This update is coming to you much earlier
than I expected because we didn’t have our annual Memorial Day weekend campfire
tonight due to wet everything and risk of getting rained on – though we haven’t
had more rain since earlier this evening.
Tai Chi by the river was a go, and that was
a fun start to the day, but then the rain started falling by breakfast; and it
has been with us off and on all day – along with some thundershowers rolling
through a few times too. Michael and I
are juggling family all weekend, so he was with me for breakfast here today;
and I’ll be at his tomorrow. We helped
with the cooking today, and that got us a pass for the cleanup crew.
I loved the hour and change that we spent
having that meal with everyone, and while my relationship with Chris and Martin
in particular is changing quite a bit now as we all get older; that’s actually
better in a lot of ways than it used to be.
Michael helps out with that, I’m sure; though he’s a lot quieter than
either of my cousins. Dawn and I always
get along great, and while she feels a bit weird right now because she’s a year
behind me on the growth chart – and when we’re hanging out with Michael – that doesn’t
get in the way of our friendship at all.
She doesn’t have a serious boyfriend right now, but we had fun last
night as she told me some stories about the dating scene back home - which makes the little dramas at our school
seem tame by comparison.
Moving along, after the work around the
kitchen was finished and everyone had gotten ready for the day, we headed out
into the rain for a little shopping fun.
That had been on the planned schedule as an optional activity that I
would have missed most of while doing yard work, so that worked out pretty well
for me; and we managed to get inside a store any time the rain really started
coming down as the little bursts of thundershowers rolled through. We hit all of the usual stores, and Dawn and
I had fun hanging out with Jaimie and Kaitlyn.
My favorite part of the morning was getting to visit the new museum with
everyone; and we spent nearly an hour there by the time we’d seen and talked
about all of the displays and then picked up some souvenirs.
The barbeque lunch was indoors too, though
the rain had stopped for a while then; and that meant that we couldn’t have
everyone from all families together. We
were lunch central for the Proctor-Rice clan; and Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne
hosted the Johnson-Carrington family.
Michael was at the Inn by then; and his family had lunch there – even though
they weren’t able to spend a lot of time with Jacob, Miranda, or the kids while
they were all busy. Mom and Aunt Leanne
had set up a trail ride and corral adventure for the afternoon, and since it
looked as though the rain was going to take a break long enough; they decided
to take a chance and go ahead with that.
Kids and teens had first dibs on the
available spots for the spots on the trail ride; all of the younger kids were
doing the corral adventure; and babies and toddlers were with the grandparents
for the afternoon while we were away.
Rowen came with Dawn and me for the ride, but Tim and Michael were both too
busy to take the afternoon off. The Dads
were in charge of the corral adventure for Ethan, Ehlana, Jayden, and Nicole;
and Uncle Rick volunteered to help Dad with the twins. That allowed the Moms to go on the trail ride,
and if you need a hint as to how far Aunt Alison has come over the past three
or four years; she rode with us today – mostly because Jaimie really, really
wanted them to do that together.
I thought that was very cool, but don’t
expect Aunt Alison to give up the city life and suggest that they buy a horse
farm anytime soon – though that would be awesome if they lived somewhere closer
to us!
Rowen and I were paired up for the ride
because Dawn was with Violet for some quality sister time while Martin hung out
with Dillon. The trails were still a bit
wet after the morning rain, and it was fairly cloudy, but we didn’t get rained
on; and the place by the river where we had our little break was mud-free, if
not completely dry. Our ride today was
ninety minutes; which was just long enough for the younger kids to get through
their corral ride and have a tour of the barns.
There is one awesome addition to the ranch
this summer, and while it isn’t open yet; the tour for the younger kids
included a visit to the brand new vet clinic; and the rest of us were able to
go take a look after our ride too. John
and Pamela’s oldest son just finished college and is now a vet; and his new
clinic will open in a couple of weeks – just in time for summer.
I should probably book an appointment for
Mandy – even though I just take care of her myself anytime she isn’t feeling well;
so she’s perfectly healthy.
While we didn’t get rained on while at the
ranch, that didn’t last; and that made for a wet time for the guys working the
grills for dinner – mostly because by the time it started raining again, they’d
already started cooking; and it was too late to change the dinner plans. Dinner was at Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne’s,
since we were going to use both their back yard and Uncle Mark and Aunt Grace’s,
so having somewhere to put everyone when we needed to be indoors for dinner
worked out okay because we just split up between the two houses. Kids and teens were at tables on the back
porch at Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne’s; and Dawn and I were in charge of the
younger kids – though that was only because Chris and Martin didn’t want the
job. Violet and Dillon were with his family
for dinner and the evening after being with us for most of the rest of the
day. We didn’t have as big a gang to
feed as some years, and had fewer drop-in visitors; so that few hours actually
seemed quieter than usual.
Since the rain put an end to the outdoor
play and campfire plans; my lounge was video gaming central; and there were
movies happening in the living rooms at all three houses. Dawn and I split our time between watching
the early movie with the adults and younger kids; and then we moved upstairs
for the rest of the night after Rowen came over. She’s doing a sleepover with us tonight; but
had been busy for dinner and the evening with Tim and their families. Jayden’s staying here tonight too, and he and
Ethan played some games with Chris and Martin before bedtime while Rowen, Dawn,
Ehlana, and I watched them play – and had a bit of music play time in my room
while the boys were busy.
The parents took care of getting the twins
and Jayden off to bed after that, and while Chris and Martin continued gaming
in the lounge; Rowen, Dawn, and I took turns in the Jacuzzi and hung out in my
room. The lounge would have been more
comfortable, but we still kept entertained with some random YouTube video
surfing and a lot of girl chat. We hadn’t
expected the boys to give up the lounge early, so Dawn is bunking with Violet
tonight; and she went over to that room when we were ready to get some
sleep. Violet isn’t home yet; so Dawn
will likely be sleeping before she does get here from Dillon’s place.
Rowen and I have been snuggling with Mandy
and continuing our chat while I got started on my usual bedtime computer
checks; but we’re both pretty much ready to nap now too. Maybe it’s something about rainy days that
makes a person more tired, since this hasn’t exactly been a tough day for
either of us; but whatever the reason; I’m okay with getting the extra nap time
tonight.
Let’s wrap this up now; and I’ll get right
to that.
Live long and prosper, fellow Magi of the
Light!
