Corey and I didn't have a plan for FHE tonight, again. (Note to self: set an alarm for Friday and plan FHE on date night). Corey looked at some groupon coupons: Obstacle Ninja Warrior? Uptown Jungle? Kangaroo Zoo? Classic Skating ...in Orem. Ugh, none of those sounded good to me. How about games at home? How about service and we clean in the basement! Sophi said we should go to the mall, cause she wanted me to return my shoes for the right size. I ordered some red gazelles and they arrived yesterday, and I ordered size 7 but they feel like 8 or 9... they are just way too big. Then Corey said we could play Where's Waldo at the mall! It was an activity Corey participated in three years ago, he felt yes this is the activity and it will be fun. It was already 7:00 and the stores at the mall would be closing at 8. Not a lot of time, but Corey said "We're going! We need a head start so don't leave yet, LILY! SOPHI!" They hurried out together to go hide in plain sight at the mall. I got the rest of the kids ready, got my shoes to return, and we headed out soon. Corey wasn't ready yet, so I returned my shoes first: Journeys to return my Spezials (the ones I ordered online are still in transit) and then to Footlocker to see if they had a size 6 red gazelle. They didn't so I just returned them. While I was in Footlocker, ANODP went off to start looking for Corey, Lily, and Sophi. By this time it was 7:55 and stores were getting ready to close. Katharine and I soon joined the kids in walking around and looking for their father and sisters. One lap, no luck. I text Corey "Fashion Place, right?" I was pretty sure we clarified on Fashion Place, not Southtown. He didn't reply, but we kept walking around. On our second lap, the protests began:
Daniel: "This is boring. This is dumb."
Peter: "My legs are tired. My tummy hurts."
Katharine: "Hold me."
Abi was doing great, I didn't hear complaints from her or Natalie & Owen, though Owen kept asking if he could have a Mammoth hat. When we first walked into the mall over by the food court, the first store on our left immediately caught Owen's eye and with a gasp and a "Woah...." and he walked right in.
Owen had never seen so many sports hats!! I shared the photo with his college siblings. Joseph said that was where he had gone to get a football hat for Owen for Christmas, and we told him no cause "$39" or whatever obscene amount the hats cost in there was a rip off. We stand by that. But I'm sure Owen would have loved it. Wes said he liked the Mammoth jerseys. Looks like we still have hockey fans in our house. So, I'm done walking with Katharine. Abi takes her on her shoulders. The rest of the kids are done too. It is past 8. Everything is closed and most people are gone. Security guards were walking around, probably to make sure people clear out? Do we need to leave? There were still some people - employees going home perhaps? I'm not sure our crew fit that category of mall employees though. I texted Corey that I thought the kids were done. Then Natalie said she saw Sophi and ran ahead. The person she said was Sophi was walking with what looked like a broken ankle or a bad handicap. Natalie second guessed herself and stopped and didn't approach the person with full gusto or certainty, but followed and watched. Soon they were sure, yes it was her, and then they saw Lily too. They were all laughing and I was too - Sophi had me fooled. I hadn't seen Lily before she took off her disguise. But where was Corey? Then the girls start laughing, and I turn to see a strange character walking towards the exit...
Oh my goodness... is that my husband? He was walking in a very zesty style too... we were all laughing. Daniel cautiously approached the man.
And he broke character, we found him. Everyone was laughing and smiling. Complains of irritation and boredom and "this stupid activity" were gone. Corey Lily and Sophi started to take off parts of their costumes, but I had them put them back on and resume their character types for a photo.
Oh my gosh so funny. We walk out to the cars to head home.
These three went by Savers and did some very rushed disguise shopping before coming to the mall.! I'm impressed, they must have been super fast there!
The kids are excited for the next round of Where's Waldo.
Other things that we did today~ Abi stayed home a little sick, but she took carpool for us. The boys got up quietly which was nice of them, since Katharine slept with Daniel last night.
She slept until around 10, Abi printed up coloring pages for Katharine, and K has a good collection on her bedroom wall.
"It's just my collection!" - Ariel
She especially likes the ones that her big sisters color for her. Current favorite is Barbie colored to be Elena of Avalor.
The kids are still on a coloring kick, going strong since Friday. Corey and I were going to go on a ride together early, but then he got a late start to his work day and so we didn't leave until 2. By then it was 48 degrees and the trail was all good except for at the very top, where the trail is on the north side of the canyon, it was a little slushy/slick. But we made it to the ruins in 1:05, that's a decent time. I made rice for dinner, Abi cooked chicken and vegetables, then it was FHE. Owen is watching a football highlight with Corey right now, but I'm heading to bed cause I'm going to the temple early in the morning.
