We have lived in Austin for 18 months. In that time my Mom and Dad came to visit before their mission and Jeremy’s family has come to visit. Sadly none of my family has been able to get out here and I have missed them all so much.
It has been a year since I have seen any of them, 18 months since Jeremy and the kids have seen them. This last weekend, my sweet niece, Alex, came to visit. It was like a breath of fresh air. Not only was it heavenly to have an 18 year old to help with the kids, bum wiping, swimming and bed time duties, it was so good to have someone from home. To have a bit of my family here visiting.
Isn't she just a doll??
We were so busy playing, I took only a few pictures! I know, it is awful, isn’t it??
It was so much fun to take Alex to Barton Spring’s Pool on Saturday. We had never been and the 68 degree water sure felt great on a day that was well over 100!! She and I both had a good laugh when people commented how cold the water was. They don’t know cold until they’ve swam in Bear Lake!
We went downtown, we went grocery shopping, we swam at our neighborhood pool, we ate lots of good food and we had so much fun.
We all miss her, but especially the kids. All four of them followed her around, and loved playing with her. She even babysat on Saturday night so Jeremy and I could go on a rare date. During that time she got to rock Elliott back to sleep and just when she’d gotten him down, Libby came in to the room telling her she needed to be wiped. Sweet Alex got to wipe Libby’s bum while Elliott screamed in her arms. Oh yes, welcome to my world! 
But my baby boy, who really is a Mama’s boy, loved his big cousin and was fine that I was gone for the evening.
When we asked them tonight who missed her the most they all replied, “ME!!!” Secretly though, I think it’s Libby who misses her most. She slept with Alex every night and when it was time to say goodbye, she just kept hugging Alex and snuggling her. She loves her cousin so much and was really sad on the way home.
It was great getting caught up, hearing her boy drama and remembering what it was like to be 18. She has big plans and is trying to figure out how to make them all work. It was great having an extra set of hands and a young (and more energetic) body to play with the kids.
Most of all though, it was wonderful having a taste of home.
Helpful 18 yr old girls are freaking awesome!!!! I’m so glad you got that much needed taste of home.
What a treat! Thanks for sharing your fun weekend with us!
It’s awesome Alex got to go visit! She’s so great. I’m glad you took the opportunity to go an a date! Woohoo!