Funday Monday

Today was going to be hot. Well, relatively speaking, the high of 85 degrees was going to be MUCH hotter than it has been most of this summer. Mary invited us to join her and some of her relatives at the Rope Park. My only memories of this park are HOT....being HOT, sitting in the HOT sun, watching my kids get too HOT to play, feeling sick because we are so HOT...well, you get the idea. And today seemed like it would prove to be the same. I really did not feel so much like going, but the kids all must have worse memories than I do, forgot that they always get horribly HOT, and they all really wanted to go. To get motivated, I had to sweeten the deal....A LOT. So, we called up our good friends who live nearby the park, who we have not seen since before their little girl Ava (born one day after Bethany's due date)and they just happened to be free AND think it was a good idea to meet us there. So forward we went with Plan: Rope Park.

After picking Jonny up from play rehearsal at church, making a wrong turn off the freeway, and nearly running plumb out of gas, we made it to our destination about 30 minutes later than estimated. We found all the kids playing wonderfully together, and Mary had recognized Alison, introducing herself and welcoming her to the Mommy table. Us moms got to enjoy some adult conversation as the kids ran themselves silly around the Rope Park. Running, running, running, until they got so.....very....HOT. Because it was HOT.

Refilling the water bottles for the second and third times, we packed up and headed everyone over to the beach...perhaps a half mile through the park. The 20 kids between the 4 of us ran on ahead, as thought they no longer were HOT. I seriously do not know how kids can just keep going and going all day long. It is such a wonderful thing! The kids ran into the water, fully clothed, and had a blast swimming and splashing in the very shallow water of the warm lake. Ahhhh.....what a relief on this warm afternoon. I think the kids could have been out there all evening. And with Bethany being content enough in the sling, I think she could have been too!

Departure from the park and beach eventually had to be made, and we were more than happy to accept Ali's invitation to pizza back at their house. We toured their most lovely new home....built by them only a few months ago.....which they had painstakingly thought of every detail, making it one of the "smartest" and most beautiful homes I have ever seen. Their home is on a beautiful wooded lot, complete with babbling creek running along the edge, and deer who visited their backyard after dinner! The kids had a GREAT time running around with the boys, playing Freeze Tag, and jumping in the bounce house. None of us wanted to leave this house OR the great company within the house...EVER. Chris and Ali got Bethany to smile and coo quite a bit, and it was ever so lovely meeting sweet, smiley little Ava. I hope that these girls will be great little friends someday!