Leaping for Your Dreams

Now normally I loved Summerfest, this year however I was truly stressed out during it. I had done my best in the last week to enjoy myself but I was also balancing the wedding and the house. When Moka and Angel came up on June 31st, I nearly kissed them. Then Stace, her boyfriend, Ferret and _his_ new boyfriend joined us all. They all decided that I needed to take a break from planning everything and dragged us all to Summerfest, this was the last few days so everything would culminate in the parade and celebration of Canada Day on Sunday.

It began at 9 am on the First. Anna came in and began bouncing on the bed I was laying on. “Mama, come on! It’s Canada Day!”

I hear a chuckle from the doorway. I pulled my head from under the covers and glared at Geno. “You go eat Annushka, I get Mama up.” She hopped the bed and went out the door. Soon after the door closed and the bed dipped as Geno joined me. “Time to get up. People come soon, go to parade.” He made his way up my body tickling and trying to get me out of bed. Problem was I had no desire to do so.

“Don’t wanna; fireworks were last week.” I tried burrowing further under the covers, but he was pulling them off of me.

My husband began kissing me from knees to hips. “Da. Come, up show friends fun today. Bond with team.” He moved from my hip to my lower back. “You captain, need learn have fun, Sid same way. I no flirt with him though. Mal’s job.” He’d worked his way up my back and gotten his arms under me. He hoisted me into his lap and gave me a proper morning kiss. “Come now, food and friends wait.”

I knew there was no way I’d get out of getting up now. Grumbling I didn’t fight as he got us both out of bed. “Fine… but I want compensation for not being able to sleep in on a national holiday.”

Under 20 minutes later I was dressed and coming downstairs. I found my Anna being held down and tickled. “Dědeček! (Grandpa!)” It triggered the memory of my dad doing the exact same thing to me.

“Hvězdička. (Granddaughter.) You are not getting out of this.” I saw my mom taking pictures of this and I couldn’t help but grin; Yep, my childhood all over again. There was a knock on the door and I quickly ran to get it. Outside was my insane crew who for some reason loved me. Dad made Anna squeal before I could welcome them, so I just waved them in instead.

“So this is our fearless leader’s childhood home. I like it.” Moka said as he came in.

Angel was right behind him. “What is that delightful smell too?” I smiled, just like mom to have baked again this morning.

“From the scent, more kolachkes, probably for the block party later today. Mom makes the best kolachkes on the block.” My mom waved her hand trying to get me to stop. “Mama, Papa; this is my team.” I grabbed Moka and pulled him up front. “This is Moka who I swear is my Gay Best Friend and who judged me not by what I was wearing but how my apartment looked the first time we met.” He waved. “Angel is his boyfriend and works in the kitchens at the CEC. They were there when Geno was on the road my first couple nights.”

I let go of Moka who was just laughing at me. “This is Stace, who was a timid little mouse when I first got to my office and is now anything but, and her boyfriend…” I realized I didn’t know his name.

Stace came to my rescue. “Kristoph, Mari his name is Kristoph. He doesn’t come around work much, it’s the only reason she doesn’t know him.” I shrugged my shoulders I couldn’t apologize; it was true.

“And the blonde hiding behind me is Ferret, he’s Uncle Tomas’ nephew.” My folks just beamed at that, they loved Tomas too. “I don’t know who with him cause I’ve never met him before.”

Fortunately that seemed to be the opening he was looking for. “I’m Andrew ma’am. We’ve only just started seeing each other.”

Mom looked over my team and nodded. “Good to meet the people that help my little girl. I know this season will be better than last. You say that Angel is…” She stopped and began again. “I could use some help in the kitchen getting ready for the block party.”

Angel laughed. “Ma’am I would _love_ to help you get ready. Many hands make light work after all.” Mom grinned. Angel and Andrew both went to help mom while I gave the rest of them the ‘Grand Tour’.

At 10:15 we loaded up and drove to where we normally watched the parade as a group. It was a nice little parade. The next thing on the list of things to do was to go and celebrate in Fred Thomas Park with cake. That’s when my phone’s text message went off. <Everyone please welcome the newest Penguin, Aleks Malakhov.>

I giggled and jumped up and down. Everyone looked at me oddly. “Aleks signed! She’s officially a Pen now!” Geno swung me around in joy. We’d been waiting for this day so that Sid would stop worrying, not to mention Aleks. Now the family was complete and _all_ Penguins.

After getting back to the house we found that they were starting to set up the block party. Geno and the boys helped dad set up tables outside on the lawn and get the umbrellas up to shade us as well.

At 4 pm, the block party officially began. It was as it always is a grand time. I saw friends I hadn’t seen in years as well as their families’ _and_ got to show off my own for once.

Hours later, after we put Sunshine to bed, I leaned against Geno outside on the porch. “We have a week you realize. A week and then we’re getting on a plane for Russia.”

“One week, 3 days yes. We make it and Sid and Aleks be happy. Team here now, we make it.” He kissed my temple and escorted me back into the house. We went to bed and without much thought I drifted off to sleep.