Happy 3rd Anniversary, Uncle
Adam and Aunt Leanne!
My usual Wednesday work night was nixed due
to the anniversary dinner party and an evening of babysitting that Rowen helped
me out with while some of my favorite adults were having their first baseball
practice of the season followed by a couple of hours of anniversary party fun
at Sheldon’s. Since we had another
amazing, hot weather day; I didn’t have a problem with skipping work to play
instead; though it would have been more fun if Michael could have been with us
for more of that mostly toddler-rated entertainment.
I’m probably boring you with repeatedly
commenting on how great it is to have warmer mornings for Tai Chi by the river,
but it seemed as though winter was never going to end; and that’s going to
continue to be a favorite part of my days for a while. Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne were doing a
special breakfast today, but it was a normal morning at our house; and they
didn’t even try to join us for an anniversary Tai Chi workout. Let’s not speculate on what they might have
been doing instead! ;^)
We had a good day at school, and in
addition to lunchtime football and afternoon Phys-Ed class outdoors; we went
out to do nature drawings in art class in the morning and again during history
class just because it was too nice to be cooped up in our classroom. That change of venue didn’t make the history
of American politics any more interesting for anyone; but it was more fun. There isn’t much else to report from school
today; and our after-school study time at Landry’s didn’t really take long
because there wasn’t much homework today.
While we were having Uncle Adam and Aunt
Leanne’s anniversary dinner at the Inn so that we didn’t have a big clean-up to
do between that and the first co-ed baseball practice; I still had things to do
at home to help Mom. That included
getting the lounge set up for our babysitting plans; a once-over for Ethan and
Ehlana’s rooms because they were having Naomi and Aiden stay with them
overnight; and some kid control support – including getting kids ready to go
out for dinner.
After Dad got home from work and got ready
to go out too, we walked over to the Inn; and Rowen met us there after doing
her usual part-time work at the computer store.
Our babysitting officially started then because we were in charge of the
kids’ tables while our favorite parents and grandparents were busy roasting the
happy couple of honor. Michael and
Rebecca were allowed to join us for dinner; though they didn’t do that until
after the entrées were delivered to our group – which marked the end of the
main rush they had for a mid-week night.
Being with the kids kept us out of the loop
for most of the roasting and anniversary entertainment; though we did gather
around the table that Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne were at when it was time for
them to open their gifts. There was cake
and ice cream too, but by then we were a bit rushed because some of us needed
to get over to the park for baseball practice or playground play time. Michael and Rebecca needed to get back into
the kitchen then too; so I didn’t even have time to share much of a goodnight
kiss with Michael – and what we did share was accompanied by giggles from
Ehlana, Naomi, and some of the other younger girls.
Before we get to the kid-time report; let’s
talk coed baseball. Due to pregnancies,
Aunt Grace and Aunt Deborah won’t be playing this season; but Uncle Mark and
Uncle Nick are on the team. The two
women who were recruited to replace my aunts this year are Hannah Draper and
her sister-in-law; Mary Robinson. Mrs.
Robinson is Nathan’s younger sister; and will be one of my High School teachers
for the next four years. The rest of the
team is pretty much the same returning players; with Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne
back again after taking last year off while Aunt Leanne was taking her first
turn at being a mom-to-be. The Nortons
aren’t playing this year; but then they’d only planned on playing last season
anyway. If it was a choice for them, I’m
really glad that Claire picked coaching my team over playing coed baseball!
Rowen and I didn’t keep the younger kids at
the ball diamond for very long; but we did stay long enough to find out that
Hannah in particular was going to make this a very entertaining season for everyone. She’s also the smallest player on the team,
so while her edgy sense of humor isn’t news; her baseball skills did surprise
me. I should also mention that it was a
bit strange to be hanging around the team players tonight and realize that
Rowen and I are both now undeniably taller than Hannah – and closing in fast on
some of the other women. It isn’t as
though we haven’t been getting there for a while now; but it’s particularly
noticeable when we’re all wearing the same kind of shoes – or have hair done up
for Sunday or special occasions.
Since we didn’t watch very much of the
practice, I’ll reserve judgment on the prospects for our coed team this year,
but if the laughs are anything to judge by; we’ll have a great season
regardless of the scores!
The playground action was entertaining too;
though Rowen and I were also run ragged keeping up with Ethan, Ehlana, and the
rest of the kids we had with us. In
addition to our official little group, we also played with the three Robinson
kids; and I expect that they’ll be coming along to a lot of the practices with
their mother and aunt. They’re also
Naomi’s cousins, so this gives them a weekly opportunity to hang out together
too.
An evening out with friends kept the
practice comparatively short, so Rowen and I still had a group of fired up kids
with us when we took them home. Grandma
and Grandpa took Zack home with them for the night; and Rowen and I had the
twins, Naomi, Aiden, Hailey, and Leah with us – though Hailey and Leah didn’t
stay here overnight. Naomi’s brother,
Eli, was spending the night with his Grandparents too; so Uncle Adam and Aunt
Leanne weren’t the only parent in town having a kid-free night. As always, if you’re using your imagination
on that any time in my personal future; I don’t want to know about it; so
please don’t tell me!
While Mom and Dad did a quick change before
heading out to the pub; we played in the back yard for a while; and then moved
indoors and up to the lounge when Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne collected them on
their way over to Sheldon’s. Ethan and
Aiden played some video games; the girls wanted to have some music fun for a
while; and then we got all of the kids ready for bed before letting them stay
up late to watch a movie. Leah and
Hailey were asleep within fifteen minutes; so we put them in my bed until they
were picked up; but my brother, sister, and their friends were still awake and
going strong by the time the show was over.
We still put them to bed after that; and
while they were awake for a while; and probably goofing around with some Face
Time between the two rooms with their iPads; they at least pretended to be
asleep when Mom and Dad got home with the two pairs of volunteers who were
taking Leah and Hailey to their homes for the night. Rowen wasn’t spending the night either, so
she went home then; and probably got there at about the same time as her
parents did; since they’d gone to the Inn to help with the celebration
too. She was welcome to stay, but I
think she picked sleep over listening to me type on my computer for a few hours
– which I’ve been doing since coming back up to my room a few hours ago.
I’m going to need to try and do a make-up
work night even though I have my first baseball practice tomorrow too; so I
should get started on my nap soon.
There’s rain in the forecast all day for Thursday too; but I’ll keep my
fingers crossed that we’ll get a break around baseball time. The only down side we’ll have for our practices
this year is that we have the later practice slot; so Rowen and I will miss
game nights at the Inn for the last handful of weeks we have left until they
stop for the summer holidays.
Would anyone like to take a guess whether
Michael and Tim will still do game night without us; or come to our practices
instead? That’s a tough choice for them;
and could get them razzed by the other guys whichever way they go on it!
I’ll let you know how that goes – if
baseball is even on for us, but that’s all I have for tonight; and I’m so out
of here and off to dreamland.
Live long and prosper, fellow Magi of the
Light!
