Ethan and Ehlana:
Our thoughts are looking to the future tonight as we wrap up April and get ready for what feels like a major change in our lives. Yes, part of that is definitely foresight and connected to Cassie and Michael, but we won’t get into that tonight. We can look ahead to the coming week, though, and in addition to getting ready for Cassie and Michael coming home, we also want to mention that we’ll be helping out with getting an apartment ready for Rowen and Tim – in the riverside apartment building. They won’t be here tomorrow for the start of their new lease, but Mom will help Patricia and Tracey; and they’ll get the work started that is going to include some painting and other work; furniture deliveries – including gifts from our family; and more. We have more work to be done at Cassie and Michael’s house too; so we’ll be doing more work over the next two weeks – including some babysitting when needed to help out that way instead of with the work at the house or apartment.
There is going to be a lot more on those stories and more from other returning collegians, so stay tuned for that; and we’ll move on to cover the news around here since our last update.
Let’s not get into the details from last night. We had a lot of fun, but helping out with the younger kids was also exhausting. Whether that was running around with them outside or getting through a sometimes-messy dinner or with the video gaming and movie time at the Ayres’ home; we were very busy. The kid-tween-teen split ended up being the plan, so we helped out with the kids at the Ayres’ home until after eleven o’clock before we – the teens and tweens – came home to our house. By then, we were all pretty much down to the level of being able to handle a long bedtime chat, snacks, and music videos before most of us split up and went to get some sleep. There were not any co-ed sleepovers; and only a few teens stayed up later to keep the chat time going in the lounge.
The lack of sleep affected a lot of us this morning, but we didn’t have time to be tired. Tai Chi by the river helped some of us, and then we needed to kick the work into high gear again for a while as we took turns getting ready for the day; cooking breakfast; enjoying that meal; and then cleaning up again. We had parental help and extra diners here for that while other adults helped Uncle Nick and Aunt Deborah with the kids at their house. We all eventually got to church on-time; and we had extra fun with our cousins and friends during the service and at Sunday school. After church, it was time for more work to get ready for another major meal; and that one was at the Ayres’ home again – mostly because we didn’t want to do that at Josiah and Christina’s house and make their day tougher than it already was with a new baby and a gang of family. We helped out with some of the pre-lunch work and the clean-up after we had that meal with a gang of kids; and then we spent the afternoon switching between helping to get kids ready to travel and keeping them entertained with more outdoor play time. It wasn’t as warm today, so we didn’t do much by the river, but we went for a bike ride and some playground fun at the park. Everything seemed to be a blast of cameo moments and made for another long day; so we were good with the plan to go to the late buffet at the Inn for dinner. We were still on kid control for that meal, but didn’t have any extra cousins by then; since none of the visiting parents with kids wanted to stay that late on a school night and then still need to drive home.
We haven’t written about Christopher yet, so we should mention that he made his community debut at church this morning; and he was at the Inn for that dinner too – though he slept through more than half of it – allowing his parents to enjoy the great food and break. We helped too, since Mariah spent some of that time with us; and we were glad to help out. The food fun was our last ‘family’ even of the day and weekend; so Mom and Dad took us home – and then we got to work on some chores around the house – including laundry and cleaning up guest rooms and bathrooms. Dad had some work to do in the office, so the rest of us took care of the house work; and then bath or Jacuzzi time was needed after another very busy, sometimes-messy day.
That brings us to now. We’re winding down with a longer bedtime twin chat and computing session, but we’re nearly finished now; and ready to crash and get some sleep. It isn’t quite May yet, but that isn’t far away; so we really need to get some sleep now. The fun level might come down a bit by morning, but that won’t keep us from getting more-excited about all of the awesome coming our way. We want to be at full-power to be ready for those adventures; so we’re out of here!
Until next time, live with love, fellow Magi of the Light!
