Sister Sunday

My sister (on right) and her longtime friend

ran the race together

Yesterday was a good day. I almost had 100% sister contact.

Since our apartment is toy free and mess full, keeping the kiddies out of the house has been part of my job description so going to the beach yesterday morning was on the agenda.

We left and I called ahead to my beach sister but got no responses because the cell-phone less sister was already out of the house. But I went anyway to let the boys freeze in the sea breeze. Another sister was running in what my mom, who always sees more when there is less, keeps referring to as a "half-marathon" not knowing what the K was really for when there is a 5 in front of it. So - I called her, but assumed she was already on the run since there was no answer.

We stopped at the inlet and the boys popped out of the car and were reminded of what the ocean looks like and what the sand feels like before running back into the car for warmth. When we pulled out of the parking spot and rolled toward the main road, we were shewed aside by a policeman leading the half-marathoner charge.

I pulled aside and started the search for Aunt Therese, without any luck. I thought that was it - we weren't going to catch a glimpse of the runner or be able to give our support, but at least we breathed the same air for a few minutes.

Calvin kept asking, "She have a doggy?" I clarified that no, that was Aunt Kristin (the beach sister).

"Are we going to her house?"

"No Calvin, we are going home" I kept saying, hoping the dialogue would end there.

Then, it happened, we were stopped at another crossing and in the long wait, there she was! Hair a bouncing, getting her jog on. We honked and waved and got all excited. This is the sort of spontaneity I love about living here. Then we headed home.

Calvin kept asking if we were going to Aunt Kristin's and if she was the one with the dog. He told me that the rule was that we go to Grandma and Grandpa's and then we go see Aunt Kristin.

After spending the rest of the evening at my parent's house, we stopped at "my sister who just bought a place's" house - because she is kinda on the way home. On the way - Calvin clarified that we were going to Aunt Kristin's, the one with the dog, after Aunt Chant's.

The boys had a good run at Aunt Chant's, starting from the door and steamrolling into uncle K for the entire hour we were there.

When we got in the car, Calv asked again, "We going to Aunt Kristin's house? She have a dog?"

I couldn't believe he remembered, and the answer was not received well since we had to break his rule.

I feel so blessed to be living near so much family and being able to see them so frequently, even if we don't always stop at the house of the one who has the dog.