We’ve had nice weather for early December, and though we did spend most of the day indoors, it did make the trips to and from Crystal Springs much nicer for everyone.
Starting the big day with the breakfast buffet at the Inn helped to get everyone fired up; though Mom, Dad, Rowen, and I had also been going non-stop since getting up just to get everything done before hopping into the van and truck when Aunt Leanne and Uncle Adam stopped by and we all hurried over to the Inn. Mom and Aunt Leanne were then kept hopping as they made sure that all of the kids and teens were accounted for and put together with their drivers and chaperones. As usual, we were the last group of shoppers to head out of town, and Rowen and I were with Mom, Alicia, and the twins. Dad and Uncle Adam had three boys with them in the truck; Aunt Leanne had Mary-Anne Sheldon; her daughter, Geraldine; Lindsay Faulkner; and Jessica Bassett. With the three girls that Aunt Deborah and Nick were chaperoning, and we had the biggest shopping group; and that didn’t even include adding Aunt Melissa, Uncle Rick, and Dawn when we met up with them in Crystal Springs. Dawn was with them too, but she was there to meet up with Dillon, Jake, and Stephanie; and they were off on their own within minutes of getting together.
There were a few too many boys around, but Dad, Uncle Rick, Uncle Adam, and Nick were happy to take Ethan and the other three boys on regular side trips that made the shopping more fun for all of us. Speaking of boys, when you read this some day, Aunt Leanne, don’t think that I don’t know what you were doing when you assigned those particular boys to Dad and Uncle Adam. Quit laughing – it’s not funny! Anyway, getting back to the shopping; Rowen, Dawn, and I had three adoring junior shopping buddies with Geraldine, Lindsay, and Jessica. That just made everything more fun, including doing a few things that we hadn’t last year – like going to see Santa and get our pictures taken with him, Ethan, and Ehlana.
We all got together for lunch, including Violet, Dillon, Jake, and Stephanie; and then it was back to the shopping until four o’clock. Mom had needed to take an afternoon break to feed Ethan and Ehlana, and she timed that to end then too so we could load up and move over to spend an hour and a half at one of the big box toy stores before stopping for dinner. There were some adults that were randomly disappearing while we were there, and I have a feeling that a few Christmas wishes were filled while all of the kids were busy playing and shopping for friends or family.
Dinner was both sit-down and fast food, and then we said goodbye to Uncle Rick, Aunt Melissa, and Dawn. They could go to a Wal-Mart anytime, and decided to head home instead of making that last stop with the rest of us. Violet had driven her car too, and wouldn’t be going home until later. The last shopping stop was as much to pick up the usual supplies that were on the shopping list for most trips to the city; but there were a few gift purchases too, along with some gift-wrapping accessories. By the time that Rowen and I helped Aunt Leanne and Mary-Anne get their three girls into the car, we were sure that they’d all be sleeping within minutes of hitting the highway for home.
Ethan and Ehlana napped most of the way home too, and when we got home; Alicia helped Mom to get them up to their rooms where Mom did a late, abbreviated nursing session before changing and putting the twins to bed. It was ‘safe’ for Rowen and I to unload the van, and we had that done by the time that Mom and Alicia were downstairs again. Dad and Uncle Adam had a handful of deliveries to make, and they didn’t get home until it was nearly midnight. Aunt Leanne had come over after dropping off her passengers and unloading her car, and we had a bedtime snack and chat together before she and Uncle Adam left and walked back to their place.
I’m exhausted, but once I got changed and in bed, my computer was calling to me; and I’ve been working on it since then. There were email to catch up on after being away all day; a little surfing to do; and I needed to write up a few things in our Magi project archive that I learned and observed today. (No, Aunt Leanne – the real Santa may be a Magi Master, but the one at the Mall is definitely a non-Magi.)
With his week in the city coming up on Monday, Dad will be busy tomorrow, so I’d better get to sleep so I can help Mom with Ethan and Ehlana while he’s stuck doing that. Other than some catch-up work, though, it should be a fairly quiet day. That’s probably a good thing; since it may be the last break in the action until the New Year!