Ethan and Ehlana:
Another day, another early update!
Today we’re on our computers early because we’re going to be busy for the rest of the day with incoming Johnson clan cousins and our best friends, and while we haven’t actually made any firm plans for the night; we do expect co-ed sleepovers to be involved!
Seth’s birthday party and dinner last night were the entertainment highlights of our day. For us, we especially-loved getting to be there with Jeremy and Kaitlyn; we joined them to help out with some of the work because they’d be drafted to help with the party set-up and dinner work anyway; and the sibling connection between Jeremy and Seth isn’t something that we think about very often but added to the adventure for all of us! On that note, let’s also mention that Seth’s sister, Madison, both got teased about and added some jokes about herself and Jayden, and that was fun too, but the two-and-a-half years between them is still a big deal with Jayden being too-young for her still when she is just weeks away from turning fifteen. For the record, we’ll also add that Seth’s father, Kyle, still has fun with those jokes that are entirely about his wife’s teen interest in Uncle Blaine, but let’s save another round of those jokes for Jeremy and Kaitlyn’s future wedding! ;^)
Moving along, the actual party highlights for us included a greenhouses and farms tour that some of us wanted to do when it was offered – especially when a hay ride was part of that tour. There was video gaming in the ‘play’ room that wasn’t still called that by the teens and tweens in the Green family; the living room was chat central with music videos playing in the background; and most of the work happened in the kitchen and dining room. We don’t spend very much time with Seth’s parents because they are so busy most of the time with their farms and greenhouses year-round; so helping out with the work included the bonus of chatting with them for more than an hour in total. We got razzed about that by some of our friends, but Ehlana in particular loved to talk with them about plants, flowers, and the work that they play around with for creating hybrids that is basically an all-natural version of genetics that isn’t essentially different from what Ehlana does with her research – except that she can track and fine-tune her efforts on a genetic level.
Seth’s birthday dinner was entirely home-made except for the birthday cakes that were Olde Bakery favorites. The pastas and sides included something for everyone – even the pickiest tween eater; and we managed to get through the entire culinary event without any serious eating or drinking games issues or practical jokes. That might have had something to do with the usual pranksters playing it cool around the older teens, but most of the men in the Green family are also fairly-large – if not quite to the Lee Landry level; so getting any of them mad might be a very bad idea! Helping with the clean-up didn’t take long for the volunteers and draftees because we had a lot of helpers; and then the evening entertainment included an unplugged set by Naomi and the Holiday Harmonies that led to some dancing in the living room and kitchen for couples of all ages. That was another highlight for us, and while Seth had some friends staying the night, it was also a work night ahead of a holiday weekend for the Green family; so we were picked up and brought home by nine o’clock. Let’s add that Jeremy and Kaitlyn helped out with the driving, since there wasn’t room for eight tweens in the minivan, but they didn’t stay with us last night – though they would have been welcomed and the offer was made. Our co-ed sleepover for eight tweens was another highlight of our day; we watched a movie; enjoyed the cuddle and chat time that included the post-party review and commentary; and then most of us went to sleep while Jayden and Susan apparently sat up and talked until after two o’clock.
That’s why they slept in while the rest of us were up on-time for our usual Tai Chi workout. Sophia and Aaron aren’t practicing on their own every day, but do want to learn with us; so we’re easing them into those lessons. We also helped with the breakfast cooking and cleaning; that meal with Mom and Dad was fun; and then there were some chores to do for some of us while Susan went along with Jayden to help him with packing for his return home and spend that extra time with him too; since we won’t be back here before we all head back to school a week from Monday. Ehlana and I eventually went on to help Naomi and Aiden with some chores at their homes; we did a round of visits with the Everetts, Violet, Dillon, and their kids, and our departing Proctor cousins ahead of their trips to Woodvale or Granite Park for their ‘away’ family Christmases. We did not get in on a lunch at the Inn that Cassie and Michael semi-hosted while taking temporary custody of their niece and nephews for the rest of the day while most of the parents and grandparents were busy with holiday weekend work, but we did have a nice lunch at Sophia’s house while Mom and Dad were at the Inn instead. That might not seem fair for Sophia’s Mom, but she actually wants us to spend more time there – or at least she had fun teasing us about barely-recognizing her youngest daughter anymore while we shared that meal and helped with the work too. We’ve had some outdoor play time and biking since then, and while it isn’t all that warm out, it is still above freezing and nice-enough for the end of December; and we needed the fresh air and exercise.
Now we’re transitioning to holiday weekend mode, and while Mom and Dad aren’t hosting weekend guests; we are going to be spending a lot of time with the Johnson clan; and that will include welcoming them here and helping with the work that goes along with those arrivals and their luggage. Dinner for most of the family still in town is also at the Carringtons, and we need to help Mom with getting our contributions ready and over there; so it is time to wrap this up and move on. We expect that our holiday fun and adventures will continue to be awesome, so while we go and live every exciting moment; stay tuned for those reports and we hope that you are having a great day too whenever your ‘now’ is in our near or distant future!
Until next time, live with love, fellow Magi of the Light!
