I really have been out of the loop for the past few days!
For one, I wasn’t thinking at all about the fact that Grandma and Grandpa are heading to Arizona in the morning for a three-week vacation in the sun until the subject came up while we were at the Inn for the buffet. That reminder did at least come early enough for me to spend more time with them after Jaimie, Kaitlyn, and the rest of their family left for Granite Park; and Ethan, Ehlana, and I made sure that they had enough hugs, kisses, and cuddle time before they went home to finish packing after dinner to hold them over while they were away.
The holiday weekend Sunday morning rush was about as wild as usual, and Jaimie and Kaitlyn kept me busy while I helped them with breakfast and getting ready for church. It wasn’t raining this morning, but it was quite cold; so Dad and Uncle Blaine drove us over and dropped us off before going in search of parking spots. The sanctuary was full to overflowing; and there wasn’t enough seating for everyone until after the kids and teens left for Sunday school. I ended up staying with Kaitlyn for that when she found out that Jaimie would be with the first-graders instead of with her.
I missed getting to spend some time with Rowen and the rest of our classmates, but it was fun doing crafts with Kaitlyn and the other little kids too. After church, we had time to go home and have a little break before going to the Inn. Mom and Alison fed Ethan, Ehlana, and Jayden then before we loaded up into the van and SUV again and drove over to the Inn. Jaimie, Kaitlyn, and I ended up at a table with the grandparents; and it was during their conversation about what they’d all be doing between now and Christmas that I got the reminder for Grandma and Grandpa’s trip to Arizona.
Grandpa Duncan and Grandma Mercy weren’t quite ready to retire yet; but they definitely thought that spending time in the south somewhere during the winter was going to be part of their plans when they did finish working in a couple of years. Jaimie and Kaitlyn weren’t much interested in that conversation, other than the potential for future winter holidays; so they mostly talked with me about Christmas, and everything from letters to Santa to ice skating and tobogganing.
These family buffets that wrapped up our long weekends never seemed long enough, and we were soon on the way back to either our place or Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne’s again. I was put to work helping Jaimie and Kaitlyn get changed into comfy travel clothes and getting their bags packed to head home. Uncle Blaine, Grandpa Duncan, and Aunt Grace were all going to be in for a tough drive – especially for Aunt Grace with the extra side-trip to take Mark to the airport. We had everything packed into the SUV, including my cousins, within forty-five minutes; and once Grandpa Duncan and Aunt Grace pulled up in front of our house when they were ready to go, the goodbyes were short and sweet.
Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Adam, and Aunt Leanne all came inside with us after everyone else was gone; and they stayed until after dinner. Our first order of business, after getting hot drinks and getting comfortable in the living room, was to set Ethan and Ehlana free to get started on what ended up being an hour and a half long question and answer time that they’d needed to wait four days to have. I may be a bit jealous that they have things like iPads to use now that weren’t around when I was a baby; but that also makes it a bit harder for them than it was for me when they have to play normal babies and can’t use their favorite toys.
While Ethan and Ehlana cuddled with Grandma and Grandpa and entertained us with their ongoing queries; we also talked about the weekend highlights; Grandma and Grandpa’s trip; and our holiday plans while they were away. A trip to the Christmas tree farm and the kid’s Christmas shopping trip to Crystal Springs were at the top of my Christmas fun list. When it was time to make dinner, Dad and Uncle Adam took care of that while Mom was busy with Ethan and Ehlana; and then time seemed to speed up again as we had our meal; cleaned up; and then shared a long round of goodbye hugs and kisses when it was time for Grandma and Grandpa to go home. Aunt Leanne and Uncle Adam went home then too, and the house seemed almost deserted by comparison when we were down to just five again for the first time since Wednesday.
Dad needed to disappear into the office then and get some work done. I helped Mom with Ethan and Ehlana; and we ran a couple of loads of laundry and got started on cleaning the second and third floor guest bedrooms and bathrooms until it was time to nurse the twins and get them ready for bed. When we had them sleeping in their cribs, we joined Dad in the office for a hot drinks and leftover apple pie bedtime snack; and then I came upstairs for a little Jacuzzi time before getting into bed with Mandy.
I wouldn’t say that I can hardly wait to get back to school in the morning, but I am looking forward to hanging out with Rowen and our friends again. With just four weeks left until Christmas, we’ll be having a lot of fun at school; but this week’s highlights are going to be Rowen’s eleventh birthday party on Tuesday, and Rebecca’s twelfth birthday party and sleepover on Friday. What a great way to end November and start December!