The Celebration Continues

Today, Rachel and I got up about 10:00 and headed (where else but) to the Crabtree Valley Mall.  I think we walked around that place about five times today.  We just strolled, took our time, and relaxed…alone. Something we don’t get much of these days.  We looked at things and daydreamed about our future.  Although we were kidless, somehow everything seemed to turn the conversation back to Olivia and Jackson, and how much they would just love this or that.

We ended up at the Disney store.  We bought some cool stuff to take back to the kids, and quite frankly, we were excited to be taking some stuff back to them. The day was going great!

Then, I did something really stupid.  When we stopped to eat lunch, I sat the bag under our table to keep it out of the way.  Huge mistake!! About twenty minutes later, Rachel looked at me and said, “Where is the Disney Store bag?” My heart sank. CRAP!!!!!!! I instantly knew were I had left it, but was sure it wouldn’t still be there.  Rachel went tossed her purse to me and went dashing through the mall like a mad lady, hoping to get there before someone else found it and snatched it. After all that running, she got there, and of course, no bag.

We went to mall security, customer service, and back to the Disney Store to see if someone might have by chance returned it. Nothing. To be honest, we were feeling downright sick. But as we were walking out the doors to leave the mall, Rachel said, “OK, why don’t we go back to the store right beside where we ate and just ask if maybe someone turned it in there.” So, I took her advice and we made the looooooong walk back. 

Fortunately for us, a sales clerk needed to use the same table we had eaten at to do an interview, saw the bag, and set it aside in her store hoping that maybe someone would return for them.  (Needless to say, I was super fortunate!) 

We stopped by the Smithfield Outlets on the way home, and headed back to pick up the kids.

Upon arrival Papa (my dad) stated that Olivia had something to tell us.  Knowing Olivia, the first thing out of both our mouths was,  “Olivia, what did you do?”  She emphatically replied, “Nothing!” We thought for a brief second and asked, “What did Jackson do?”  This time my dad chimed in. “They were fine, but we have some pictures.” 

We then took a stroll inside to see what they had been up to.  Olivia finally told us that she had caught what she referred to as a, “My size fish.”  Her Papa had taken her fishing, and she had caught her first two fish ever today.  She was so proud. And so were we.

It was soooo nice to get away, but so good to be back with our babies. What an end to a great weekend!