Ethan's and Ehlana's Journals - November 4, 2019

Happy 41^st Birthday, Dad!

Ethan:

This has felt a bit strange having Dad away from home for his birthday, but while we haven’t heard about how their celebration is going; we are sure that they’re having an awesome day.  Our adventures here at home haven’t been as exciting as birthday-vacation fun, but Aiden and I had a good morning with Tai Chi for two by the river and breakfast with his Mom and sister; our time at school was pretty good, if uneventful; and then we played and biked with our friends after school – and after Aiden and I checked in at the bakery for a short visit with his parents.  The weather was decent again today, which was why we picked the play time instead of going to the lab while Uncle Adam is away anyway; and then I was with Aiden for dinner – and most of the rest of the evening while Ehlana was with Naomi and her family.  We did get together after dinner to do our homework, but that didn’t take long; we followed that up with a bedtime walk for Silkie; and then it was nearly bedtime when Aiden and I got back to his house.

We still stayed awake in his room and played video games for a while, but Aiden is used to early bedtimes most weeknights, and we didn’t want to bother his parents or sister while they sleep; so we kept quiet; and are pretty much ready to call it a night now.  Ehlana and I did have a very short vid-chat with Mom and Dad while at school – because of the time change; but I’ll leave that news for her; and just move on to my nap time now.

Ethan – out!

***

Ehlana:

Mom’s gift suggestions for Dad’s birthday made more sense to us once we know about their trip – including because they were small and easy to pack.  That vid-chat needed to be short because we had to do that during one of our first recess; so Mom and Dad were just getting ready to go out for breakfast.  They were happy; that was likely for reasons we don’t want to know about; and we’ll get the birthday celebration report tomorrow or Wednesday; depending on when we talk to them next.

I don’t really have much to add to Ethan’s report.  Our biking and play time after school was a bit annoying for the girls because Miles felt the need to bug Caroline even more than usual – probably to make up for not getting to go to her birthday party that he insists he wouldn’t want to be at anyway.  Naomi and I had fun tonight – including while hanging out with Ethan and Aiden, but we also watched another Christmas chick flick with her parents; and then her Mom joined us for the bedtime girl chat that just ended a few minutes ago.

That’s all I have for tonight, but it has been another really good day; and Naomi and I are really enjoying getting to spend the entire week together!  We’ll try to keep that fun going tomorrow, but still have to live those adventures – so I’ll wrap this up; and get on with that starting with an extended nap.

This is Ehlana Proctor; coming to you live from what is now my past!

Ethan's and Ehlana's Journals - November 3, 2019

Happy 8^th Birthday, Caroline!

Ethan:

Aiden and I didn’t have much to do with Caroline’s birthday celebration, but we were in on a group gift with Ehlana and Naomi that we gave her while at Sunday school; and wished her a happy day while doing that.  Her party was family-and-girlfriends-only, and we can’t blame her for that; since Miles works especially-hard to annoy her whenever he has the best opportunities to do that.  Ehlana might want to comment on that today – again, but I won’t go there in part because Aiden and I already did our duty by running interference on Miles and Joshua this afternoon.  They really wanted to try and bug Caroline and the other girls anyway – even though the party was indoors and there were lots of adults around; so we convinced them to take their fun and energy in other directions.

You’re welcome! ;^)

Tai Chi for two wasn’t as much fun this morning; and we were awake early thanks to the time change.  That gave us lots of time to get ready for church and have breakfast; and then we drove to the church with a short side-trip to the bakery.  That was a change from my normal Sunday morning; and that trend continued after church when Aiden, Hailey, and I had lunch at the bakery.  We were set free after that; got our bikes; and met up with a bunch of the guys to hang out with them while the girls were busy with Caroline’s party.  We had to put up with a fair bit of razzing along the way to getting the other guys to leave Caroline alone today, but the ‘extreme’ biking on the trails kept us entertained instead; Olde Bakery treats at snack time was basically a bribe that worked; and then we were eventually back at the bakery until it closed and we went over to the Inn for the late buffet.  Aiden’s parents might go to that buffet more-often that Mom and Dad do, but when they work seven days a week so-often; that seems like a small bit of food fun in compensation.

We didn’t get to spend much time with Ehlana and Naomi after church and Sunday school, but we did meet up with them for Silkie’s bedtime walk; there were good-night hugs and kisses involved when it was time to split up again; and I don’t mind admitting that I missed them today – even as our connections keep us close in other ways that are brilliant and filled with joy and love.  They were moving on to a bedtime movie, but Aiden’s Dad will be at work early tomorrow; so we had a bedtime visit; Hailey and her Mom went off to have some quality mother-daughter time; and Aiden and I went to his room to get our school bags ready and play some video games before we were ready to sleep.

Once again, the time change helps us out tonight because it feels later than it is by an hour, but this still feels early to me as I wrap up this report.  That’s okay, since we’ll catch up in a day or two – and we did wake earlier than normal this morning.

I’ll leave the rest of the news to Ehlana.  She did the vid-chats and messages with Mom and Cassie; so there’s no point in me writing about that second-hand.  We’ve had a good day – even if it wasn’t birthday-party-exciting; and I’m sure the trend will continue as we really get into the Thanksgiving holiday spirit at school starting tomorrow.  That’s all I have; so I’ll move on; and hopefully be able to fall asleep soon.

Ethan – out!

***

Ehlana:

I thought that Tai Chi with Naomi was fun – even without the boys; so maybe Ethan would have felt differently if she’d been his exercise buddy instead of Aiden! ;^)

We also had a fun morning; enjoyed the extra time that allowed us to have fun with our hair and getting dressed up for church; and then we enjoyed the service and Sunday school adventures with the boys and our friends.  Caroline’s party started after lunch, so we had that meal at Naomi’s house; walked over to Caroline’s house – after leaving Silkie with Brianna and Faith so that they could ‘puppy-sit’ her for us while we were busy.  The party included games, a movie, music, girl-chat time, and an early pizzeria pizza dinner.  Every part of our afternoon was awesome; and Caroline is very happy tonight – even if most of the adults helping out with her special day were exhausted by the time all of the guests headed out to their own homes.

Since we at early and Ethan and Aiden ate late, Naomi and I had time to watch a Christmas movie before that walk with them – and Silkie.  While we really didn’t get to spend much time with the boys, we were all still happy when we went our separate ways; and then Naomi and I enjoyed the second ‘chick flick’ show – even though Eli opted to play video games in his room instead; and his Dad split that hour and a half between the movie and the gaming.  Naomi and I headed for her room after that; we’ve had more girl-chat time; and now we’re settling in and ready to get some sleep.

We had a morning vid-chat with Cassie and Michael before breakfast, but there isn’t much news from them.  Their sports night at the Rec Center was fun but uneventful; and their plans for today only included church this morning; studying in the afternoon; and a quiet evening at home that we’re likely too-young to know more about than that.  I only had a quick vid-chat with Mom and Dad, but Mom sent some pictures and messages too; and they spent their first full day on the island doing some sightseeing and shopping – mostly because Barb and her husband are not exactly the outdoor type and wouldn’t be interested in hiking the trails, biking, or any extreme water sports – especially in the comparatively-cool weather.  I’m not joking about that, since in one of those picture; they were wearing sweaters while Dad, Uncle Adam, and Aunt Leanne were in tees and shorts.

They’re having fun; so that’s all that matters to me; and I’ll keep you posted as we get all of the kid-rated news from their vacation.  While I’m thinking about that sort of thing, Grandma and Grandpa are having fun in Arizona too – and that’s more-true now that they’re doing that southern trip in the fall with his brother, sister, and their spouses.  We miss them too, but while we’re in school five days a week anyway; we wouldn’t see them as much anyway; and I’m really glad that they are able to go on these adventures – especially when that isn’t an option for too-many retirees.

That’s a topic I could go on about, but don’t want to write any rants tonight – so I won’t.  It’s been a really great day and weekend; I’ll be happy and grateful for that; and wrap this up so that we can get some sleep now.

This is Ehlana Proctor; coming to you live from what is now my past!

Ethan's and Ehlana's Journals - November 2, 2019

Ethan:

Tai Chi for four was outdoors, but chilly this morning – mostly because it would have been a bit crowded to try and exercise together in any one room at Naomi’s house.  We followed that up with a hot breakfast; got ready for a chores morning; and then got to work – once we’d finished with the clean-up in the kitchen.  We had to split up for those chores, so while Aiden and Naomi worked around their homes and yards; Ehlana and I went home to do out work there – which was mostly raking leaves away from gardens and trees; and then Ryan used our lawn tractor to vacuum and mulch the leaves in our yard, his, and at least two others today.  Our chores at home took about an hour and a half; and then we moved on to help Naomi and Aiden at their homes for the rest of the morning and into the early afternoon before we were set free for the rest of the day.

It didn’t get all that warm out today, but after lunch, we headed out on our bikes anyway; rode the trail around town; and then we spent the rest of the afternoon at Naomi’s house before I went home with Aiden in time for dinner with his parents and sister.  We’ve had a fun evening since then; though Aiden’s parents usually go to bed early most nights because they’re used to that with working the bakery; so our movie night was early and only one show.  Aiden and I have been playing video games in his room since then; we had a bedtime vid-chat with Ehlana and Naomi; and now it’s time for me to wrap this up and get some sleep – since Aiden is already out for the count.

I’ll leave the parent and sister updates for Ehlana – not that we have much to report for Mom and Dad’s first day of their Catalina Island adventure.

Ethan – out!

***

Ehlana:

I’ll start with that update.

Mom, Dad, Uncle Adam, and Aunt Leanne got to the island safely and without any travel incidents worth noting – at least to us.  I should likely stay away from any comments on airport scanners and parents.  Magi have ways of dealing with that sort of thing anyway, but that doesn’t affect my opinion on those scanners – or any of the technologies that are so invasive and more than a bit creepy.

Maybe I’ll put getting rid of all of that sort of thing high on my to-do list after the Ascension of the Light! ;^)

Moving along, there really isn’t much news from Catalina Island.  Mom and Dad – and Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne – had time to get into their home-away-from home for the week and their bike rentals; they’re doing a tour of Avalon and going out for dinner and entertainment tonight; and then they’ll likely crash and get some sleep fairly-early local time; since it’ll feel much-later to them thanks to the time change.

Speaking of – they’ll be helped with that thanks to the semi-annual time change that is happening tonight in most of the country; though I still expect that they’ll be up very early west-coast time anyway.

Cassie and Michael haven’t checked in with me tonight, but I do know that they were going to have a chores and supply shopping morning followed by a study afternoon; and then they were going to do dinner and a play night at the Rec Center  - supposedly because some of them need the exercise to make up for all of the Halloween treats.  They are not doing any parties – and probably won’t do that sort of thing through to the end of the semester unless they go to one or two Christmas parties.

Ethan’s covered the parts of our day that we spent together; so that just leaves the fun that Naomi and I have had with her family tonight.  Eli is back at home today, and doesn’t have Zack with him because our cousin is with his Carrington grandparents tonight – possibly because Uncle Mark and Aunt Grace already needed a break from him!  Seriously – that’s because this is one of the best nights for Zack’s grandparents to take kids because they don’t have to work at the Emporium first thing in the morning.  Without Zack around to get Eli going, we’ve had a pretty good evening.  Naomi and I helped out with making dinner and the clean-up; we watched a Christmas movie with all five of us; and then Naomi, her Mom, and I watched another ‘chick flick’ Christmas movie while Eli got to have some video gaming time with his Dad until bedtime.

Naomi and I are tired now, so we’re going to keep the girl chat to a minimum.  I’m ready to wrap this up, so I’ll get back to that chat; and then we’ll get some sleep.

This is Ehlana Proctor; coming to you live from what is now my past!

Ethan's and Ehlana's Journals - November 1, 2019

Ethan:

We’re parent-free for the next week! ;^)

Okay, that’s only true for our own parents, since we will have parental supervision all week while Mom and Dad are away; but why let facts get in the way of a little joke?

The post-Halloween, final school day of the week has been fun – in part due to sugar overload by too-many kids and teens.  Ehlana and I were busy after school while getting ready for our week-long adventures with our friends at their homes; and then we followed that up with spending some time with Mom and Dad – including a family dinner – before they – and Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne – headed for their airport hotel tonight so that they didn’t need to add those hours to their travel day that will already be long thanks to the extra hours they’ll get from the time change to the west coast.

That was a blast of fun that Uncle Mark and Aunt Grace hosted; we saw our four travelers on their way out of town; and then Ehlana, Aiden, and I headed over to Naomi’s house because she’s hosting a sleepover to get our weekend – and week – started with more fun that started with a movie night.  Our plans affected Zack and Brianna because Eli tried to get Zack for a sleepover too – entirely so that they could bug the girls all night.  That’s why Uncle Mark and Aunt Grace have ended up with Zack, Eli, Sebastian, and Caleb with them while Uncle Nick and Aunt Deborah have Leah, Brianna, Faith, and Hailey with them.  Aiden’s parents are happy with the kid-free night, and while they still have their normal work at the bakery in the morning; we still won’t want any details about the rest of their night!

Moving along, Halloween is over; so the girls were happy to start in on the Christmas movies season instead – including a Hallmark chick flick to go along with a first watching of the season for the newest animated version of The Grinch.  I loved the cuddle time with Naomi; her parents didn’t have too-much fun with that while joining us for the movie night fun; and we’ve had a really good night.

I am writing this after those shows, so you can guess that we’re not getting away with a sofa sleepover – mostly because Naomi’s parents were on the sofa while we – the kids – were paired up in the recliners; and then Naomi and Ehlana decided that a co-ed sleepover was a bad idea when it was suggested that we do that with three couples instead of two.  Aiden and I are in the guest bedroom; it’s late; and I’m ready to get some sleep.  Our parents may be out of town, but weekend chores still wait for us in the morning; so I need to wrap this up and get started on that nap.

Ethan – out!

***

Ehlana:

I’ll start this update by giving points to Naomi’s parents; since that co-ed sleepover with the parents suggestion was a first for us – not including baby and toddler cuddle time with our parents for Ethan and me.  That wasn’t as scary as Naomi and I pretended it to be – though it was weird; and not something that we ever plan on doing with any parents.

Moving along, I don’t have anything to add to the early-morning news, since other than talking about Mom and Dad’s trip at breakfast and a few other plans for Ethan and me; our start to the day was quiet.  The students help out with the post-holiday clean-ups at our school; so that work was part of our academic adventure today; and the school is now, temporarily, less-colorful without all of the Halloween displays.  We’ll be transitioning to Thanksgiving next; and we’re already starting in on the new lesson modules that will take us through to that holiday weekend.

We haven’t written about it, but Mom, Dad, Ethan, and I were, for the most part, already packed for their vacation and our week with our best friends; so it didn’t take long to finish that after school.  I was even ready before Ethan was this time; though Naomi likely helped me more than Aiden helped Ethan.  Ethan didn’t mention when we took our bags to Naomi’s house, but we did that while on the way to Uncle Mark and Aunt Grace’s house for dinner – after the hang-out time with Mom and Dad that included helping them to get the minivan packed at both our house and Uncle Adam and Aunt Leanne’s place.  Silkie is with us now too, but we picked her up after dinner – and after Mom and Dad headed out on their trip.  Silkie is with Naomi and me tonight now too; and will be with us all week because Aiden’s parents don’t want a dog at their house – especially when nobody is there all day while they’re at the bakery.

That’s an issue here too, but we have help for Silkie already set up; so Silkie won’t be alone very often even when we’re at school next week.

Our movie night was awesome – and I’m not only saying that because Aiden and I actually cuddled together for most of that time.  That was a bonus, but it still isn’t the same for us as it is for Naomi and Ethan.  We haven’t been able to spend a lot of time with Naomi’s parents, so it was great to do that; and we – the girls – had fun talking about everything from our adventures over the next week to Thanksgiving and Christmas plans.  For this coming week, there could be a lot more Christmas ‘chick flicks’ on the schedule; since it appears that we’re already behind on those shows that started up last weekend.  I’m okay with that; though starting the Christmas season before Halloween does seem a bit over-the-top.  I do love the idea of so many new holiday movies, and while I probably won’t be able to keep up with all of them – and watching all of our holiday favorites too; I like having so many choices.

Then again, all of the cuddling really is great; so maybe we’ll watch more movies than we probably should this year! ;^)

Naomi and I have been keeping ourselves entertained since going to bed with some quality girl-chat time, but Ethan does remind me that we’ll be starting tomorrow with fall clean-up chores; so I should wrap this up and we should get to sleep soon.  That might not sound like fun, but I think that we’ll like that better than a long travel day – even though our favorite travelers will get to have more fun once they get to Catalina Island.  We are still going to enjoy our week with our friends whether we’re working, at school, or playing, but that’s all news for future reports; I don’t have anything to add tonight; and it’s time for me to move on and get to that sleeping part of our night.

This is Ehlana Proctor; coming to you live from what is now my past!