On the Friday of the Familyfest, I made eggrolls in the morning. Mom and I had talked before everyone arrived about what kinds of fun family foods we would make for the boys and that was at the top of the list. I know how she dreads making them, and I don't mind it, so I volunteered (to her relief!) to make them -- and Friday morning seemed like the best time.
The plan on Friday was that the Dunlaps (family friends from when we were growing up in Sidney) were going to stop by to see the boys and to meet Elizabeth (they kind of adopted David as theirs since Dave and their son Ben were best buds) -- they were going to be coming for lunch, and then all us girls (Katie, Ali and me) were going to be going for a pedicure at 2pm.
I went shopping for the ingredients at 8am, got home about 9:15 ish and felt exhausted (more again in a following post about my muscles and energy) -- but I just pressed on and got to it and started making the eggrolls. All the while I was also running up and down into the basement because I had laundry going. The eggrolls took a few hours to make -- I finished them about 12:15, Mom had called about 12 to say that the Dunlaps were there and that I should come now. I asked her what I should do with the eggrolls -- she said just bring them.
So I got all loaded up in to the car, and headed on over. When I got there, they were all hanging out -- the guys had gone golfing together (both my brothers, my dad and Andy) and the Dunlaps were there and so I got a nice big greeting as I came in with armfuls of eggrolls. The Dunlaps are wonderful -- they know exactly how much effort goes into eggrolls and they were there the last time I made them too (for Mom's surprise party) and they make a big fuss over how excellent they are and what a treat it is to have them and they just know how to make a girl feel good about her cooking! So three steps into the door, the eggrolls got passed off to Mom and suddenly Mia ran over to me saying "Aunt Kristen!!" and kind of held her arms up as she leaned up against me. I was stunned but luckily was able to still think "duh Kristen, pick her up!" and so I picked her up and she wrapped her arms around me and gave me a big warm hug and a kiss on the cheek. I was LOVING that. That was the first one ever -- I've gotten hugs from her before but they're the "ok hug everybody goodbye" kind -- but that one was spontaneous and sweet and I truly cherished it.