This has been such a great day!
I’m going to totally stay away from all things teen, tween, or romantic tonight, so if you’re interested in any of that news; you’re out of luck for this journal entry.
Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne came over this morning for Tai Chi with us; and then brought Chrissy and Jonathan over for breakfast too. The usual pre-church running around followed, and after Pastor Lewis gave us another heat-day short service; we were free to get an early start on getting changed and packed for an afternoon at Quarry Lake. There were quite a few families making the trip out to the campground too, but the only additions we had to our two families were Rowen and Patrick, Scott and Lindsay, Rebecca and Jenny, and Claire’s daughter, Emma. It’s a good thing that Grandma and Grandpa, and Violet, could help out with the extra driving help. Dillon, Jake, and Stephanie couldn’t take the afternoon off from the Inn, but Violet and Chrissy still had some teen friends to hang out with when they needed a break from the younger kids and adults.
Emma had been a last-minute addition to our group, and I’m glad that we invited her. She really hit it off with Dawn and Jillian; and the five of us, including Rowen and me, had a blast together. Lindsay was officially with ‘our’ group, but quite a few members of the Bassett family came out to play too, so she spent most of the afternoon with Jessica. We played with them sometimes too, and with Ethan, Ehlana, and all of the adults; but we hardly even saw Chris, Martin, Jonathan, or any of the kids hanging out with them except for during lunch. I’d explain why that was such a good thing, but I’m not going there tonight. :^)
Anyway, we did a lot of swimming, played on the water slides and at the playground. Dad, Uncle Adam, Grandpa tossed a Frisbee around with us for a while, though according to Patrick and Scott; we were just getting in between them and having fun with the guys. I was wondering if Chris and Martin were like Patrick and Scott when they were nine, and Dawn assured me that they were worse. She’s admittedly biased, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she isn’t right about that too.
Rebecca needed to be back in town early to help out at the Inn, but for reasons that will, once again, not be discussed here; Jenny needed to take the day off. Violet offered to take Rebecca back, and timed that trip to match up with Dillon’s lunch break. We all eventually needed to pack up and head home, and Violet was back again with enough time for another swim before helping out with the packing and kid transportation.
So, how do you top an afternoon of sun and fun at Quarry Lake? You go with everyone to the late buffet at the Inn!
I hadn’t really thought about it before tonight, but this was the last buffet for Grandma and Grandpa before they leave on the month-long trip to Europe that they’ll fly out for next Sunday morning. Hopefully I’ll find a little extra time to spend with them between now and then, but that didn’t happen tonight; and it won’t be easy with everything we all have on the go this week. We weren’t the only families to follow up our play day with dinner at the Inn; and the dining room was full. Rowen, Dawn, Jillian, and I were at a kids table with Patrick, Scott, Lindsay, and Jessica. Emma was at the Inn with her family too, but was with them for the meal.
The food was as awesome as always, and the only other comment I have about that hour and a half is to point out that Dawn is reconsidering her assertion that the nine-year old versions her brothers were worse than Patrick and Scott. She and Rowen had joked about a trade earlier in the afternoon, but I’m fairly sure that offer’s off the table now too. (Side note: I won’t be discussing Rowen’s reaction to that suggestion either, but potential crossing over danger lurks there for my best friend.)
Moving along now, Rowen went home after dinner, and Dawn and Jillian opted to take turns using my Jacuzzi after we got back to our place. Jillian did that first, and Dawn and I took it easy in the lounge until it was her turn; watching some music videos and talking about the highlights for the day; and what we’d be doing during the coming week. Jillian and I did the same thing while Dawn was busy, and then they decided to watch a movie while I got reacquainted with my Jacuzzi. They were both sleeping by the time I’d finished, changed, and dried my hair; and Mom or Violet must have tucked them in. I went downstairs for a quick round of goodnight hugs and kisses, and have been snuggled in bed with Mandy since then.
It’s after midnight again, and though tomorrow’s a ‘free’ play day, we’re also camping by the river for the next couple of nights; so I need to wrap this up and get some sleep. Since Rebecca and Jenny have the next two days off, I’ll take a wild guess that we’ll be having quite a gang around our house starting right after breakfast. Hopefully the tween-teen twilight zone weirdness won’t get in the way of the fun for Rowen, Dawn, Jillian, and me. I still don’t want to go there tonight, so...
...live from Witch Falls; this is Cassie Proctor, signing off!
