Heirs of the Magi News Flash!

***Heirs of the Magi News Flash!*** Winter has, for the most part, been mild so far - or awesome for the month that Cassie and Michael spent in summertime-Australia! They are home now and will be working from home for most of the time until Easter. The hometown work will include getting ready for their next trip, but there will be a lot of fun to get in on and share with their favorite people - including their March Break trip to Florida adventure. All of your favorite Magi Masters will continue to work and play while their future plans unfold; so... ...Visit Witch Falls often to keep up with all of their latest stories; and Happy Reading!

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Cassie's Journal - May 31, 2012

Here we are at the end of another month, and this year, it works out that we only have two weeks left in the school year. Just two weeks and a day to go before summer holidays!
The highlights for the last few days were the Tuesday and Wednesday night baseball practices; game night tonight; and a little Magi Council update meeting at our house on Tuesday night that Ethan, Ehlana, and I got to sit in on to discuss the latest on our future plans – and go over a few of the things that need to happen next. While she’s not a council member, Mom is now invited to most council meetings; but this get-together was specifically to talk about the lab, med center, and a few other projects that will be coming up soon – like the new section of town that will be needed for the growing population we’ll have here over the next twenty or thirty years.
Most of the kids and teens in town are gearing up for year-end tests and final exams next week; and this week has mostly been review in our classes. Rowen and I are playing along with that when we need to, but aren’t worried about the Grade Six tests at all. Once we’re through next week, the last week of school will be all fun and games. The best parts of June are going to be when Violet comes to spend the summer with us starting on her birthday; Ethan and Ehlana’s first birthday; and baseball games – which start this weekend for Mom and Dad’s team, and a week from Saturday for mine.
The only other news I have to report tonight is actually from the holiday weekend, but I didn’t hear much about while busy with my cousins. Grace and Mark haven’t actually been able to get together much this year so far, but they have been talking and emailing each other just about every day; and the good news is that they’re both coming to Witch Falls for the week leading up to the Labor Day holiday. I’d say that’s perfect timing for the next phase of our future plans as it applies to them!
That’s all for today, so...
...live from Witch Falls; this is Cassie Proctor, signing off!

Monday, May 28, 2012

Cassie's Journal - May 28, 2012

Memorial Day is amazing in Witch Falls!

This year was even better than the first two that Mom and I have been here for; mostly thanks to Ethan and Ehlana. I suppose you could say that they were here last year too, but this was a lot different, and they have a unique way of seeing things that is a lot of fun to experience with them.

The only real changes in the parade are the people participating – new bands, guides, or scouts members. The service at the cemetery was solemn and moving; and the best part, for me, was the family stories that Grandpa, Uncle Duncan, and Aunt Carrie told us while leading us around the cemetery grounds. Dawn and I had four little girls with us for most of the morning, and after getting home again, while the parents got everything packed up for the picnic in the park; we entertained Jaimie, Kaitlyn, Kara, and Nicole in the back yard.

While we were technically relieved of that duty once everyone moved over to the park, Dawn, Rowen, and I still had our little shadows for a lot of the afternoon. That didn’t keep us from having fun, and except for breaks for lunch, the National Moment of Silence, and an afternoon ice cream break; we were playing and constantly on the go. We went canoeing; played most of the charity games; and ran around with the younger girls at the playground until it was time to pack up and head for home.

There was more packing to do once we got there; and I helped Jaimie and Kaitlyn do that while Dawn and Violet were getting ready to go too. Dillon was ‘helping’ Violet, and that’s probably why they were the last two people to make it outside again with her luggage and computer bag. By then, the goodbyes needed to be hurried along, so it only took about fifteen minutes before Mom, Dad, Ethan, Ehlana, and I were on our own again. Dad needed to get started on his homework in the office, but Mom and I took the twins over to Aunt Leanne and Uncle Adam’s house to help with a few last goodbyes there before going home again. Mom and I had some cleaning to do after that, and Ethan and Ehlana supervised while we cleaned the kitchen and started running loads of laundry.

There isn’t much else to report for today. It’s been all work since then, and once I’m finished with this journal entry; I’m going to try for a half-decent night of sleep before getting back to school in the morning.

Live from Witch Falls; this is Cassie Proctor, signing off!

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Cassie's Journal - May 27, 2012

I’m officially tired out tonight; so let’s keep this short.

It was non-stop action from Tai Chi to the post-dinner cleanup. Dawn and I helped with getting Jaimie and Kaitlyn ready for church, fed, and entertained; and managed to take turns with showers and getting dressed up too. The church service and Sunday school were fun, and then we just had our guests plus the grandparents for lunch before the girls headed over to Witch Falls Road for a few hours of shopping. The usual Sunday night buffet at the Inn followed that for the visiting members of our family while everyone else came over to our house for another barbeque.

We had a ‘free’ night after that; which included a canoe ride, park play, and Jacuzzi time for Dawn and me. She used the Jacuzzi first, and is already asleep. I’ve been doing a quick version of the usual nightly computing – without the studying or work – since getting out of the bathroom; but with everyone in the family here, that didn’t take long. Somehow, I’ve still managed to keep busy until after eleven, and as I look out the window toward the river, I’m wishing that I’d gone straight to bed. That way I wouldn’t have seen the group of canoes pull up to the dock with Chris, Martin, Jonathan, and the rest of the gang they’ve been hanging out with off and on all weekend conveniently riding in them in guy-girl pairs. Jenny has a lot of canoeing experience, and isn’t at all uncoordinated, so that strongly suggests to me that the little trip into my cousin’s arms wasn’t an accident. It also seems like the perfect time for me and my photographic memory to wrap this up and go to bed – so I will!

Live from Witch Falls; this is Cassie Proctor, signing off!

Cassie's Journal - May 26, 2012

Uncle Blaine still has a lot of reading to do before he gets started on the work; but the news of the day is that we have our architect for the lab and medical center projects. I missed out on the conversation that Mom, Dad, Uncle Adam, and Aunt Leanne had with him about the job offer, but I’m sure they all had a lot of fun with it.

They were able to have that little chat this morning when we were all mostly inside while a little rain swept through town; but it wasn’t long before the sun was out again, and we could get on with our outdoor fun plans. We only had our guests for lunch, and then most of us went over to Aunt Leanne and Uncle Adam’s house; where everyone who was going out to the Ridge River Ranch was gathering before heading out there. Mom and Dad skipped the trail ride so they could stay with Ethan and Ehlana; and work on their part of the all-families barbeque that we were hosting.

Dawn, Rowen, and I had a blast on the trail ride, and got to spend most of that time with Violet while our younger cousins were doing another corral adventure with one-to-one adult support. We had ice cream snacks waiting for us when we got home, and then Dawn, Rowen, Violet, and I went for a canoe ride with Jaimie and Kaitlyn while most of the grown-ups were either helping to get ready for dinner, or taking care of the younger kids.

The whole day has mostly been fun and games for all of the kids, though Dawn and I were recruited for the after-dinner cleanup crew along with all of the teens. Chris, Martin, and Jonathan weren’t thrilled about that, but it really didn’t take long, and then we were free to go play again until dusk; when we gathered in the back yard again for the campfire. I love campfire music and scary stories, but the best part of the night was getting to listen to Uncle Adam and Uncle Blaine talk about the lab and med center. Uncle Blaine didn’t know that they were doing that specifically so Dillon and Violet could hear them talk about it, but I did; and Dillon was definitely paying very close attention to what they were saying. That was just a first little step toward his part in our future plans, and I’m sure that he liked what he heard as much as we’d hoped that he would.

With that out of the way, let’s discuss the weirdness of the night – Rebecca and Jenny hanging around with Chris, Martin, Jonathan, and a few of their friends. I may have come to grips with the fact that two of my best friends have crossed over, and are lost to me for a while, but having them look at my cousins the way they were tonight is scarier than any story Grandpa or Uncle Duncan told us. Chris isn’t as interested in them as he was last summer – probably because he’s got nearly a year of high school behind him since then – but Martin and Jonathan were both very happy with the attention.

By eleven o’clock, there were quite a few cuddling couples around the fire, and while I wasn’t really all that tired yet, the twins, Jayden, Jaimie, and Kaitlyn were all sleeping. Dawn looked ready to drop too, so we decided to help get our younger cousins off to sleep, and then came up to my room to get ready for bed too. I’ve been sitting in the alcove since Dawn and Mandy fell asleep; watching the campfire and working on my computer. I had a few notes to make in our Magi project journal that was mostly about things that I picked up around town from weekend visitors. Rebecca and Jenny had re-ignited my interest in archive records that might help Rowen and I avoid their fate, but unfortunately, I haven’t found anything so far that would help. I’m not sure if that’s because so many of the archives are written by guys, or whether there just isn’t a way to either be immunized or cured.

As I’m writing this, the campfire is starting to break up; though it looks like some of the teens are going to stay up a bit longer. With the usual holiday weekend Sunday morning rush only about five hours away from starting, though, it’s time for me to wrap this up; so...

...live from Witch Falls; this is Cassie Proctor, signing off!

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Cassie's Journal - May 25, 2012

Have I mentioned that I really love holiday weekends?

It’s funny to think about it now, but holiday weekends weren’t that big of a deal to me before Mom and I moved to Witch Falls. I’m sure that it’s having our family and friends that makes the difference, and we have a house full of family right now; including the three cousins I’m sharing my room and the lounge with tonight after Jaimie and Kaitlyn fell asleep on the sectional sofa while they were watching a movie with Dawn and me.

The girls are ruling the third floor this weekend. Dawn’s with me in my room, and Violet, Jaimie, and Kaitlyn have the three guest bedrooms while Aunt Grace and all of our parents are all on the second floor. Chris and Martin are staying with Aunt Leanne and Uncle Adam; mostly so they can hang out with Jonathan. Grandma and Grandpa’s house is grandparent central for our family, and Christine and Andrew are doing the same for the Johnson-McEwan clan; though technically, only two out of four couples are actually grandparents.

I’m going to keep this short tonight. Dawn and Mandy are both sleeping now too, and Violet and I are the last two standing – though she’s not actually here right now, and probably isn’t standing either wherever she and Dillon are right now with Jake and Stephanie. Aunt Grace and Uncle Blaine both took off work early, and made it into town by dinnertime with Alison, Duncan, Mercy, and the kids. I’ve been running pretty much non-stop since then keeping up with Jaimie and Kaitlyn with some support from Dawn once she got here with the rest of the Rice clan.

We’ve played at the park, gone canoeing, and visited in the back yard with everyone before getting around to our movie time in the lounge. Ethan, Ehlana, and Jayden were with us for the movie and while we were at the park. We had parental support, but even I’m running out of steam now after running around with my two little shadows all night. Mom assures me that I was busier than both of my cousins combined when I was in that three to five-year old range. I’d argue the point if my photographic memory didn’t corroborate that claim. Anyway, the weekend fun is just getting started, and I need to get at least a little sleep now, so...

...live from Witch Falls; this is Cassie Proctor, signing off!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Cassie's Journal - May 22, 2012

Rowen and I are officially members of the Real Estate Rovers. Aunt Leanne was very excited about springing that news flash on us when the team announcements were made yesterday. Mom and Dad’s team is Ayres’ Arrows, and the jokes are already flying – like the one about them getting the short end of the stick – because the other teams in the coed division are the Lasers and Torpedoes.

Play time, except for baseball practices and game night, has been suspended for the week. I’ve been helping Mom after school, and we’ll be doing more of the same on Wednesday and Thursday; though I’m mostly taking care of Ethan and Ehlana while Mom is busy cooking up most of what we’ll need to feed the masses this weekend. Aunt Leanne and Uncle Adam came over after work on Monday to have dinner with us, and stayed for the ongoing cooking session until they wrapped that up in time for Ethan and Ehlana’s bedtime snack and story.

Ethan, Ehlana, and I have spent some of our time tweaking our future plans; and we went over everything that will be happening this weekend one last time while having dinner on Monday too. I’ve been staying up late working on my computer after the twins were in bed; getting ahead on my family business work and studying my languages and the archives. I’m sure that Mom has noted this too, but I’ll mention that while the twins have mostly been going to bed at the normal time; they’ve also been caught several times still awake and having inter-room, iPad FaceTime chats. Since they are less than a month away from finishing Grade Eight, which they’re shooting for having done by their first birthday, we probably shouldn’t be surprised; but we still are. Yes, I’m still just a little bit jealous that they can play on their iPads and do things that I couldn’t when I was their age; but it’s also a lot of fun to see what they can do too.

Anyway, that’s about all for today. It’s already after one-thirty, and I’m ready to get some sleep now, so...


...live from Witch Falls; this is Cassie Proctor, signing off!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Cassie's Journal - May 20, 2012

This week has been weird, with a lot of work, and a little fun mixed in. Let’s start this recap with the weird.

Shopping. Yes, I know, there shouldn’t be anything weird about that, but in this case, weird definitely fits. Rowen and I try our best not to talk much about it – or even think about it – but that doesn’t mean we can avoid the inevitable.

Get to the point and be done with it, Proctor!

Rowen and I went to Palmers with the Moms yesterday morning to get our first training bras.

Our first introduction to the ‘back room’ was definitely high on the weird scale for two girls doing their very best to avoid crossing over. This was one of those times when having a photographic memory is not something I’m happy about having, and let’s not even talk about some of the lingerie and underwear that Mom and Patricia were looking at while Abby was busy with Rowen and me. They didn’t buy anything, but I won’t be surprised if they both stop in again for a little shopping next week sometime.

I know that lots of the girls reaching this little milestone are very excited about first bras, but in my one weekend of experience; it’s mostly just annoying – like having to put a swimsuit top on under my clothes. Rowen sort of agreed with me, but I think she also likes wearing her bra a lot more than I do. Abby did at least make sure that the bras she helped us to pick out were comfortable. Dad and Ethan didn’t need or want any details about this little shopping and rite of passage event. Ehlana had a few questions for me, but probably saved most of them for Mom once she’d sensed that it wasn’t something I wanted to really talk about. Aunt Leanne had a few comments and jokes for me, but for the first time, I didn’t really find much to laugh about.

And just for the sake of curiosity; do most women enjoy all of the fun and excitement that goes along with things like menstrual cycles and the rest so much that they’re thrilled to welcome new members as early as possible? Wouldn’t it be much better if we could just turn that on and off for a few months now and then when we want to have kids? Maybe I’ll do a bit of archive research to find out if that’s possible.

That’s enough of the weird, so let’s move on.

Dad was in the city all week, so Mom and I were busier than usual between school, work, lessons, baseball, and taking care of the twins. It was nice to have grandparent support again, and Mom had one evening, a morning, and an afternoon off to do other things while Ethan and Ehlana were busy keeping Grandma and Grandpa entertained.

Rowen and I had baseball practice on Tuesday; we took care of Ethan, Ehlana, and Naomi on Wednesday while Mom was at her practice; and Rowen stayed for a sleepover after our dinner and a movie night on Friday. After the Saturday morning shopping trip, Rowen went to work at the computer store while I joined the yard work crew with Dad, and we spent the rest of the day getting everything ready for the holiday weekend while Mom and Alicia took care of Ethan and Ehlana, and worked on getting guest bedrooms cleaned and ready too.

Last night, after working until nearly seven o’clock before stopping for a late dinner, all I was interested in was a long soak in my Jacuzzi and an early bedtime. Today was mostly a play day – at least for the kids. (I’m just going to ignore my first Sunday church service that included wearing a bra under my dress. Some of the looks and smiles that were directed at Rowen and I definitely had me suspicious about whether that Palmers back room rule to not talk about what was bought there applied to girls getting their first bras.) Rowen and I played with Ethan and Ehlana most of the afternoon. We took them on a canoe ride; had ice cream from the Emporium; and spent an hour and a half at the park before taking them home for a little nap before dinner. Mom and Dad both worked in the office while we did that, and Dad spent most of the evening in there too. Mom and I took care of making dinner and cleaning up while he was busy; and then we took the twins for a walk; stopping for front porch visits with Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne, and Grandma and Grandpa. We did a Magi lesson and a bit of archive studying after that, followed by bath time before doing the bedtime story and snack in the office with Dad.

I’ve mostly been working on my computer since coming up to my room after we tucked Ethan and Ehlana in for the night. There were some email to catch up on; a bit of family business work to do; my language lessons; and an hour of archive studying before getting around to this journal entry. It’s after one now, and time to call it a night. Five sleeps to go until the best Memorial Day weekend ever so far! By the end of the weekend, word will be out about one big part of our family business plans for Witch Falls – if not even a fraction of the details. We do still have five school and work days to get through between now and then, though, and I’m really tired, so...

...live from Witch Falls; this is Cassie Proctor, signing off!

Monday, May 14, 2012

Cassie's Journal - May 13, 2012

Happy Mother’s Day!

Mom, Grandma, and most of the mothers in town had get out of work free cards; though Miranda and some of the other working Moms weren’t able to do that. Our day started out with Tai Chi by the river; the full country breakfast and Mother’s Day gifts; and then Dad and I juggled all of the work that needed to be finished before going to church. Dad, Grandpa, Aunt Leanne, and Uncle Adam put on the barbeque lunch at our house, and then we split the afternoon between a short canoe ride and a couple of hours playing at the park. There was time for a break and to get ready for the late buffet at the Inn, and that was definitely the highlight of the day for all of us – especially since we had lots of friends there too.

Since I’m playing catch-up on my journal, I should recap the top news since my last entry. Mom and Dad had their first baseball practice of the season on Wednesday, and Rowen and I took care of Ethan and Ehlana while they were busy with that. Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne were on the team again, along with Nick and Aunt Deborah. Mr. Seager is playing again this year, and though Naomi had grandparent help while her parents were busy tonight; Rowen and I might be taking care of her at practices sometimes too.

The main news from the ranks of the Grade Six students at school this week was Nora’s twelfth birthday on Thursday – mostly because it was the first girl-boy party for our class. Rowen and I got her a little gift – like we do for all of our classmates – but we were also very happy to not be invited to the party. From the stories we heard on Friday, we were even happier that we weren’t there to witness the craziness.

We had a dinner and a movie night on Friday, and Rowen stayed for a sleepover. Grandma and Grandpa didn’t get home until late, so we didn’t see them until Saturday morning. They stopped by for a short visit, but then went to do some running around while Mom, Dad, and I were busy with the yard and house work. We had them over for lunch – along with Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne – and then I went home with them to help out around their house for most of the afternoon. While we were doing that, Dad was busy working to get ready for his week in the city, and he only took a break from that while we had dinner before hiding in the office again. Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Adam, and Aunt Leanne were all at our house again for the evening, and Grandpa did most of their winter getaway storytelling.

Ethan and Ehlana had a later than usual bedtime because of that last night; and they went to bed a bit later than usual tonight because Mom wanted to do a lesson with all three of us after getting home from the Inn. Dad finished up his work while we did that, and we don’t need to even think about what he and Mom have been doing since tucking the twins in for the night. I’ve been working on my computer since coming up to my room. The email check took a while, since I had updates from all of my regular family sources to read and replies to write. All of the email included Mother’s Day updates, and while I probably wasn’t the only one not thinking about it much; Violet, Dawn, and most of my cousins are getting fired up about coming home to visit in les than two weeks for the Memorial Day weekend.

Those reminders had me spending a bit of time on our future project after finishing the email and entertainment checks. Ethan, Ehlana, and I have a few things to wrap up with that before we’ll be ready for what Mom, Dad, Uncle Adam, and Aunt Leanne will be doing while everyone is home. Thanks to that, a bit of family business work, some language study, and this journal entry, and I’ve managed to work until after one o’clock again – make that nearly one-thirty! It’s definitely past-time to call it a night, so...

...live from Witch Falls; this is Cassie Proctor, signing off!

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Cassie's Journal - May 8, 2012

I’m currently falling asleep in the Jacuzzi, but after finally getting to have our first baseball practice of the season; I seriously needed to get cleaned up before bedtime.

Though it was an after-school work day for Rowen and me, we did stop early enough to throw a ball around for a while before dinner. Practice was fun, but it was a bit weird being the oldest players on the team – and not having Rebecca and Jenny playing with us now that they’ve again crossed over to the next (baseball) level. They’re both happy to be on Carolyn Landry’s team again – and to have Carolyn’s Mom for their coach.

After baseball, I had more work to do in the office, and the only difference from the last two years is that the move to Tuesday practices means we don’t follow up our baseball fun with game night at the Inn. Mom and I did a short Magi lesson after Ethan and Ehlana went to bed, and I’ve been up to my neck in swirling water since finishing that.

The only news to report around the family is that Grandma and Grandpa are still expecting to be home by the end of the week. Mother’s Day will be way more fun with them home! Anyway, I’m totally ready to get dried off and crash until morning, so...

...live from Witch Falls; this is Cassie Proctor, signing off!

Monday, May 7, 2012

Cassie's Journal - May 7, 2012

Happy 1st Anniversary, Aunt Leanne and Uncle Adam!

We started out with a rainy day, and ended with warm and sunny. Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne had breakfast with us; mostly so we could give them their presents, but that was the last time I saw them today. Since they’re staying home to celebrate; I’m still very happy not to know any of the details.

Rowen and I spent some time riding our bikes and playing at the park after school, and she stayed for dinner and a Magi lesson before going home at around eight-thirty. I’ve been studying in the archives and doing my usual email and entertainment checks since then, and now I’m going to call it an early night; skipping the language practice in favor of a bit more sleep. That’s all the news for today, so...

...live from Witch Falls; this is Cassie Proctor, keeping it short and sweet and signing off!

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Cassie's Journal - May 6, 2012

It’s been a wild first week of May; and not just because of the weather today, which went from beautiful to stormy to sunny and warm again just between morning Tai Chi and lunchtime.

The news highlights for the week include Stephanie’s seventeenth, and Sophia Bassett’s first birthdays yesterday; and Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne’s first anniversary, which is tomorrow, but we celebrated with them tonight because they have other plans for tomorrow. Ethan, Ehlana, and I are good with not knowing the details...seriously!

Stephanie, Jake, Dillon, and some of their friends all went to Crystal Springs yesterday to meet up with Violet and celebrate her birthday with some shopping, dinner, and a movie; but we did get her birthday present to her in the morning before they left. Sophia’s party was family only, but Ethan and Ehlana went to see her with Mom and they’d picked out a gift for her too. Dad and I spent most of the day on yard work; mostly so we would have more time to spend with Mom on the Mother’s Day weekend.

The extra work around the house, along with my usual family business work and studying didn’t leave much time to play with Rowen, but we did play after school on Thursday, and after lunch today for a while. I’ve got more of the same planned for next week, but that’s partly because Grandma and Grandpa expect to be home by Thursday or Friday. Dad and Aunt Leanne think they’ll be home earlier than usual because they miss their grandkids. I’m okay with that, because I miss them a lot too.

After going to the buffet tonight, Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne came home with us, and stayed until after Ethan and Ehlana went to bed. I’ve been multi-tasking since then; combining my usual nightly computing with quality time with my Jacuzzi and then cuddle time with Mandy. I’ve pretty much covered the highlights for the past few days, and this is my last job of the night, so...

...live from Witch Falls; this is Cassie Proctor, signing off!

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Cassie's Journal - May 1, 2012

Baseball been berry berry good to me!

That was supposed to be a great start to this journal entry; the first day of May; and the first practice for what Rowen and I hope will be the best team in our division for our last year before we move up to the next level. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate, and our practice was cancelled because of rain. We did find out that Claire will be our coach again, which is great; but we’ll have one less week to get ready for our first game in June.

Since baseball was out for the night, Mom did a Magi lesson with me instead, and I put in a bit of extra time on my family business work and language study. The good part of that is I’m finished everything I wanted to get done today already, and once I wrap this up; I’m heading to bed – about three hours earlier than usual for a weeknight.

There isn’t much else going on worth reporting this week from around town or with the family. Mom and Dad are both going to play baseball this year, and Rowen and I will likely be babysitting Ethan and Ehlana during their practices and games, but unless the weather forecast turns around by tomorrow; their first practice will be scratched too. If we do have rain all day tomorrow, Rowen and I will probably both move our Thursday work day up, and take the after-school play time when the weather’s better.

For now, I’m good with getting the extra sleep, so...

...live from Witch Falls; this is Cassie Proctor, signing off!