Off we go with the marathoooon! BUT only if you'd comment as you read because I love reading your thoughts!!
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"Look at all of the trees," Caitlin gushed as she quickly climbed out of her booster seat, ready to pounce through the door. "Let's go!"
"Slow down Caitlin," Ariana chuckled as she unbuckled her own seatbelt. "The trees will all still be there, relax a bit."
"But Mommy," Caitlin whined and crossed her arms across her chest as she looked out the window.
"But Caitlin," Ariana mimicked her as she got out of the car; she shut her door before opening Caitlin's who immediately jumped out.
Jai laughed as he got out of the car and went to unbuckle Kenzie, who had actually fallen asleep during the twenty minute drive to the huge local tree farm. "Ladybug," Jai whispered as he gently nuzzled Kenzie's nose. "Wake up, ladybug, we're here."
"Mmm," Kenzie's eyes slowly began to open after her nose had been tickled. "Daddy," she rubbed her eyes, a little disoriented.
"I'm right here," Jai took her into his arms and she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, going back to sleep.
"I guess someone got a little too excited," Ariana smiled as she and Caitlin walked closer to Jai and Kenzie, the entrance to the tree farm was closer to them.
"Yeah," Jai chuckled as he gently rubbed his sleeping baby's back. "But she's going to miss out on all the fun."
Ariana nodded, "Maybe we should wake her up in a few minutes, that is if this one doesn't wake her up," Ariana looked to Caitlin who was practically jumping with excitement. "Caitlin are you ready?"
Caitlin nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah Mommy, come on!" She began running to the entrance.
"Caitlin!" Jai yelled out "Have you forgotten where you are?" Caitlin turned around in response to her father's loud voice. "First of all, you're in a parking lot, do you see all of these cars? And second you know that you aren't supposed to run off!" Jai was incredibly loud and surprisingly Kenzie didn't wake up.
"Sorry Daddy," Caitlin looked down, she did know the rules but chose not to follow them because she was just so excited. She walked back to her parents and little sister, feeling a little disheartened. Caitlin always felt extremely bad when she got yelled at, especially since it was so seldom.
"Hold my hand," Ariana held out her hand for Caitlin to take, which she did. "We know that you're excited sweetheart, but we just don't want anything to happen to you. Do you understand?" Ariana was really starting to get the hang of this mothering thing. Her heart had skipped a beat when she saw Caitlin running; she really understood what it felt like to be a real parent. She was completely responsible for these two little beings and she would never forgive herself if anything happened to them.
"I know Mommy," Caitlin looked up sincerely to her parents. "I'm sorry."
"Come on," Jai finally smiled; he didn't want to put a damper on the rest of the day. He also knew that Caitlin was truly sorry and was still a little upset; she was such a sensitive little girl. "Let's go find the best tree they have."
Caitlin's eyes shone bright again, "Okay!" she exclaimed.
Finally the Brooks family was finally checking out the vast selection of Christmas trees. There were just so many to choose from and that was no easy task for a particular member of the family.
"What about this one?" Ariana pointed to a tall tree.
"No not that one, too skinny," Caitlin said as she walked past yet another tree.
"Me cold," Kenzie stated, she was now awake but still being held tight in her daddy's big strong arms.
"And my feet are killing me," Ariana sighed. "Kenzie, how about me and you have a hot cocoa break inside?"
"Yay!" Kenzie exclaimed. "Down, pwease, Daddy."
"Ok," Jai complied with his little girl and set her down next to his wife. "I guess we'll keep looking, butterfly."
"Yeah!" Caitlin exclaimed, she really was in no mood to take a break, which would only put them behind schedule.
"We'll be inside then," Ariana took Kenzie's hand in hers.
"Ok baby," Jai bent down and gave Ariana a gentle kiss on the lips. "We'll come find you, hopefully soon," Jai whispered so that the children couldn't hear. "I'm freezing my ass off."
"Well, I hope that's not true," Ariana grinned and whispered back. "I happen to love your ass."
"Yeah?" Jai questioned.
"Yeah," Ariana smirked as she discreetly grabbed his butt. "Oh good, its still there." Jai couldn't help but break out into laughter.
"What's so funny?" Caitlin asked, the curiosity in her voice, she hated to be left out. It seemed to her like adults were always telling secrets.
"Nothing, you go help Daddy find the perfect tree," Ariana grinned. "We'll see you two later, good luck," Ariana guided Kenzie off in the other direction, towards the little heated café.
"Come on Caitlin lets keep looking," Jai smiled down at his very excited daughter. Even though he was absolutely freezing, he was doing this for her, his daughter's happiness was more important at the moment.
"Let's go Daddy," Caitlin grabbed his hand and they continued walking down the narrow tree aisles.
"Aren't you cold butterfly?" Jai asked, he knew he was. "Do you want to grab some hot cocoa with Mommy?"
"But we just gotta find the perfect tree," Caitlin replied. "Can we get hot cocoa after?"
Jai nodded; "Sure," he was never one to say 'no' to that beautiful face even if he was freezing his ass off. "How about this one?'
"No Daddy looks its turning brown at the bottom," Caitlin pointed out the browning needles; she had an advantage for being so little.
Jai bent down and saw the many browning needles, which was definitely a no go for them. "Ok, then," he laughed. "Let's keep looking."
A little while later, Jai and Caitlin were still looking for the perfect tree. Well, Caitlin's idea of perfect, Jai had seen many perfect trees in the hour that their family had been there. A normal person would have put his foot down a while ago but Jai really did spoil his little daddy's girls.
"Daddy, do you have any tissue?' Caitlin asked as they continued their journey through the tree farm.
"Sorry, butterfly, but I don't," Jai looked down at his daughter. "Oh your nose is running, come on we'll go grab some from the café."
"No Daddy, its ok," Caitlin replied with a sniffle.
"No, I think we've been out here long enough," Jai responded. "You're going to get sick if we stay out here too long."
"But Daddy," Caitlin sniffled right before a sneeze.
"We're going inside for a little bit, Caitlin," Jai bent down to pick up his little girl; he knew that she must have been tired.
"Daddy," Caitlin started, as she was swept up into her father's arms, something seemed to catch her eye.
"Caitlin, its freezing out here and your mother will kill me if..."
"Daddy! Stop!" Caitlin screamed causing several onlookers to stare in their direction.
"What?" Jai stopped dead in his tracks; it was a rarity that Caitlin was ever that loud. He was worried that she somehow might have hurt herself.
"Look!" she pointed and Jai followed her finger. And there it was, the perfect tree in all of its glory. "That's our tree Daddy!"
Jai smiled, it really was a beauty. It was tall, had a good width to it, not too skinny and not too big, and the needles were nice and full. All of the qualities that you needed for a good tree. He could have sworn that they had passed by this spot before and this tree wasn't there though. "I think you're right, butterfly," Jai smiled before giving Caitlin a kiss on the cheek. "Great find."
"Thanks Daddy," Caitlin grinned as she wrapped one arm around Jai's neck as he carried her to the tree. "Mmm it smells good, too. Can we get it, please?"
"Definitely, we'll have them tie it to the car and then we'll get Mommy and Kenzie, we'll surprise them."
"Yes!" Caitlin exclaimed, as the two shared a high five "They're going to be so excited."
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I'll update again after I have dinner 😊