I Need A Wife

Not in a Life Partner kinda way but more like a Sister Wife.  I know it sounds crazy, but hear me out.  After two weeks of having my cousin and her two kids stay with us, it has come to my attention that life is a whole lot easier with two moms.  Even when there are twice as many kids.  Dinner?  Much quicker with two people working to get it on the table.  Entertaining children?  Just when one of us was about done playing store, the other one would swoop in with a fun new idea to save the sanity.  And don't even get me started on cleaning.  While I was washing the dinner dishes (because obviously my dishwasher waits until I have house guests to break) instead of plopping down on the couch to watch "Swamp People", she was sweeping!!!!  Now don't get me wrong, I do love my husband, but I do believe this was the first time I had ever experienced such a thing.  Need to go for a 12 mile run (her) or to a training for work (me)?  No problem.  There is always someone to stay with the kids!  The whole two weeks were glorious!!!

And having another mom around wasn't even the best part!!  The kids (and, of course the moms) had so much fun together!!  Growing up, Lisa and I were very close so it melted my heart to see our kids playing together.  And play they did!  It was an action packed two weeks and we couldn't have asked for anything better.

We watched movies in our fort

 And went for walks.

Ben spent a lot of time working on tying his shoes,

 and Dominick was the official event photographer,

 but the girls?  They were inseparable...

We did some water skiing (and actually liked it!!)

We took a ride in the world's fullest canoe 

 and an evening boat ride in our pajamas!

We explored the islands at the lake

 and played Chinese Checkers (which by the way is not as fun as it sounds).

We had a picnic lunch downtown

 and went for a walk.

We went putt putting with Scotty

 and watched the excavator flatten the yard (to make way for the wood shed.  YAY!!!!)

 We went to a concert in the park (along with about 4,000 other people!)

 and danced the night away.

 We swam in the pool

 and applied our own sunscreen.

 We spent time with family

 and had the. best. time.

This morning, when it was time to say goodbye, there were lots of tears. And yes, many of them were mine.  I was sad for the kids who hugged each other with watery eyes.  I knew it would be far too long before I get to see the girls huddle together over a secret or hear Dominick say, "Cousin Becca, I have an i good dea."  I was thankful for two weeks to play and have fun but disappointed that our time together was over.  And I knew that when I went inside to clean up the house, I was going to have to sweep my own floor.

Lis, we love you guys.  Thanks for making the trip to see us.  I have an i good dea.  We should do this every summer.