Clever Title

Well, just last night I finished putting away the last of the Thanksgiving dishes. They trickled in as we ate our way through turkey for breakfast,lunch and dinner the last couple of days. The day after Thanksgiving Pete went in to work sometime between 3:30 and 4:00 am. I drove him because I wanted to get some fabric and whatnot at the day after sales. I took the two little ones with me because Pat was staying with us over the holiday and they had plans to be out early. So we bundled up and went out. Hans wore his favorite hat that Big Grandma gave him in California. He wears it everyday and puts it on so he looks like he has a mohawk, or as he called it yesterday, a homohawk.
Siobhan and Oscar had a great time with their Dad. They are completely indulged when they are with him. I cannot even begin to tell you how many presents they had. They went up the Space Needle and rock climbing, archery practice, laser tag. They had so much fun, but most of all they just relish their time with Pat. When I see Siobhan with her Dad I can imagine a little how my Mom must have felt watching me and my Dad. The incessant, inside, ridiculous jokes. Everything is funny and no one else quite gets it. Those two have a special bond and when I see Siobhan with her friends, I see Pat when he was 17. I'm glad he'll be back for Christmas. Hans is very sad he left.

So, I usually like to have something fun planned for the day Pat leaves. It's hard to say goodbye. Siobhan was granted a furlough from her month long grounding she was sentenced to last week to attend a birthday party. Before that though we made a trip to the kids all time favorite place in Washington.....IKEA. My kids LOVE Ikea. They have kids club cards and swipe them at every visit. They usually end up with a free meal in the cafeteria and that is why they love it. Meatballs,fries, ligonberries and a drink. If they don't get the free meal it's $1.99 and that I can deal with. I do like shopping there also. Yesterday I wanted to go for the gnome wrapping paper because I so love gnomes. They are sold out, which really bummed me out but at least I got my $1 latte on the way home. So now it's back to working on Christmas presents. It will be easier when I get my new glasses this week. My old ones have seen better days and those days were usually when Olive wasn't around.....