December 5

It was an exciting day for the English family. Mr. and Mrs. English would be returning that night at the airport with their new brother from China.

Meanwhile that morning…
Mom, Collette, Linnea, and Puck ran errands to the post office, the cleaners, the bank (where Mom picked up grape suckers for Linnea and Puck), and to drop off clothing donations at the middle school. And while they were out, the first flurries of the season floated down to the frigid streets.
When they returned, Mom and Dad left for their weekend in Branson. They would have dinner at the Moon River Cafe and their first Andy William’s show at 7:00.
Carrie was outside putting up the Christmas lights on the porch.
And Joe was driving to meet Linus at the Columns to give him a harddrive, whereupon he returned to join everyone else for pizza rolls.

While Puck supposedly napped that afternoon, Carrie-Bri and Collette ran errands: The Wine Bottle (for Thor’s Christmas present), Target (for hair dye), to drop Francis off at Creole’s, the library (for Philip Glass’ opera: Einstein on the Beach), and Costco (for LED Christmas lights and a roll of 269 square feet of shiny gold wrapping paper).

When they returned, Carrie dyed Collette’s hair a golden blond and then brought Linnea up on the roof with her to hang the lights.
This, while Joe drove to Rolla to pick up Wally and Lolli for another weekend of fun.
And Linnea’s first basketball practice of the season was that night.

Also, Christmas presents were beginning to arrive in the mail, including one gift in particular for Rose.
“Better hide this,” said Carrie. “Rose already informed me that she’ll be starting to hunt for her Christmas presents any day now. It’s like she goes on safari every year.”