This past Saturday was the Coil Tuar Yule event. Since the Bester-kids can't go to Northern Region War Camp this year and they wanted to go to an event, we took them to this one. The event didn't even start until noon, so I was able to get up early and get everything done for the party we were going to on Sunday.
Through the course of the morning I had the kids get their garb and gathered, packed, preped and ironed everything I was wearing. You'll note what's missing in that statement in a moment. Husband Mine got everything into the car, and the kids and we were off. Just about when I wanted to be off.
We pulled into the parking lot of a Masonic Lodge (
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collwen, the one you had your engagement party at!) got out of the car and I went "Jeff! Did you pack Charlie's garb???!!!!"
That's right, we had one of those comical moments of me saying "His garb is in the other room, could you get it while I go iron my dress?" And he heard "His garb is in the other room, I'll go get it before I iron my dress."
I was so very embarrassed. I have never had this happen to me, that I forgot Charlie's garb. And of course, the outfit he was wearing was a Halloween shirt with a mummy on it. He was also wearing devil horns. All day. They'd gotten stuffed int he garb bag and he found them and wouldn't take them off.
I put out one call to friends coming to the event that have a son the same age as Charlie, but they'd already left by the time I called. Embarrassment aside, everyone had a great time. The kids had a ton of stuff to do, gingerbread houses, painted figurines, cloved fruit/pomander balls, ribbon ornaments and games. Of course the most fun they had was chasing each other around and around the Mason's alter room.
I'm not actually sure what it's called, but it was a large room with little alters to strength, intelligence and wisdom. We kept looking for dexterity and charisma but couldn't find them.
Ivan and Natavia were there with their boys, but they had to leave early. As they were leaving Benjamin let Charlie wear his tunic. So Charlie was in garb for part of the day at least.
They ate nothing but candy and bread and noodles all day and generally had a fabulous time. I was very happy to report to their parents just how wonderful they'd been all day.
Sunday dawned with a bit of excitement. We had gotten home so late that they were sent to bed post haste. A few minutes before 7 (when they all had to get up) I hear a nock on our bedroom door. As I was getting up to get the door, Celia opened it and came in.
Red flags were immediately raised in my head. All the kids know to wait for us to either get the door or for us to say "Come in!" before opening it. Something was up.
There was Gwen with a face full of blood. Oof. Most of it was dried blood and a scrape just under her eyebrow bleeding sluggishly. I got Jeff and we cleaned her up. She was really good through all of it, but the poor thing was shaking like a leaf.
Best we can figure is that she had tripped the night before in the large room at the event. At the time there was not a mark on her. But through the course of the night and blood pressure changes and sleeping on her face, the blood capillaries swelled and something burst and bled all night. I think she'd futzed with her face in her sleep as her hand was covered in blood as well.
While a shocking way to wake up, I was really pleased with the kids. Jack noticed his little sister covered in blood and called for Celia. Celia at first brushed him off with a "Don't bother me!" but when Jack said "No, seriously, come here!!!" she heard his voice and came and saw what was happening and immediately came and got me.
They pick and poke and prod at each other until we all want to scream, but in an emergency they really came thru for each other. That rocks.
We got on the road to get them to religious school without further hitches. Celia was my morning sous chef and prepped the lunches for me and we got them donuts as a "this was a rough morning" treat.
We dropped the 2 older kids at school and brought Gwen over to
mi_mi_tor's place and I made off with some Hanukkah decorations. Then Husband, son and I headed up North for our annual Yule party in Albany. Charlie was very upset that Gwennie wasn't coming with us.
We got to the party early and then proceeded to have a great time with great company. Beverly and Charlie get together about as well as you could expect any pair of toddlers to. There was one moment when Charlie got annoyed and told Bev to "Go away!" and she just lost it. You can tell who has older siblings here and who doesn't. It was very sweet in an O-dear-lord-that-was-my-kid kind of way.
We stopped for dinner before going home. Not that there wasn't tons of food to eat, but Charlie hadn't touched anything and he really needed something to eat.
The drive home was slow, but not terribly bad and we got home safe and sound. It was an incredibly busy weekend, but the kids were all fantabulous. I'm tired, but happy.
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