Sunday, October 4, 2009

our version of a marriage restreat

I have had a beyond amazing weekend!  It all started on thursday afternoon. Roger showed up after work with a present for me. It included bubble bath, english chocolate, and a bottle of wine. I made the mistake of opening the present in front of the children so I had to share my chocolate. But it was one of those mommy moments that we all got to sit in the bed eating yummy chocolate. 

Late Roger made dinner, cleaned up after dinner and packed the kids up to go to their nanna's house for the weekend.  Nanna's house is a little over an hour away so I was left alone thursday afternoon to enjoy a quite house.  It was AMAZING!!!  I didn't know what to  do with myself.  

JUST KIDDING!

As soon as my little family was out the door I ran upstairs and got ready to go for a walk across the hay field.  I was so excited to be alone that I felt like I was flying!

I'm not really sure who exactly owns the hay field but it is open to the public to walk on. They even have a 0.9 mile trail marked out. I usually walk 2 miles twice a week but because I was so excited I went ahead and walked 3.

Often times I find myself sitting here on this bench in the early mornings thinking about life!  It is a beautiful place to watch the sun rise and fall.
I was hoping to get a better picture of the beautiful red clouds but by the time I ran back to the car, grabbed the camera, and ran back to this spot, the sky had already shifted. But believe me. It was stunning. Somewhat enchanting!
Once I got back home I felt so sticky and sweaty that I really needed to shower.  Then I remembered the bubble bath and wine that Roger had given me to enjoy. I did a little hop and skip to the bathroom and did what any mother who finds herself in an quite, empty house does. I took a bubble bath!

As most of you know I am an avid reader! I always have to have at least 3 books that I am reading. I can not live without a good book. However, with two loud and energetic children it is hard to get in reading time that doesn't immediately pertain to class. After the bath I grabbed my book (Sea Glass by Anita Shreve), threw on some warm, comfy clothes and snuggled up in my bed.  I sat there until Roger came home.  2 and a half hours!!  I ended up finishing the book!
On Friday morning I got up early, went to the church and exercised with the little old ladies. It was rather commical but I did enjoy the stretching part of it. I must say that I never thought flexing your fingers in and out was an exercise. But I guess when you have really bad arthritis it is. We also got to learn a line dance together, canes and all.  I love little Alice to death and did benefit from the relaxation of stretching. I also rather enjoyed her whistle. When the talking got out of hand, which tends to happen with ladies of any age, she blew a big yellow whistle. I couldn't hold in my laugh. She gave me a look and then an inside chuckle. I also enjoyed the conversation  of "Honey, you are so flexible."  "Well, ladies, she IS 50 years younger than us."  "oh, yeah that's right." "But look at how she bends her ankles and knees."  "Now don't try that ladies. You know Betty you need to get those knees replaced. It's done wonders for me."  I just pray that I am that jubilant at their age and have that many ladies to hang out with.

After spending the morning with the ladies while the pastor and my husband drank coffee together and laughed at me. Roger and I headed to a local deli that is frequented by young and old alike in this small town. It is a local Wendell Berry type of hang out. I can just imagine all the characters sitting around the table gossiping about the town. It is easy to imagine because that is what actually takes place here. There is one big long table in the front that everybody shares when they get their food or coffee.  Older men come in the morning and stay until the afternoon. Young kids come in after school to enjoy their free cookies and a soda.  It is a place you go to catch up on the town gossip, check in with old friends. It is the heart of the town. It was my first visit!!  Made me miss my Papal.  He would have loved the place.
Friday evening we met up with Tyler and his date to grab a bite to eat and a few drinks before heading to a square dance put on by the local bicycle club. Being new to the whole bike thing we opted out of the race before hand and just met up with the crew for the party afterwards. I know, we are pretty lame.

The square dance was amazing. We met up with Justin and Amanda at the dance as well. My favorite dance was the 4 couple dance where we all got to stay together in a little square doing crazy things (break the ocean, take a little peak, dose e dow, swing your partner, swing your corner.)   It wore me out to be honest. Tyler and Justin kept having to yell "JESSICA!  JESSICA!!!" and grab me because I had no clue where I was  because  of the spinning.   But I think we danced pretty well for being first timers, in the middle of a dark field.  It is something we must do again and again and again.   

On saturday morning Roger and I hung out at the house until around 1pm then took a short bike ride out to the high school.  We thought it would take longer but who knew riding a bike could get you somewhere so fast!!!   If we walked if would have been 30min to and 30min back. With the bikes it took us round trip 15 min.  CRAZY!!!  I love bikes!

from about 2pm until 4:30pm we enjoyed being lazy on the couch and reading our books.  At 5pm we headed to the city for the play pinocchio which had been adapted by James Still. It was amazing. Very abstract!  Before the show we stopped at a local bar to have stuffed mushrooms and drinks. (my drink of the weekend was a highball from the 1930's)  After the show Roger surprised me with reservations to my favorite restaurant!  We enjoyed a nice swanky dinner together, including some delicious  wine, duck and snails.  

It was a pretty awesome weekend and we will probably be yearning for another one in a couple of weeks.  Once the kids got home reality set in.  "we had fun but these kids are really just too darn cute to go too long without!" 

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