Later in the week we made our way over to James and Jenny's house. Paul and I were really excited to try a new rock climbing gym. Audrey was not excited. Paul and I sort of pushed her into rock climbing because we figured it was something new that would stretch her and push her out of her comfort zone. She didn't love it so much at first. She's afraid of heights and not so sure of her own strength. The first time we went she went up a couple rocks and the next time maybe her bodies length and that's where we stayed for a while. I would push her to go a rock at a time up the wall every week. At one point I literally was pushing her up the wall and that time she came off the wall shaking and exclaiming how proud she was of herself. Needless to say she was not thrilled about going rock climbing this time either. I told her the rock I wanted her to climb to which was a little less than two bodies length up the wall and higher than she had ever been before. She said no and refused to do it. Finally right before we left I told her, we may never come back and that she might regret not even trying. So she got on the wall minutes before we left and did it. I was super proud of her and even though she didn't want me to document it, I did anyway.
It's been a couple more months now and she's still working her way up the wall at our gym and I have no doubt that someday she'll get to the top. I hope to document that one too and then she can see that nothing is too hard, some things just take a lot of work and sometimes it takes being a little scared too.
After we finished, the kids got cookies for achieving a new goal and then we headed back to the house.
Even though it's early in the year for Montana it was definitely hot enough to swim in Texas. Later in the day we hung out at the pool and watched the kids swim. Jenny was kind enough to give me some pointers on Audrey's swimming. I've put her in lessons for countless years in a row and she doesn't seem to be making very much progress. I'm hoping to take time to teach her a little bit myself this year. I hope we get somewhere with it.
While there we also spent some time at the beach and if anyone knows how to do the beach it's the Kendall family. How can you go wrong with food and drinks, a canopy umbrella thing, tools to dig in the sand, tubes for floating in the water, towels, chairs, and sunscreen. I don't know how many people commented to me about our preparedness and that they wish they were more prepared. A towel and some fast food just wasn't enough.
It was a little windy when we arrived which was perfect for keeping cool but was creating rip tides so the kids couldn't go out too far. Audrey had a blast with her cousins swimming, floating, digging, and building. True to Audrey nature we also brought a lot of sand home. She couldn't help but throw it in the air over her head which made for some pretty amazing photos and left a huge smile on her face but also ended up in all the places no one wants to find sand. It might have been worth it if only for the smile. Rae seems to have started hating the water in any form on any part of her body. So there was no swimming for us, but we still had a good time watching the kids play and I enjoyed putting my feet in the water.
Audrey unfortunately needed to go to the bathroom on our way home and we ended up in the middle of an area of Houston that we never should have been, but when a girls gotta go.....
People may have voiced a displeasure of us being there and we may have ended up in a bathroom that smelled of drugs and looked like it had seen it's fair share of action. We were probably starred out of the gas station by big scary people but we made it to the bathroom before an accident so all in all I'd call it a success. Although, next time we find ourselves in a situation like that I think I'll make her use one of Rae's diapers. :)
While there Audrey and I were in the middle of the Ichabog. When we had a free afternoon and weren't going anywhere I suggested playing Playdough with the kids and I told Audrey I'd challenge her to making an Ichabog. The other kids joined in and I couldn't help but take pictures of all the creations we made together. Later that day we also played hide and seek which was super fun and Audrey enjoyed playing scribble scrubbies with Alice and Mary for hours on end.
While we lived in Houston I'd planned to go to see the butterflies at the natural history museum a dozen times but it never worked out. At that point in time Audrey had been so excited about butterflies but I think the grasshoppers of Montana have changed her mind about her love of bugs. She was a little scared to be around so many flying things. I was less nervous than I thought I'd be...considering I'm terrified of moths. I don't know what the difference in my mind is but there is one. Rae loved it and couldn't stop staring, maybe she'll become my next butterfly lover.
It was Mother's day while we were there so I had Paul take pictures of me and the girls to celebrate another year of being a Mom. It has always been my dream job and I'm so so happy that I've been able to see that dream come to life. I have to tell myself I'm not dreaming daily. I love being these girls Mom. It's not without difficulty but it is best thing I've ever done. I also got to take pictures of Jenny and her kids. I'm so grateful for all the Mom's in my life, I try to absorb a little bit from each of them and I hope that in the long run it makes me a better Mom. Jenny is no exception. She's taught me a lot over the years and I'm so grateful for that.
I'm so happy we were able to visit and that they so willingly shared their home with us. Paul got in some much needed brother time and even fit in a project which is always a win. All in all we had the best time. Here's to Houston in a couple more years!
