A/N: Happy Labor Day to my fellow Americans, hope you're enjoying the last holiday of the summer. I'll post 2 chapters this week, the 2nd one either Tuesday or Wednesday. Then I'll be away from home for close to 3 weeks, I hope not any longer and less time away would be even better. While I'll have my laptop with me, there is no wi-fi where I'll be, unless the neighbors are willing to share or I find my ancient jetpack, hiding somewhere in my apartment, before I leave! Enjoy! Would love to see your thoughts about the story!
Chapter 7: Festivities, Camping, Change of Plans
Home in Jaxton, Tim and Artie sat down to figure out the rest of the month and to detail the most important event, Chloe's birthday! While her birthday was on the 29th of the month, a Tuesday, she would have her friends' birthday party on Saturday the 26th and her second official family party on Sunday the 27th.
With the help of Mimi, Granducky, Grama and Poppy, the party invitations had been emailed from Varkiza the second day they were there and positive responses quickly began arriving.
On the second to last day before they left for home, the group gathered at Pappouli Peter and Yaya Rhode's home for a spur of the moment surprise party, Chloe's first ever family birthday party.
While she had a blast, it was nearly as much fun for her US based aunties and uncles who up until then had only been able to attend their brothers', nieces and nephews June or December birthday parties in person.
With 2014 the first year their annual summer trek to Greece would move from June to the last week of July and the first week of August, the group would also celebrate other birthdays in person. That included Tony's July birthday, McKenna's 3rd birthday, little Donnie's 1st birthday, both in August and probably Dad-Poppy and Ducky-Granducky's September birthdays.
Ducky and Mimi remembered how excited Liam was last December when almost all of the US family had been there for his first birthday as part of the family. Not wanting to miss celebrating Chloe's first party at home as part of the family, the couple flew to Jaxton with their UK family.
When Nik and Sergio weren't sure they could make the trip, Gaia and Theo planned to take their twins and offered to take the Costas girls with them. Gaia told her brother she was simply returning the favor as there had been a few occasions during Cassie and Matthaíos's childhoods when Nik and Sergio had filled in for Gaia and Theo when the 2 archeologists couldn't get to whatever the event was. Gaia also wanted to spend more time with her Costas nieces as well as her Gibbs' great nieces and nephews. While she played with them on the beaches and in the pool in Varkiza, she rarely had the chance to see her nieces' children at home and having little Alec also there was simply icing on the cake.
The US folks, not including Ducky, Tricia and Richard who'd also disembarked in London, would attend via Skype, happy they'd been able to attend Chloe's Varkiza party.
The little girl's Saturday afternoon post-nap friends' party was a lot of fun. Although the weather was warmer than it had been before the Easter vacation, it was still the end of April and too cool to put the toddler wading pools up in the back garden or for the children to run through the sprinklers. However, it was warm enough for the children to play outside and that's just what they did.
First, they went to visit the animals who lived on the property, including the alpacas who'd joined them during the past few months. Those in charge of the animals made sure the children only visited with the crias, that is the baby alpacas, lambs and baby goats, also known as kids although not to be confused with human children, who were comfortable around children. The family adults and the parents of some of the children attending made sure the children were gentle with the little creatures.
Following their visit, the group of toddlers and preschoolers raced around the lawn, playing tag and other assorted games. Eventually they were invited inside for cupcakes, ice cream and to the children's added delight, party favors! As Chloe loved flowers and animals, the favors highlighted those. Mindful of the children's ages, the items, fabric flowers and animals, were safe for everyone over the age of two. Although that left out Alec and Madelyn, both were given similar flowers and animals safe for their ages. Nikki and Bill were very happy to be able to approve the two-year-old favors for Jasper whose 2nd birthday was only days away.
All in all, the afternoon was a success and little Miss Chloe had a wonderful time, announcing that her party was perfect!
When Jasper was told his own birthday party would happen soon, he asked to put it on the big calendar in the family room so he could see how many days he had to wait. That he understood the use of the calendar, although he wasn't yet counting past 5, was amazing and the little boy giggled happily at all the hugs he received.
Chloe's family birthday, celebrated on Sunday with her UK family and via Skype for nearly everyone else, was also a lot of fun. With Mimi, Granducky, Auntie Gaia, Uncle Theo, the big twins, the younger Costas girls and of course Alec, his parents and grandparents, along with the senior Powells, joining them at the house, it was a very special day. Once again it was warm and the children, no matter their ages, had fun playing outdoors, the older ones playing with the littles. Eventually they had to run inside when the clouds that had been gathering suddenly started to seemingly pour buckets of rain. That wasn't unusual and they laughed as they dried off.
Chloe's third celebration was on her actual birthday, Tuesday the 29th. While her celebration was lower key than the previous parties, the little girl loved being allowed to choose what they had for dinner as well as selecting some of her favorite flowers from the family's greenhouse, for the dinner table. Helping her daddy to cut what blooms she wanted to take to nursery with her, she wore a daisy, her favorite of all flowers, in her hair and took tulips of varying colors for her teachers.
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The following Monday was a bank holiday, which meant that NCIS: London was closed for the day, although one of the satellite teams was on call. As a whole, the group decided to stay home and enjoy Jaxton's annual May festival. With games, music, dancing, food and vendors selling their wares, the family had a wonderful time, meeting up with friends and perhaps best of all, they didn't have to do anything but enjoy themselves.
Alec's first birthday was next and the family, along with the Barnes-Gibbs', traveled by train to Edinburgh for his party. This time, Nick, Sergio and their daughters were there along with Gaia and her family. Rob, Tim and Ian teased the Costas girls and the Caras twins about their ages now as compared to their ages in the summer of 2009 when they were all in Edinburgh for Susannah and Ian's wedding. At that time, none of the children had been old enough to ride e-bikes in Edinburgh and Rob told them they would be old enough before he became a doctor and they'd been amazed to think of themselves as 'that old'. Now they were 'that old', the Caras twins were 15, Katerina Costas was 12 and her younger sister was 10, and laughed at the teases although at 10, Damaris still wasn't old enough for the e-bikes!
The visiting adults had a great time reconnecting with people they'd met but hadn't seen since Susannah and Ian's wedding. The children, including the teenage twins, had fun exploring Edinburgh.
After Alec's party, which the US group again joined via Skype, the various members of the Gibbs' family said goodbye and took the train home, delighting the children. Although it took longer it was fun for the littles and as young as they were, that meant a great deal!
Returning to work and their usual pursuits, 10 days later the family once again gathered, this time for Jasper's 2nd birthday! The Skype crowd grew as Nikki's Aunt Evelyn and cousins Vince, Tamara and Tia joined the rest of the US family, attending the little boy's party via Skype. He was very excited to be 2 and thus no longer a baby! Although he still had a few deficits, since he'd first learned to speak, then crawl and walk, he'd blossomed into a ever-curious, loving and busy little boy, delighting his parents and entire family.
He was best friends with Chloe, the resident cousin closest to his age, and happily played with all of his cousins, who returned his love. He went to nursery nearly every week day although sometimes one or both of his parents or grandparents would keep him with them and they'd have adventures of their own. While he still wore glasses, with therapy his eyesight was better than it had been during his first few months of life. The doctors thought he might be able to have surgery, something like LASIK when he was older or switch to contact lenses if surgery was out of the question.
Having been busy from the start of their Easter getaway until the end of Jasper's birthday party, from April to June, the family put away all the birthday decor until their return from Greece in August, picking up where they left off in what they remembered were their normal pursuits. Tim laughed as he told Artie about his first Monday at the office. "I know I've been there, I've been in meetings, our teams have worked cases and solved them, I have monthly reports from everyone and there are replies to emails I've sent out. I've sent monthly reports to the director and a few other things to the SecNav or Undersecretary Leo and I know that because they're in my 'sent' mail. However, despite all the evidence I feel like I've been gone since we left for Easter!"
She laughed as she nodded, she felt the same way! She told her husband that she felt like this was their last 'hurrah', that once the twins started school in September their trips would be governed by the school calendar. He nodded, they'd been talking about that since the twins' second birthday. They'd planned a busy spring and summer in the months before their vacation time became the property of the schools and here they were. Maybe they'd been a little too ambitious in their planning? Although they knew they'd gone overboard with Chloe's multiple parties, they felt it was only fair with it being her first Camilo-Gibbs' birthday. Next year they'd scale back a bit. Maybe.
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While Tim and Artie had enjoyed the children's birthdays, they'd also had fun planning a vacation for their young family. Artie remembered camping with her grandparents, not in tents, but in bungalows, always close to a beach and felt it would be a wonderful get away for their family.
Although Tim liked the idea of spending days outside, swimming and hiking, at first he was hesitant to try it. Then his wonderful wife reminded him of RVs, that is recreational vehicles, as well as other types of vehicles in which they could stay, no tents needed. When they looked at the prices for one large enough for the 6 of them, Tim's interest grew. They weren't inexpensive but overall the cost would be less than motel rooms for the time they'd be away.
They would sleep inside on beds with pillows, sheets and blankets, no sleeping bags needed, and they'd have a screen door and screens on the windows with sturdy locks to keep out insects and other possible intruders. They'd have storage for their clothes along with indoor plumbing, running water, a kitchen and best of all, a solid floor under their feet and a solid roof over their heads.
If they chose, they could cook outside and would take folding chairs so they could have campfires and roast marshmallows. When Artie followed up on the brochures and photos with several reviews of first time RV campers, Tim realized he wanted his children to enjoy the outdoors, not to be limited in their choices because of his strong feelings about tents. With trust funds already in place, there was no way his children would ever end up homeless, not while he breathed!
Within a couple of days, they'd made reservations for an RV large enough for two adults and four young children as well as reserving an RV spot in a campground near one of the lakes within the Lake District.
When Dad and Malu heard, they asked to come along, although they would have their own camper or RV, whatever they chose to sleep in. Tim and Artie happily agreed and then laughed when Sarah, James and his parents also wanted to experience caravan or RV living.
When it seemed most of the UK family was deciding whether or not to join the them, Tim decided he'd prefer to celebrate his birthday, if forced to celebrate it at all, during their vacation in the Lake District. To his relief, his wife and parents agreed.
Before Tony, the last of the hold-outs for the trip, gave in when presented with photos of a lovely lakeside lodge where they could sleep indoors, have their beds made, rooms cleaned and eat in the highly rated restaurant, Artie learned she'd won the bid to engineer, design and build on Lot#1, the lot on the mountain in Varkiza that had already been sold before she and Tim purchased Lots#2 and 3!
Worried about construction on a mountain top during Greece's hottest months, July and August, Artemis made a list of pros and cons of waiting for September and October as well as compelling arguments surrounding the safety of those hired to build on Lot #1. After speaking with Evander, she presented her revised plan to the property owners, who, while sympathetic, chose not to delay the project. They were staying in temporary quarters and did not want to wait any longer than necessary to move into their dream home. The project would begin at the end of the second week in July.
With the project's start date now confirmed, the family's plans for the Lake District vacation continued. They would have more than enough time there before returning home in early July and preparing to leave for Greece early the following week. That would give them time to launder and pack what they needed and get them to Varkiza a few days before Artie's first meeting.
Tim spoke with Leon who was fine with his European SAC working from wherever they would stay in Greece or the Piraeus office or even at the US Embassy as he'd done during his Field – Cyber Crime cross-training sessions. Thinking the Embassy would be the easiest place to work, there was certainly more room and he wasn't anyone's boss there, Tim messaged the person with whom he'd worked before and was pleased to have an answer within hours that he was more than welcome to work at the Embassy again.
In the meantime, he also contacted the owner of their vacation rental, asking to extend their stay from 2 weeks to a few days shy of 8 weeks, giving him their new dates. The man was surprised until he remembered this family doing something similar a few years ago, although he saw from his records that had been closer to 5 months. He was happy to add more weeks, not just for the revenue but also because the Mideis, as he knew them, were his favorite renters. Tim was also happy and relieved that they would be able to stay in their familiar rental for the entire time they'd be in Varkiza.
He was also pleased when all of the US citizens working at the NCIS London office, along with Tim's London and Jaxton based family received invitations to an Independence Day party on the grounds of the US Embassy in London on the 5th of July, a Saturday. Now they had a firm date to return from their camping vacation, July 3rd, so they'd have clean clothes to wear to the Embassy party.
While the couple planned their extended stay in Greece, Tim's parents decided to go with them, knowing their son and daughter-in-law would need help with the children and because they'd miss them too much. It was a choice of flying back and forth or staying. As Bill would be working on the project, Lu quietly let Nikki know that she and Jethro were going as well and if Nikki approved, they'd be happy to take Jasper with them for the first part of their stay.
Nikki had to think about that and she and Bill discussed it at length. Realizing that Bill would be with their son every day, that Nikki could see both of them on Skype at least once a day and that Jasper loved being with his grandparents, his Mimi, aunt, uncle, cousins, Pappouli Peter and Yaya Rhode, the two agreed to try it. If Jasper was too unhappy, Jethro and Lu would bring him home, although Nikki thought if her little one was that unhappy she'd fly to Greece for the weekend, possibly longer and bring him home with her. That thought gave way to another.
She'd been with the agency longer than anyone else in the family, with the exception of Gibbs before his retirement, and had plenty of vacation time to spend more days with her family. She also knew if there was a crisis where she was needed, she could probably squeeze in to work at either the Piraeus office or perhaps at the Embassy where Tim would be working. When she told Bill her idea of going with them, he was very enthusiastic and they agreed she'd speak with SAC Tim about it.
When she spoke with him he said he was fine with her working remotely as long her fellow Intel Analysts agreed. He also agreed that the Embassy was a better fit for her, knowing there would be more space for her there. He pointed out that she'd likely have to work in the kitchen/conference area of the Piraeus office or perhaps in the Observation room, the only room that would give her the privacy and security she needed for her work.
When her co-workers readily agreed to her working off-site, Nikki decided on the Embassy. Tim again messaged his contact who replied affirmatively. Nikki would have a small, private and well equipped office at the Embassy, complete with everything she needed. After notifying the director, who agreed, the deal was done.
In the meantime, the Porters, already aboard for the Lake District trip, also decided to join the 'go early and stay late' group, although they wouldn't stay quite as long as Tim and the children. They'd return to the US at least a week before the others did. Otherwise, they wouldn't have enough prep time for Stanford University's Fall semester. Giving themselves some lead time for jet lag naps, they were on their way overseas shortly after Tim and Nikki made their arrangements with the US Embassy in Athens.
The Porters first flew from San Francisco to Baltimore on a commercial flight, which they said felt strange. Staying overnight with the junior Mallards, formerly known as the Palmers, the next morning they were joined by Mac Fielding and Richard Baxter at the DC area FBO for their Paddington flight overseas.
They first flew to Naples where Katerina and Damaris Costas joined them, excited about the camping trip and the extra vacation weeks in Greece. They'd never been camping and were excited about it as well as staying with Aunt Lu and Uncle Jethro in their caravan. While Nik and Sergio couldn't make the camping expedition or the full extended stay in Greece, they would be in Varkiza for the originally planned two weeks and were able to extend that for an additional 10 days.
Although the Porters planned to do more sightseeing in Greece during the extended stay, they would also help with childcare along with Rhode and Lu. When Rhode mentioned a nursery in Varkiza where the younger children could meet local children and make new friends, Artie, Tim, Nikki and Bill and the senior Gibbses relaxed, things were working out.
Grandpa Jack, Uncle LJ and Grandpa Mac had decided not to spend the extra weeks in Greece, it would be too hot. Instead they contacted Ducky, currently 'at home' with Athena in Tain, his home in the Scottish Highlands, asking about vacation homes in or near Tain. Mac hadn't been to his mother's homeland in more than 30 years and hoped to visit the town where his mother was born and her parents, Mac's grandparents, were born and lived most of their lives.
When Richard Baxter heard the Highlands plan, he asked to join the others. His grandmother Charlotte, the Scottish grandmother he and Jethro shared, was born and raised in Scotland and he wanted to visit the village or town, he wasn't sure how large it would be now, and learn more about that side of his and Jethro's family. With that in mind, he spoke with his immediate family about adding their family tree onto the same site where they'd had their DNA tests done. When everyone agreed, he got to work, ably assisted by his granddaughter-in-law who'd helped her parents with the same process.
In the meantime, Ducky shook his head at his friends' request about vacation rentals, saying, "I'm sure there are but I have more than enough rooms and beds here in the house! And it will give me a better excuse, I mean reason, for the cook and housekeeper I've already hired to help Athena and me!"
After they protested a bit, the four men, Richard was with them on that particular call, graciously accepted Ducky's invitation.
Feeling better with her family and friends' decisions to join her and with the older men's decisions to stay in Scotland, Artie planned to be fulltime on the project for the first 8 weeks, with most weekends and evenings off. After that, she would be on site for at least a week per month, more often if necessary while Bill would be on site for the entire project. That meant Nikki would also remain working at the Embassy and the couple and their son would stay in Athena's home.
Her next meeting with the property owners would be to review and gain their final approvals of the overall plan. Once that was finalized, she would hire a main contractor; she currently had 5 bids from a few local companies and had already hired Bill as her Construction Manager. When they'd first discussed the project and Bill working on it, before Artie and Tim even purchased their property, she'd worried about Bill's status as a non-citizen of Greece and he'd agreed. However, both had forgotten that he was fully licensed in the EU, through his UK approved licenses and that Greece was also a member of the EU.
Over the years, Bill had gone from a master carpenter to a general contractor, taking college courses at night and in the winter, with the exception of 2010, when building or renovating was generally at a crawl in the DC Metro area, earning degrees in construction and business. Once he launched his contracting firm, he continued his education, attending evening classes online for another degree in Construction Management. When he and Nikki moved to the UK, his degrees were transferable as far as qualifying him for licenses and he was soon approved for those equivalent to his US licenses.
One of the crucial items that Bill would take on if none of the contractors bidding for the job had the experience necessary was working with the foam concrete forms for the foundations. If they were inexperienced, Bill would teach the crew and oversee their work, including the building of the temporary walls or wind breaks to make the foundation work easier. Of course, his employment was currently tentative, dependent upon Artie gaining the final approvals.
While at 15, Matthaíos was legally old enough, with permission from his parents, to work in Greece, Artie felt he was too young and inexperienced to start out as part of the work crew. She spoke with her cousin and his parents about including him on the beginning of the project as an engineering intern. She would pay him for his work and unless his parents or grandmother were available, he would live with Artie and Tim. As he and Cassie were beginning their Upper Secondary education the 2nd week of September, Matthaíos would need to return to Thessaloniki at least a week before classes started. Artie, Gaia, Theo and Matthaíos agreed he would leave for home either August 31st or September 1st.
Artie, her aunt, uncle and cousin put everything in writing, with young Matthaíos at least as excited about the project as Artie, if not more so. However, before the project kick-off, Gaia, Theo and Cassie decided to join the 'early birds' in Varkiza and would stay as long as Matthaíos. While his parents were excited about his role on the project, they worried about Cassie and her twin being separated for so long. Rearranging some of their own plans, they rented a vacation home in Varkiza for the duration of Matthaíos' internship. The twins breathed sighs of relief. While they'd mostly convinced each other that they'd be all right, they could Skype or Facetime on their phones, neither was all that certain. They'd been apart for a few days before and that had been all right, not great but all right. However, facing nearly 2 months apart was scary.
Having settled that, Artie began to include Matthaíos in her planning sessions. One of the first topics was how to safely begin the project in the middle of the two hottest months of the year. Artie and Bill discussed the issue at length and decided to follow Bill's US routine, to begin work at daybreak and stop for the day around noon, 2 PM at the latest. There were no neighbors they'd be disturbing at the early hour and they could use the middle lot, the future home of the Gibbs' family parking garage, for the crew parking and 'cooling zone'. To that end, they would have shade canopies and tents with cooling fans and several small rechargeable portable air conditioners that could easily be moved from place to place. They would also provide plenty of drinking water as well as hydrating drinks, sunhats, sunscreen and UV protected clothing for the workers. They ran that by Evander, who continued to be a great source of information and advice, and he agreed, saying the early start and stop hours were a common practice.
Another idea Bill had, although it seemed a bit silly at first, was to add something like toddlers' wading pools in the cooling tents or under the shade canopies. Then the workers could cool their feet and legs, which would in turn help to cool the rest of their bodies. Artie made a note to have someone keep the 'pools' supplied with cool water.
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While Tim would work before and after their actual 2 week Greek vacation, he quickly realized that he and Artie were not the only ones who would have schedules to consider. Jack and Ellanne would need to be home in time to prepare for their first day of Reception, the first day of their formal schooling!
When he mentioned it to Artie, she promptly blocked out the date on her project calendar, no way would she miss their older babies' first day of school! She might have to fly in Sunday and out again Monday after the children were in school but she would absolutely be here at home.
Figuring out what would need to be done before classes started, the couple then decided on the date Tim and the children would leave Varkiza for Jaxton. After making reservations for an Air Paddington flight that day, the couple did their best to relax for a few days, laughing at themselves for thinking the triple birthday celebrations had been crazy busy!
While they were 'relaxing', they attended a meeting for parents of Reception students. The meeting and the information given was an eye opener and the next day they took the children shopping, returning with everything they'd need for the first few months of school. They'd also ordered warmer clothing for the winter months in the next size up for all four of their children. It helped that several of the parents of their children's nursery friends had older children and were able to give them advice as to what was really needed. Prior to the meeting and the conversations with the other parents, Tim and Artie had looked online only to realize that they needed specific information for their specific school and even then there could be variations.
In the meantime, the date for their trek to the Lake District was fast approaching. Tim laughed when nearly the entire household was outside waiting the day he and Dad maneuvered their rented 'vacation homes' into the driveway after driving from the rental company's lot. Tim and Artie's Recreational Vehicle was fairly large, considering it needed to comfortably and safely seat and sleep 6 people. Jethro and Lu also had an RV. Although they only needed to sleep 4, the Costas girls would stay with them, they decided to also rent a 6 seater in case any of the grandchildren wanted to stay overnight. They weren't worried about the size of the RVs in regards to driving them as they wouldn't be driving up any steep mountains or on any especially curvy roads.
Ned was the only one in the family who'd had any experience driving an RV, one that had been in the evidence lockup aboard the Navy Yard. When the owner/criminal was convicted, the RV was sold and Ned was tasked with driving the beast, it was the size of a city bus, to the new owners. He passed along what he remembered as far as driving the large vehicle. With so many of the family joining the camping trip, he and Barry decided they didn't want their girls to miss the fun and would join the group for a few days, leaving when the Gibbs-Powells and the Jardine-Gibbses did. They would also be in Greece for the original 2 weeks plus a few weekends when Ned's team wasn't on call or still working a case.
After everyone had had a look at both Recreational Vehicles, Tim took a few people for a ride and was relieved when they said they felt safe and were comfortable. Barry, Ned, Ava and Naomi arrived in London late that afternoon and arrived in Jaxton in their 4 seater RV. Ned, James, Rob, Bill and Tim exchanged high fives at being able to rent RVs with extra-long mattresses, something they hadn't expected.
The next morning, a parade of RVs, various campers and caravans left for the Lake District, making sure to leave room between them for people to safely pass them. While some would only have a few days, Nikki and her family as well as Rob, Sarah, James, the senior Powells and the Gibbs-Dornegets, the others, that is the senior Gibbses, along with the Costas girls, the junior Gibbses, the Porters and Charlie, Trish, the Barnes-Gibbses, Papi Barnes and the older men would have plenty of time to enjoy themselves in the beautiful outdoors.
The Barnes-Gibbs, less the girls' Papi, drove their SUV from London, eventually catching up with the RVs and campers. Lu grinned as she waved first at Tony and then at her brother Charlie. He was driving another large RV carrying Tricia, Papi Barnes, Jack, LJ and Mac. Ben Childers rode in a smaller RV with Bec and Geordie, although he and Dick Barnes would stay in Jack, LJ and Mac's RV.
Mac had originally rented out his beach house for the 2 weeks he'd be away in Greece because the entire US group of 'Gibbs' kids' would also be in Greece. By the time he heard about Artie's new project and the extended stay in Greece, he was in Jaxton, decided to join the trek to the Lake District and also decided to spend the extra weeks in Scotland. He left it to the 'kids' to figure out what to do with the house during the extended time he'd be away. The 'kids' quickly figured out who, when and for how long, would have fun at the beach house. With Jimmy working weekdays and being on call one weekend a month, a new arrangement proposed by Jimmy and 3 of his fellow Medical Examiners and approved by Director Vance, he and Breena spent weekends on the beach with an occasional Friday or Monday (or both) thrown in. Because Freddie and Jose now employed a few plumbers, they had more leeway in their time off, Abby was off school for the summer and Charlotte set her own hours, the two couples alternated weekdays at the beach, excluding those Fridays or Mondays when Jimmy and Breena were there. Mac laughed when they sent him the schedule, showing it to everyone at their first campfire. They were all happy to know their US family would also have extra fun due to Artie's new project.
Although they'd talked about renting their own Recreational Vehicle, Charlie and Tricia didn't want to leave Dick as the only driver for the three older men. Instead, the two of them shared the driving with Dick and had made reservations at the same lodge as Tony and his family. Dick planned to stay in the RV with the three older men and Ben, although he'd also reserved a 2 bedroom suite for two random nights, wanting to have the girls overnight at least twice, to give his daughter and son-in-law some time alone. He remembered his in-laws doing that when Maggie was little and that he and his wife Patricia had deeply appreciated the gesture and the time alone, especially with the frequency and longevity of Dick's deployments.
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Throughout their stay near the lakes, the group met in the late afternoons, post naps and pre-dinner time, for what they called their daily 'roundup', a chance to swap tall tales of their adventures, to hear and see what the children had done and generally just a way to relax and enjoy the outdoors, sharing whatever they'd been up to. Some of the adults sometimes enjoyed a cocktail or two, to better enjoy, or perhaps enhance, the stories they heard of the day's happenings.
Tim and Artie had a wonderful time with the children, taking them creek walking, playing and swimming in the lakes, so different from the ocean and their pool, the children's previous swimming experiences. They hiked on the easier trails, carefully climbed big rocks, had picnics in beautiful meadows, rented boats and had fun paddling around, everyone wearing life jackets and between them took far too many photos.
They also had fun running into family and friends along the trails. Poppy and Grama spent time with them, even taking the children for a few hours on a couple of occasions while Katerina and Damaris spent many happy hours with their older and younger cousins. Each day, the children wondered what adventures they'd have and there always seemed to be something new.
In preparing for their trip, the three sets of parents of young children and their grandparents read several of Beatrix Potter's books to the children, making sure they viewed the wonderful illustrations. Now that they were in the Lake District, all the children, including the Costas girls who'd also been read Potter's books when they were little, Tim, Artie, Lu and Jethro visited Hill Top, Ms. Potter's holiday home, seeing and learning more about the house, the farm and the inspirations for her characters. With the stories fresh in their minds, both the children and adults had a wonderful time.
It was during their days around the lakes that Tim realized that something was different about Tony and when he figured it out, it seemed nearly a complete transformation. While Tim had never seen any indication that Tony was comfortable outdoors, now he noticed his brother watching McKenna, his older daughter, as she discovered new things that Tony then also embraced. It was as if his little girl was giving him or showing him the carefree, curious-about-everything life he'd never experienced growing up. He ran with her, taught her how to skip a rock in the water, roasted marshmallows, got as dirty as young McKenna, and always wore a big happy grin. At the Hill Top house, Tim was even more impressed with Tony's interest and his ability to find the smallest interesting detail. Yes, his brother had come a long way since their days on the MCRT or maybe these new interests weren't really new, perhaps they were just newly revealed.
As for Tim, he thoroughly enjoyed their visit to the Hill Top house and was quietly relieved that no one mentioned his birthday. His relief was poorly timed as his family and friends finally unleashed his birthday celebration the day after their visit to the Hill Top house. That morning when his babies woke him to tell him today was his birthday party he managed to smile, kiss and hug each of them and look happy, doing a good job of ignoring his real feelings, a kind of flatness.
Once up and dressed, he found he felt better, his children made him laugh and he acknowledged that even though his "birthday" meant only ugly reminders of his past, the people who loved him and whom he loved, wanted to celebrate his life with him. Looking around him as he carried Chloe down the steps of the RV, he smiled, genuinely happy to be here with so many of his loved ones.
The festivities started with breakfast where he was served pancakes, eggs and bacon, cooked and eaten outdoors with plenty of company and then the children announced that they were spending the morning with their grandparents, aunts and uncles. After that group left for a hike, he and Artie managed to disappear without anyone looking for them, having a wonderful morning to themselves. Eventually they went for their own hike, returning in time for a late lunch, Tim quietly hoping that was the end of his birthday celebration.
While he was happy to celebrate everyone else's birthdays, he found his own meaningless. As his wife and mother said, that could be explained by his birthday having been selected as a random date on the calendar to match what was decided to be Tim's age at that particular time. Although his name hadn't been Tim then.
After their peaceful lunch, he and Artie rented a canoe and had a few more hours to themselves on a lovely little lake. Eventually they returned to their encampment where they hugged and kissed their children, nephew and nieces and joined that day's 'roundup' already in full swing. Preparations for his birthday dinner were also underway. Dad teased him, showing him a freshly caught fish in the cooler, although he didn't pick it up and flash it in his face as he'd once done. To Jethro's dismay, on that occasion Tim had promptly thrown up on him and the fish.
Tim could handle eating some ocean fish and he enjoyed shellfish but fish from streams and lakes made him immediately and violently sick to his stomach. The fisher people among their group had been warned and kept any fish far from Tim and his children, not knowing if it was a natural allergy that might have been passed along to the twins or something else. After they were married, Lu told Jethro that she was sure Tim's total aversion to a few things was a reaction to whatever was done to him as a young child but unless or until he was ready to tackle that part of his life, they'd never know.
After the light tease, which a relaxed Tim found amusing, Tony showed him what they were really having for dinner, one of Tim's favorites, Tony's homemade lasagna. He'd made it at home, making the noodles and tomato sauce from scratch and after the lasagna had cooled from the oven, he'd frozen it in 3 pans: 1 extra-large, 1 large and 1 medium size. The medium pan was labeled for Nikki and the large sized pan was in case they ran out before everyone was served from the extra-large pan or possibly for leftovers. It was already thawed and just needed a gentle reheat in the largest oven they had amongst their RVs and of course that was Tim and Artie's.
While the lasagnas warmed up, Malu was busy making Tim's favorite rolls from scratch while Sarah, Rob and James finished the sheet cake they'd made, also from scratch as well as a small layered cake for the birthday boy to share later with his wife.
When the cakes were cool enough, George and Edie applied the icing to both, Bill made one of his chopped salads, always a Tim favorite and Grandpa made Tim's favorite raspberry iced tea. Tim admitted to himself and Artie that as far as birthdays went, especially his, this had been a special one.
One day after the worker-bees left for home and their jobs, Poppy and Grama took all 6 of their grandchildren and the Costas girls, missing Jasper, Naomi and Ava who'd gone home with their parents, for an entire afternoon, including nap times, although the older girls didn't have a nap, they went for a walk with Aunt Lu. Overall, their time in the outdoors was a lot of fun, a big success with everyone and they all went home with big smiles on their faces.
And Tony? Tony made his wife's day when he told her that the next time they did this, an RV would be fun.
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Because the Independence Day party at the US Embassy in London was two days after their return, the first order of business was cleaning and returning the various RVs while the second order of business was doing the laundry. First, the washer and dryer worked steadily to get everyone's party clothes ready. Then it went to work on the clothes they'd worn camping. Tim, who liked to iron, ironed shirts, blouses, skirts, dresses and trousers for several of his family, much to their delight. Various people carried the clean and ironed clothing to the correct rooms or suites because as far as Tim was concerned delivery was not part of ironing!
Katerina and Damaris would also attend the Embassy party on Saturday and were excited about it. Then on Sunday the two girls would fly to Scotland with the senior Powells. They would land in Aberdeen where Mimi and Granducky would meet them, having lunch out with the four travelers before taking the girls back to Tain with them. They'd stay with them and the older men of the family until they all left for the originally planned 2 week Greek vacation.
The Powells, who'd visited Tain twice before, would stay overnight in Aberdeen before returning to Edinburgh and taking the train home. The only problem was they hadn't yet decided which home to return to, Castleton or Jaxton! As Edie told her husband, she still had some shopping to do for their long stay in Greece and wanted to look in a favorite shop at home. When he asked why she didn't shop while they were in Greece, by now they both spoke Greek well enough to be understood and to understand what was said to them, she looked at him, astounded. Not only was he actually encouraging her to shop, she'd never thought of shopping for herself while in Greece!
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Early afternoon on Saturday, several vehicles left Jaxton, headed into London for their Fourth of July party. They had a wonderful time seeing agency friends, meeting the Embassy staff and enjoying some Independence Day traditions. Their lunch was catered and featured several American dishes, much to everyone's pleasure. They were also happy to notice that the food offerings represented more than one region of the country, another big plus. There were several games for the children, suited to various ages and those were fun to watch. Several of the adults, including the Gibbs' siblings, their partners and parents, also played softball, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
As there wouldn't be any fireworks the party broke up in the late afternoon after more snacks and beverages were served. The UK bunch were happy to hear from the Gibbs-Dornegets that evening, Ned's team and their families had also been invited to the Marseille US Consulate's 4th of July party and they'd also had a great time.
