outside. Wait! How and when did they go outside!? It really wasn't a big deal, because we live out in the country and my kids know the boundaries and have lots of space to roam. But you get the point. There's never time to just sit and talk.
Don't get me wrong. I absolutely adore my children and my friends' children. I whole heartedly believe the we all have made the most adorable children in the world. But I do miss the days when it was just us girls sitting around the dinner table talking without a care in the world.
Today we went to eat at Los Cabos for lunch and there were a total of 10 of us! We were almost outnumbered by kids, but we had two of our mommies join us for lunch so it was a one to one ratio for adults to kids. If those two mommies wouldn't have been there then it was have been 3 adults and 5 kids. I have to give our kids kudos because they were awesome in the restaurant. I felt so special sitting at this huge table with my friends and all the kids. I always wanted to have a large family and I think today is the closest I'll get to it, but it was an amazing feeling to be part of such a big and great group of kids and mommies right smack dab in the middle of the restaurant for all to see.
Then we went to Horseshoe Junction to play Mini Bowling and ride the Bumper Boats. Mini Bowling was a bit different than we expected, but after a few tries the kids got the hang of it. The bowling balls were like huge heavy marbles. When they hit the floor, they made a loud noise and you would have thought that we busted a hole in the floor. Brazos had a hilarious technique for bowling. He would stretch his arm back to get as much force as he could to push the ball, and then once he brought his arm down he gently pushed the ball down the lane. More than once his ball didn't even make it to the pins and he would have to walk down the lane to get the ball and try again. All the kids had a blast and they were too cute to watch.
We all forgot that the bumper boats have squirters, so I'm sure you can imagine how we exited the ride. WET! We weren't exactly planning on getting wet today. Brazos rode with his little friend Emma and I wish I could have taken their picture together in the boat, but for sake of not destroying the camera with water, it'll just have to be a mental memory.
Today was what I needed. I needed to see my friends. I needed to see my kids playing with my friends' kids. If I could write my kids' futures it would be something like a teenage Brazos telling me, "Hey mom, Holden and I are going fishing the weekend. See ya later!" Or maybe Brazos and Emma would want to go dancing together with all their friends on the weekend. Maybe Sandy would be a cheerleader for our hometown and when they played against Andrew's hometown, she would be secretly cheering for Andrew to make a touchdown. I really want our kids to grow up knowing that they can be great friends just like their mommies. I want them to know that friends can come from all over and you can easily go visit them when you need some friend time. Maybe Brazos will take Emma to Prom one day. You never know. All I know is that I want them to have great people in their lives and this is definitely a group of great people.
Shelley and Alaina, I love you. Emma, Andrew, and Holden, I adore you. My kids adore you and had a blast today...................but can you tell me why Sandy is not sleeping!!!!
Thank you for a great day everyone, and Sandy please take a nap {so I can secretly eat my York Peppermint Patty}! ;)
