tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62174540306540559772024-02-18T17:53:01.152-08:00The 100 Bears!Payton Bear's journey to 100 Bears!Heather Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10216231018458039386noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6217454030654055977.post-57671853843310917272013-07-05T09:18:00.001-07:002013-07-05T09:21:52.874-07:00Chapter 15 ~ Getting Used To Everything Again<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Where are we gonna go?” Adam asked me as I picked him
up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“It’s a place with tons of toys and food and all kinds of
fun stuff.” I explained.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ashley giggled right as I looked over at her. Jared
tickled her sides as he grabbed her to pick her up. I smiled and opened the
nursery door, leaving it open for Jared who was right behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Oh, okay.” Adam replied, sticking his thumb in his
mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Will we love it there?” Ashley questioned as she was
strapped into her pink stroller I got a discount on the other day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jared smiled as he clicked the last buckle together. “You
sure will!” Then he looked over at me and whispered. “At least I hope so.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I agreed and grabbed the diaper bag along with two warm
bottles of milk; one pink bottle and one blue one. Ashley would always refuse
to drink her milk <i>unless</i> it was out
of a pink bottle. I could tell she was my little girl.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jared and I both strapped a toddler into their car seats.
Adam always could entertain himself with something for any car ride, but Ashley
needed something to keep her busy. She loved cuddling her doll that she
received from one of our neighbors, so that always gave her something to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I sat in the driver’s seat, turned my car keys in the
ignition, and we were off.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I looked back at the kids in the back seat of the car as
I shifted into park. They were entertained and had a look of carelessness on
their faces. Jared and I unbuckled each toddler and let them walk on their own
into the building. Adam stopped at the colorful sign that said <i>‘T.L.C. – Toddler Learning Center’ </i>to
smell it. I laughed at him and grabbed him by the shoulders and swinging him up
onto my hip.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Why did you smell the sign?” I asked Adam, who was now
sucking on his thumb like always. Jared opened the door for Ashley to walk in
and kept it open for me and Adam.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Maybe it would smell like cookies. Like the ones you
make with the candies in them.” He replied. He was talking about my
neighborhood-famous M&M Cookies that I make often. The twins absolutely
loved them, but I tried not to make them too often so that we could all stay in
shape at least a little bit. Yet, I always had a few of them in a baggie in
some purse or bag at all times.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I laughed at Adam and closed the door behind me. A rush
of cold, air-conditioned air hit my face and gave me the goose bumps. I
shivered at the freezing air, even though it was a nice change from the summer
heat wave here in Aurora Skies.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The whole building was filled with all kinds of bright
colors and cute kid-like decorations. There were a ton of cute touches here and
there. Like the toy train that went up and down the multiple floors to the
building, the porthole-type windows with bubbles and fish painted around it on
every door, and the little bear tracks imprinted on the ground leading to the 'Cub Clubhouse' area towards the back. Ashley saw the tracks first and pointed
to them, smiling up at me. “Bear tracks!” Her eyes were lit up in amazement as
she reached down to touch them. Then all of a sudden, she looked confused.
“Wait, I’m a Bear. How come I don’t make those tracks?” She asked me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jared and I both burst into laughter. “Your last <i>name </i>is Bear, but you’re a human.” Jared
explained, rubbing her hair around. I couldn’t stop laughing. They were so
adorable and creative; I have no idea how they had any relation to Mystery.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Well, I wanna be a bear.” Ashley stated, proudly. Adam
agreed with her and they both put down their toys to get on their hands and
knees. Jared and I watched as they growled and roared as they placed their
hands and feet into the bear imprints on the ground, pretending to be bears.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“There go our little bear cubs!” I said. Jared and I
giggled and picked up our toddlers’ toys, following them to the Cub Clubhouse.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I could hear Ashley laughing out in the family room from
inside the kitchen. Jared was out shopping for a book I had been wanting and some
more ingredients to make my M&M cookies (we were almost out). I was busy
cooking Jared’s favorite meal—steak with garlic mashed potatoes. As Ashley’s
laughs grew louder, I leaned back and peeked through the doorway to see what
she was laughing at. Kyle was running around while Ashley chased him all around
the couch on the floor. Even Adam, who was learning how to walk in an orange
and blue walker, was laughing at the two of them. Their laughs were too
contagious to hold anything in, I had to giggle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ashley then took a seat on the floor. Kyle laid down
right next to her. Ashley reached for his tail and started tugging on it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Uh, Ash, I don’t think that’s a great idea. Kyle might
get mad at you.” I said, tossing some more chives into the bowl of mashed potatoes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“But he loves me and he would never want to hurt me,
right?” She continued to play with his tail and Kyle started looking
aggravated. I thought about what she said for a split second.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">‘He
loves me and he would never do anything to hurt me, right?’ Well, you’d think
so. Even though she didn’t know that what she said may apply to her or anyone,
really, in the future, it was something people probably said often. I might
even think that one day after something hap-<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My train of thought was stopped when Kyle lowered his
back legs and pounced on my baby girl.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I gasped as Kyle angrily jumped up with his claws out
onto Ashley. I threw the wooden spoon I was stirring the mashed potatoes with onto
the counter and quickly moved over to Ashley, now lying on the floor, before
Kyle got too angry and did something like that again. Ashley was screaming in
fear and Adam looked very worried for his twin sister. Adam was very protective
over Ashley—Ashley was protective of Adam, too, though.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Now you learned to never annoy cats, right?” I scolded
Ashley and grabbed a paper towel for the parts of her face where Kyle had gotten
her with his sharp claws.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Right.” Ashley whimpered and reached for Adam, who had
somehow managed to get his way out of the walker to comfort Ashley and was now
standing by my left leg.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I finished cleaning up Ashley’s face with the paper towel
and let her sit on the rug with Adam and her doll. I then threw Kyle out onto
the back porch and locked to door. He was being a bad kitty. Katie had paid no
attention to the whole disaster and continued to lick her paws. The mashed
potatoes became a little dry because I had left the stove on when I took care
of the whole mess, so I had to fix that problem now, too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I felt really bad for Ashley, though, so I gave her one
of the last two cookies I had stored away in the diaper bag hanging by the
door. She was satisfied after that. Adam became jealous of her, so I gave in
and handed him a cookie. I then heard Jared pull up in the driveway, home from
the errands. I looked at the kids munching away at their cookies and said,
“Don’t let him know I gave you two cookies before dinner, alright?” I held up a
finger to my lips and whispered “Shhh,” and they mimicked me, smiling. I threw
away the empty bag and swept up a few cookie crumbs on the floor real fast as I
heard Jared lock the car doors. The twins could tell I was trying to be sneaky,
so they hurried and finished what was left of their cookies. I laughed at them
and continued cooking like nothing had happened.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Hopefully the Band-Aid will help your cut feel better,
alright, Ash?” Jared told Ashley, handing her a corner of the soft, knitted,
pink blanket in her crib. “That darn cat.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Thanks.” Ashley rubbed her eyes and yawned really big.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I smiled as I stood in the doorway and watched Jared be
animated with Ashley as he kept talking to her, even when he was getting Adam
all situated in his crib. ‘<i>Jared’s going
to make a really good daddy one day. One day…’ </i>I thought. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We told both of the twins that we loved them to the moon
and back, then turned out the lights, and went to bed ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I closed the door very slowly, trying not to make a sound
since Adam was already snoring. Jared smiled at me and kissed me on the cheek.
We made our way into our bedroom.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“You know, you make a really good daddy.” I smiled at
Jared as I slipped on my cozy, pink pajama shorts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He smiled back at me. “I guess so, huh. But you know I’m
not a dad.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Yet,” I smirked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jared’s smile grew wider. “Oh yeah? And when’s that gonna
happen, huh?” He leaned over and kissed me. My heart fluttered as I watched
Jared take off his shirt, his big tan muscles making my heart skip a few beats
here and there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I think we should wait until after my challenge, when
I’m all yours. Then we could start our family.” I smiled and gave him a kiss
back.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I think you’re right. Better get going on that
challenge!” He laughed and reached out for my hand. We both laid down on the
soft mattress.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I grabbed his other hand and kept the same smile. “I love
you.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He leaned his head down on the pillow and whispered, “I
love you more.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7fQiIEzCKdWD1JsUMqahaxd7K_1c93qKxfD_Vf02AZdYzaJM1SDHNsyzxiJhgmZZAZtNiidkkoAhbgKsfAItw48s2mPojLF2cCjxwt-kc9V11fDeoYQ8Jqcjtu_v8D7Qtg7wzge1egJb/s1600/Screenshot-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7fQiIEzCKdWD1JsUMqahaxd7K_1c93qKxfD_Vf02AZdYzaJM1SDHNsyzxiJhgmZZAZtNiidkkoAhbgKsfAItw48s2mPojLF2cCjxwt-kc9V11fDeoYQ8Jqcjtu_v8D7Qtg7wzge1egJb/s400/Screenshot-33.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The morning went nicely. There was a slight, cool breeze
outside that took some sting away from the intense summer heat. The birds were
chirping, the pets were all running around out front, the twins were playing
with their toys, and Jared and I were sitting on the floor with the kids in the
nursery. The smell of coffee was strong. I don’t drink coffee; Jared does. He
likes it black, but I don’t even know what it tastes like. I like to have hot
chocolate in the mornings. I don’t really need some caffeine to give me energy,
and hot chocolate tastes good. Even if it’s 100 degrees outside here in Aurora
Skies, Jared and I still have our usual, hot drinks when we wake up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I
really had to start get going on my challenge…</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <i>I am pretty far behind</i>. <i>The whole “Mystery Incident” is not an
excuse; I have to pick up right where I left off.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I sighed and left my thoughts alone while I looked at
Jared sitting next to me. He looked at me concerned and gave me a kiss on my
forehead. “What’cha thinking about, Little Red?” I sipped my hot chocolate then
leaned on Jared’s chest. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I just really need to get going on my challenge. I’m <i>so </i>far behind. I need to have tons of
triplets and twins to pick up the pace. It seems like it’s been forever since I
started and I only have eight kids.” I took another sip of my hot cocoa.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“You know, you would’ve had nine if it wasn’t for
Mystery.” Jared stated.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was confused. I looked up at Jared, puzzled. “Wait…
what… how woul-“<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Mystery didn’t tell you this.” Jared interrupted me. He
sat up so that we were looking each other in the eyes. “Before he took us to
Aurora Skies while both of us were passed out, he took you to an abortion
place. He somehow knew that you were pregnant with our child… remember?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was overwhelmed with feelings. Anger, confusion,
sadness. “Oh yeah, I do remember being pregnant with our child… <i>god dammit Mystery.” </i>I whispered that
last part just loud enough for Jared to hear but quiet enough so that the twins
wouldn’t pick up on those words. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“He offered the workers at the abortion place about
$100,000 to abort our baby.” Jared’s eyes were full of anger. His voice was a
little shaky but evened out, sounding more angry than upset. “If only I was
awake-“<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I interrupted him. “Jared, there was no way you could’ve
woken up… you didn’t know. It’s not your fault. But… how do you know this?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“He paid me $50,000 when I woke up before you towards the
end of this whole incident to not tell you about it. I took the money but never
made any promises,” He finished. Jared looked so mad with himself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I kissed Jared and we kept kissing for a while. The twins
were so caught up in their toys, they didn’t notice or understand what we were
talking about. “You did the right thing, Jared. Thank you,” I ended the conversation,
after finishing our kiss.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I love you.” He said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I smiled, “I love you more.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK96ApeLfldNv9mtzPp3ooTnJL_aelSqDFqtKU5mtTyWbviz2dMDZwTEUjIiJVT3BVSjqFXrvGG1JYt1TmItYSqxnUf8dEvierOYkWpp0u2uGJZIESZ5ypJDBDi-qoYjLNOHyvuUanhwbC/s1600/Screenshot-3+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK96ApeLfldNv9mtzPp3ooTnJL_aelSqDFqtKU5mtTyWbviz2dMDZwTEUjIiJVT3BVSjqFXrvGG1JYt1TmItYSqxnUf8dEvierOYkWpp0u2uGJZIESZ5ypJDBDi-qoYjLNOHyvuUanhwbC/s400/Screenshot-3+(2).jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was about 12:00 in the afternoon and I had just gotten
off of the phone with the owner of the local pet store. I realized how much
trouble Kyle had been to this family… I decided it was best to put him up for
adoption. Two pets was enough for us, especially with all of the kids that were
going to be in the house. A nice lady named Jackie was on her way with a pet
carrier to get Kyle. Kyle and his mom, Katie were playing and they seemed like
they loved each other so much. Well, I take that back. I caught Katie sitting
on Kyle the other day and had to save him from suffocating. Overall, I just
figured it was a good time for Kyle to go.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jackie was very sweet and loving towards Kyle and Katie.
She even gave Jack a dog bone biscuit she had in a pouch on her side. “We will
find Kyle a loving home for you. Don’t worry about him at all!” She smiled,
locking the pet carrier. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Thank you. But be careful, he’s a trouble maker.” I
laughed as Kyle, almost on cue, tried to scratch Jackie’s fingers as she was
locking to carrier. I looked down at Katie as Jackie headed out the door. Katie
couldn’t care less what they did with Kyle; she just climbed to the top of her
kitty tower and licked her paws. I shook my head at her and smiled. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jared came down the stairs, right as Jackie left, from
showering, the only clothes he was wearing being a towel wrapped around his
waist. He smiled at me when he caught me staring at his abs. Jared walked
closer to me and I put my hand on his muscular chest and kissed him on the lips
passionately.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After we pulled away, he said “Well, hello to you, too.” I
laughed and Jared smiled. “I always love how your freckled nose crinkles when
you laugh,” He tapped my nose with his finger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I smiled and ruffled his damp hair, “What are you even
doing down here?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Came down to see my beautiful girlfriend,” He kissed me
on the forehead. He always kissed me on the forehead. I guess it was just easy
to reach since his lips were at the height of my forehead. I had always been
smaller, but when I was with Jared, I didn’t even mind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I smiled, “Well, thanks, but your beautiful girlfriend is
going out to get pregnant.” I grabbed my purse and car keys as Jared laughed.
“Life of a challenge mom, I’m sorry.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Don’t be sorry.” He opened the fridge looking for some
lunch. “Go continue your challenge and make some gorgeous babies! I know
they’ll be gorgeous since they’re going to have some of your genetics.” He
winked at me as I walked down the hall.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Thank you!” I closed the door and stepped out on the
porch. I walked out to my car. It was kind of chilly outside. I could tell it
was the end of summer soon. In Aurora Skies, there isn’t the fall season every
other year. This year was the year where it would go straight to icicles and
snow in winter right after summer ends. Yeah, it seems pretty odd, but I just
went with it, believing the neighbors who had lived here 5+ years. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I bundled up a little bit with my gray pullover sweater
and turned on my car seat heaters to low. I started up my car, already knowing
where I was going. I had talked to someone earlier that morning who had heard
of me and my challenge from some of the neighbors. I didn’t know them very
well, but they seemed to know a lot about me. I guess when something like the
Mystery Incident happens to you and then you just move in, people start
talking. Everyone in this town was nice, but it was strange how many times I
had seen people on their front lawns pointing to my house and talking in lower
voices.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyways, this guy I had talked to’s name was Aaron James.
He didn’t describe anything about himself, but he gave me his address and told
me any time after noon was fine for me to come over.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I arrived at his house in less than ten minutes. Turns
out it’s just around the corner and on the end of the next street. Someone was
in the front yard turning on sprinklers to a garden. That reminded me I needed
to tend to my garden at home. I made a mental note while I parked my car and
stepped out. The man had light pink skin, brighter pink hair with purple-ish
highlights, gorgeous eyes, and transparent (sort of) fairy wings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Well,
this should be an interesting baby.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Payton Bar?” Aaron asked, stuttering a little bit when
he mis-pronounced my last name.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I laughed, “Payton <i>Bear</i>,
actually.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He looked embarrassed, “Oh, my mistake. I just never
thought anyone would have a last name like that. No offense.” He rubbed his
neck with his hand and smiled nervously at me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I smiled to let him know that it didn’t bother me at all.
“Nah, I’m used to confused faces when I tell people my last name.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“So, uh,” He stuttered. I could tell he was uncomfortable
with the whole <i>challenge situation</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Let’s do it?” I questioned, trying to move things along.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Yeah, I guess.” Aaron replied.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I followed inside, trying to imagine what the next baby
or babies would look like. I imagined them with tan skin, red/pink hair, and
cute little fairy wings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIYwqlG-F1GBqbmNjl4-yXps7ET1lX83j2bsDYKt8hnzQbQKsOlAV3tnLDEdYWe6Lk46nYh7L4sbZZy064HAiCxvYKVaGmBMIf1ZRbkkaZQam7m9JNgeWm3jMGYaA9KgEdXWnkwMiFc78/s1600/Screenshot-20+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIYwqlG-F1GBqbmNjl4-yXps7ET1lX83j2bsDYKt8hnzQbQKsOlAV3tnLDEdYWe6Lk46nYh7L4sbZZy064HAiCxvYKVaGmBMIf1ZRbkkaZQam7m9JNgeWm3jMGYaA9KgEdXWnkwMiFc78/s400/Screenshot-20+(2).jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Once I finished filling Jacks’ bowl with his special
bacon flavored pet food the next day, I clicked the TV onto the weather
channel. It had been as hot as an oven outside and I was wondering when it
would stop. The tall, weather man came on the screen a few minutes later with
the forecast. Has anyone else wondered why all weather men are tall, tan, and
have really bright white teeth?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anyways, the forecast predicted only two days left of
heat, then it was time for winter. Apparently we would wake up to snow on the
first day of winter, but who knows if they’re right. I turned the TV off and
rubbed Jack’s ears, as he was standing next to me the entire time. “I guess
we’re gonna see some snow soon, buddy!” I said in that excited baby talk voice
and Jack wagged his tail, even though he had no idea what I was talking about.
I think it’s just the tone in my voice that made him expect something good. Who
knows if the snow will be good or not?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFh-9_l_mluVUpx1DH7rALGVEEhrIcf8t4PGCvev4yGU5ZlVecGbIlH6Abpwhsy4FLEgI9Ezudl0ALUsY1G_ZQQsGqi7xXajjxzFomuyhh-7dL3ejAaMYL1Q894lUmCgYwWAx4rONhIgP2/s1600/Screenshot-21+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFh-9_l_mluVUpx1DH7rALGVEEhrIcf8t4PGCvev4yGU5ZlVecGbIlH6Abpwhsy4FLEgI9Ezudl0ALUsY1G_ZQQsGqi7xXajjxzFomuyhh-7dL3ejAaMYL1Q894lUmCgYwWAx4rONhIgP2/s400/Screenshot-21+(2).jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was still in my pajamas around 7 o’clock at night. I
guess it was just one of those lazy days for me. I did go through about four
mugs of hot chocolate… you would never have guessed it was summer the way I was
dressed and what I was drinking all day!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I looked at the calendar and noticed two marks by today’s
date. It said “Jack and Katie’s Birthdays!” in purple ink that looked like
Jared’s handwriting. Jared was upstairs with the twins, reading them their
favorite book about two pigs that went to the beach during the summer, so I
walked towards the stairs to go talk to him about what to do with the pets for
their birthdays. When I walked towards the door, I could hear the twins
laughing in sync at their favorite part in the book. I smiled and knocked on
the door before heading in. As I opened the door, all three of the loves of my
life turned their heads toward me and smiled. Jared finished reading the page
he was on as the twins looked back at the book before asking me what was up. I
explained how I realized it was the pets’ birthdays and that I thought we
should do something? “Like what?” Jared asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“That’s exactly what I was wondering.” I sighed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ashley smiled and I could almost see the light bulb above
her head that showed she had just gotten a good idea. “We could make them
little doggy and kitty cookies! Like the ones you make, Mommy!” Adam agreed
that was a good idea and Jared and I laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“You can’t feed animals human food; they’d get sick!”
Jared ruffled Adam’s hair.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Oh.” Ashley dropped her shoulders in disappointment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I thought for a moment then got an idea. “We could just
brush them and play with them the rest of the day.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We all agreed on that and headed downstairs to have fun
with the pets.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It wasn’t until a little later in the day that Jack and
Katie actually aged up. I couldn’t believe that my first pets, after the incident,
were <i>both </i>already elders! It was sad
to see them age up, but hey, life happens and you just have to go with the
flow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaKQ_Tm0WXCZfWgOkHFdOKxFRr6v33m30HBOHMmqzfaE9SVNNJxooi3FPtF8DQ3sfodcY5osI_8C8an89R_Bq29RUMwy3HTee48nTNmM9WcF7pOFsT5R1pzJdQwnp22bTdmV7r9v7jfP8/s1600/Screenshot-56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaKQ_Tm0WXCZfWgOkHFdOKxFRr6v33m30HBOHMmqzfaE9SVNNJxooi3FPtF8DQ3sfodcY5osI_8C8an89R_Bq29RUMwy3HTee48nTNmM9WcF7pOFsT5R1pzJdQwnp22bTdmV7r9v7jfP8/s400/Screenshot-56.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> My stomach gurgled
loudly as I felt a pain in my head and stomach. I was overwhelmed with nausea
and dizziness so abruptly, I shot up straight out of bed and ran to the
bathroom, making it just in time to the toilet. I hugged the cold porcelain and
hurled up everything I had eaten that day. Oh how much I hate this part of
pregnancy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6gVmeTGpmCZzw0aFScWKMJoFy37BUaz3kZtN-ltY6yWBWtlGJRypXM4pcHb8LapJE_6nu-44xlgXYDnsmBPBpp9BEHvXR0f3FVy3QFq4p92aUQKj4RXcZfcwtryDoq3fL4EmS904IvMq/s1600/Screenshot-57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX6gVmeTGpmCZzw0aFScWKMJoFy37BUaz3kZtN-ltY6yWBWtlGJRypXM4pcHb8LapJE_6nu-44xlgXYDnsmBPBpp9BEHvXR0f3FVy3QFq4p92aUQKj4RXcZfcwtryDoq3fL4EmS904IvMq/s400/Screenshot-57.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The sun was just barely peeping through the window as I
looked at the alarm clock on my side nightstand that read “7:38”. I could
faintly hear Adam and Ashley crying for someone to go and take care of them.
The pain in my forehead intensified and I slowly started to roll out of bed.
Jared kissed me on my cheek before I even sat up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“You’ve been up all night throwing up. Don’t worry about
it, Pay. I got them.” He whispered, knowing my head hurt.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Thanks.” I breathed and rolled over, rubbing my hand
over my empty, gurgling stomach. At least my pillow was able to block any sound
in the house. I felt absolutely awful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Around noon, I had starting feeling good enough to
actually get up and do something productive. I had wondered what had made me so
sick, since I usually only throw up a few times when I’m pregnant… maybe I had
eaten some bad mac and cheese or something.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After eating some crackers that I hoped would stay in my
stomach this time, I got dressed and went out into the beautiful, warm sunshine
and took care of my garden. The excessive amount of weeds and the droopy
flowers was a really bad sign. I had a lot of work to do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I actually liked gardening and found it fun, well
sometimes. But I really enjoyed it, especially since it was so nice out. I
wasn’t really ready for winter. I loved summer, but it has to end at one point,
right?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While I was weeding and picking fresh tomatoes, Jared was
outside running around with the twins. (After gardening, I had played with
them, too. Ashley and I kept teaming up against Jared and Adam trying to be the
best lions. I never said my family was normal!) But the heat eventually got to
all of us, so we headed into the cool, air-conditioned kitchen and made snow
cones with our cheeks still red. Adam was fascinated that his tongue and teeth
turned blue from eating his blue raspberry snow cone; it was adorable! He
couldn’t stop sticking his tongue out in the mirror and laughing. I held him up
to the mirror in front of the sink until my arms got tired.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(#61, finding out pregnancy after shower after gardening)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Then, the baby kicked my stomach unexpectedly and I almost
dropped Adam. I placed him down on the floor and changed my clothes after
handing him to Jared. I was pregnant!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Do you think he or she will be a fairy?” Jared rubbed my
ever-so-slightly enlarged tummy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I smiled, “I don’t know, but I really hope so.” I then
realized something. <i>How would I explain
this to the kids? Should I just wait until they’re older? It seems reasonable,
I guess, but I would have to lie to them now.<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“S-something wrong?” Jared realized I looked kind of
worried.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I put a smile back on my face and replied honestly, “No,
I’m fine.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I’m fine, too.” Ashley giggled, listening in on our
conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We all laughed and I had the twins wash their hands and
faces, since they got so messy with the melting snow cones. After that, we
decided to just have a nice family afternoon and hang out in the family room.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSN2RQD7JmHVR_L4e333s8EZbSLWQg89mzpugsH3yVMRBWxQ96Qoc-5wWv_uFGglKcNxfZXgEr51taYMiEb5cPvmT7-BYxXPdbw6y3BglCHYTBl324Wfx0Wib6_J0jphpkDIHmYke3-92h/s1600/Screenshot-63.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSN2RQD7JmHVR_L4e333s8EZbSLWQg89mzpugsH3yVMRBWxQ96Qoc-5wWv_uFGglKcNxfZXgEr51taYMiEb5cPvmT7-BYxXPdbw6y3BglCHYTBl324Wfx0Wib6_J0jphpkDIHmYke3-92h/s400/Screenshot-63.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jared and I each grabbed a giggly toddler and helped them
into the walkers, which was their absolute favorite toy in the entire house. I’m
not even kidding. If I accidentally left them in the walkers, they wouldn’t
even mind. They would just stay there all day. It was a great way to let them
play while Jared and I watched movies on Netflix.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Right as we chose what movie we wanted to watch, there
was a knock on the door.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Are you expecting anyone?” Jared looked at me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was confused, “No, you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Nope.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Well, let’s see who it is!” I said, getting up from the
couch and walking over to the door.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjvh5k3A8qOGbGRp6t6l91BNE8f1qsLMzNPr6MAU9M4LV8-tFtA740JKatQjLo0jC8n4frK1Um_kAUbb_75Ep-RKaX0ESHFUdJAGPgmUiZhaps6WREVe7YARfdfKUG_i5j6VCedDY9fQa/s1600/Screenshot-65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjvh5k3A8qOGbGRp6t6l91BNE8f1qsLMzNPr6MAU9M4LV8-tFtA740JKatQjLo0jC8n4frK1Um_kAUbb_75Ep-RKaX0ESHFUdJAGPgmUiZhaps6WREVe7YARfdfKUG_i5j6VCedDY9fQa/s400/Screenshot-65.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I turned the doorknob not having any idea what or who to
expect. As I opened the door I saw a familiar face with dark hair and green
highlights. It was my best friend—Danielle Smores! She was wearing a green
dress with black flip-flops and she looked as beautiful as ever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“DANIELLE?” I shouted, filled with excitement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“The one and only!” She flipped her green-highlighted
hair confidently.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had tons of questions. “But how and when--“<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLpl4daMGhDvvjYZMhgvNy1xkMn7y5eS8yTLFB7ubpga167ellRGkNy2MGzHjSON0bNFlrGvgFWOL3SvhfaC00xeSy0J9mAz6LOLQGMMAFgdQmy6KkgCNdZDgzPZrL_6w-zM1jlISGRcQ/s1600/Screenshot-66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLpl4daMGhDvvjYZMhgvNy1xkMn7y5eS8yTLFB7ubpga167ellRGkNy2MGzHjSON0bNFlrGvgFWOL3SvhfaC00xeSy0J9mAz6LOLQGMMAFgdQmy6KkgCNdZDgzPZrL_6w-zM1jlISGRcQ/s400/Screenshot-66.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Danielle stopped me from going on with millions of
questions by hugging me tight. I needed a hug from her. I missed her so much,
and she did cross my mind every day, but I tried to forget about her sometimes because
I knew I probably would never see her again. I couldn’t believe that here she
was, in my new house, giving me one of the best hugs ever. She always knows how
to make people feel better, even if she is a complete mess.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I know what happened… are you alright, Payton?” Danielle
had a concerned tone to her voice. I didn’t need to hear the way she said it to
know that she truly cared; she’s just that kind of person.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I looked her in the eyes as the whole scene played back
in my head, almost like it was fast forwarded from then to now and I answered, “Yeah,
I’m fine now.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDthpK6E3vQ97oRP29gGxrKHj91xBUUeXUoCB6LairyjENLUxm_xBbq5TQKbIHzaGiC-HFH0yUQ_w4EQyCkAIQl9ImLGe0MCqtlujf7clT7pWStEnJ5AcJ7F1Qlngkg5JNlRHw8WA9Gkds/s1600/Screenshot-67.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDthpK6E3vQ97oRP29gGxrKHj91xBUUeXUoCB6LairyjENLUxm_xBbq5TQKbIHzaGiC-HFH0yUQ_w4EQyCkAIQl9ImLGe0MCqtlujf7clT7pWStEnJ5AcJ7F1Qlngkg5JNlRHw8WA9Gkds/s400/Screenshot-67.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We all sat down on the couch and talked for what seemed
like hours, just catching up on everything while the twins played together.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“So that’s the Chase story.” Danielle finished her share
of explanations. I could see the tears filled with anger in her eyes so I
reached over to her and comforted her as best as I could. She seemed to pull
herself back together so quickly, I could easily tell it wasn’t her first time
doing that after saying what she just had. I was never sure about Chase, but I
always felt happy for her because she was happy with him. I would have never <i>dared</i> to say that out loud, especially
now.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She shook her shoulders, trying to shake it off, and she
was back to normal. “Well,” She looked at Jared. “How are you treating Payton?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He kissed me on the forehead. “The best I can. I hope I’m
doing a great job. She deserves the best of the best. She needs to be treated
like a princess.” I could tell Jared
started getting lost in my eyes. “She’s amazing… I’ve never met anyone like
her.” I smiled as he went on and on. “I hope I never lose her. I love her.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Danielle held up her camera and took a picture of us,
trying and failing to be sneaky. We looked over at her with that ‘Really?’ look
on both of our faces after the flash blinded our eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“What?” Danielle shrugged and repositioned the camera to
her eye.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jared and I laughed, then leaned into a long kiss. I
could hear the click of Danielle’s camera but didn’t mind. I grinned at Jared as
the Danielle snapped yet another picture. She was always doing clever things
that made everyone laugh. I think that was why we clicked so much when we first
met each other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The oven dinged, telling us that my daily batch of
cookies was done. I looked over at Danielle and explained how I always make
cookies. When I explained it, it occurred to me how unhealthy that seemed, but
I didn’t care. They were delicious.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“COOKIES!” Adam and Ashley shouted in unison. They were
always excited when the cookies were done.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jared laughed and stood up. “I’ll get them. You talk to
Danielle.” Adam and Ashley followed Jared into the kitchen in their walkers. They
knew the rule: “Stay a few feet away if you want cookies today.” I made it up after
Ashley eagerly pulled one of the 350 degree cookies from the oven right as I
opened it up. You can guess who didn’t get cookies that day. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1Dw_-nqeC7V1DdDkYhFYmLOfq5IGIRer2nw8Qd2lvCK0o6XVqF4eyeA_JnDSm9FBU6qScEZ3mDsVcgyHRFTCUaIQMnVcVAN5uqXFVQV0KNvNDxTv44ij82nRzCgZOaMMuNox_Zfg4bBH/s1600/Screenshot-71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1Dw_-nqeC7V1DdDkYhFYmLOfq5IGIRer2nw8Qd2lvCK0o6XVqF4eyeA_JnDSm9FBU6qScEZ3mDsVcgyHRFTCUaIQMnVcVAN5uqXFVQV0KNvNDxTv44ij82nRzCgZOaMMuNox_Zfg4bBH/s400/Screenshot-71.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Danielle scooted closer to me on the couch and sighed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I looked at her and shook my head. “How did you do it?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She smirked like she always does and explained everything
to me. “I had heard about what happened…
I mean, <i>everyone </i>did. It was all over
the news and it was the front page story of the newspaper almost everywhere for
a few weeks.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was in shock. “Re-really? How much did it tell
everyone?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Don’t worry. There were no details; just the basic story
was written down and spoken about. Anyways, it stated that you and Jared were
now living here. And um,” Danielle stopped short and rubbed her neck with her
hand.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“What is it?” I was concerned.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I’m not sure you want to know, but uh,” She continued
and put a hand on my shoulder while I braced for the worst.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It
has to do something with my kids.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“They found all of your kids’ bodies in the ocean… near
the lighthouse.” She paused for a few seconds. “I-I’m so sorry.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I could tell she was leaving out details, but I tried to
not ask. I really didn’t want to know. I felt stiff… frozen. I pushed all of
the images I had in my head of my kids floating, lifeless in the ocean. It was
so hard to not imagine it, yet I had to try my hardest not to. I could keep
myself from thinking too hard about it, but I couldn’t keep the tears in my
eyes from falling.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jared was watching from the kitchen doorway. I could feel
Danielle look up from where she had her arms around my shoulders, telling Jared
that she’s got it. Only a few tears fell, but I could tell that this pain would
be inside my heart forever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Danielle tried to move the conversation along. “Good
news, though: Mystery will be locked up in a jail cell for the rest of his
life.” Danielle half smiled when I looked up at her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I laughed a little bit from the relief of him out of my
life… or I guess <i>everyone’s</i> life, <b>forever</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ashley, out of her walker now, peeped her head out from
around the couch with three cookies in her hands, one half eaten. “Mommy and
other nice lady,” She began.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Danielle giggled, “Yes?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ashley separated the cookies in her hands and held out
two towards me. “I brought you some of your cookies.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Thank you, princess!” Danielle took the cookies from her
tiny hands.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ashley smiled and took another bite of her cookie, then walked
away, proud of herself.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Danielle and I both took bites of our cookies. “She is so
cute! What’s her name?” Danielle asked. She looked over at Adam who only had
his back end sticking out of the toy box. “And what’s his? Twins?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I chewed on my warm cookie and replied, “Twins, yes. Adam
and Ashley.” I pointed to each of them. “They’re adorable and they get along
well. Hopefully they get along with this one, too.” I rubbed my stomach.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Aw, I can’t wait to see her or him!” Danielle rubbed my
stomach, too. She then said, “You know, these cookies <i>are </i>really good!” before finishing it up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Thanks! My kids absolutely love them. Seriously, they’re
crazy over these things.” I stated. I then pointed to the two of them standing
in the kitchen with Jared. Jared had a plate full of cookies and two begging
toddlers at his feet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Please, please, please with extra cookies on top?”
Ashley whined in unison with Adam.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Danielle and I laughed as Jared gave into their sweet
faces, splitting a cookie in half; one half for each child. They then came
running with huge smiles on their faces to the couch with their cookies in the
air.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“What do you say?” I stood up and picked up Adam, swinging
him onto my hip.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Thank you!” They shouted in unison to Jared. Jared smiled
from the kitchen doorway.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTOHPJzvKAROlPWLAOrkkdzru6QLa0y7LZJ493F4w6Jx-yX5KzxjpYds89usLy9ts_SS60H-Ln5UU4b-2u8AtvPCUDC5qmbi76xn9J24MwIae_hlQgys8OhWqCDQepPwSegwmpQ2ETUIm/s1600/Screenshot-69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTOHPJzvKAROlPWLAOrkkdzru6QLa0y7LZJ493F4w6Jx-yX5KzxjpYds89usLy9ts_SS60H-Ln5UU4b-2u8AtvPCUDC5qmbi76xn9J24MwIae_hlQgys8OhWqCDQepPwSegwmpQ2ETUIm/s400/Screenshot-69.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ashley stood at Danielle’s feet with her arms up as if
saying ‘Hold me, too!’. Danielle didn’t hesitate and she bounced Ashley up.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They had both finished their cookie halves by now. I went
to talk to Jared and help clean up the cookie mess in the kitchen, Adam still
in my arms.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I could hear Ashley’s little laughs from the other room
and saw Danielle tickling her sides. Ashley has always been a social butterfly,
unlike Adam who is very shy. Adam’s pretty much a momma’s boy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Hey, where is Danielle staying here?” Jared asked while
picking up the cookie sheets.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I turned off the oven and replied, “Huh. I didn’t think
to ask that.” I leaned my head out the doorway. “Danielle?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She swung around as Ashley’s giggle fit had calmed down. “Yeah,
girl?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Uh, so where are you staying here?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">She scratched her head. “Oh, yeah. Uh, one small problem.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“You don’t have a place to stay, do you?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Nope.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I looked at Jared and we had a quick conversation without
saying anything; just making different looks and hand gestures. I have no idea
when we got really good at that, but we did.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“We have an extra room upstairs with an extra bed and some
other random stuff in there, if you’d want to stay here for a few nights until
you find a house.” I put the last of the dirty dishes in the sink and wiped my
hands off with a blue kitchen towel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Danielle smiled, “That’s really sweet, but you don’t have
to do tha-“<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“C’mon, just follow me upstairs!” I interrupted her. I
took Adam’s hand and started heading towards the stairs with Danielle. “Seriously;
it’s not a problem at all.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZWSt6niCpqQ78PDDa0a2dZAn9J78O8UmQzpsNzWoYetbq8dMd4xRqQZJDfCIaz48SScc7v7tHlhaTEQeTEY_bfwyHNZBanme0PZErzWlUY86-4V9h-QDdApJRdWw0Ds5UOUqwwFUvcZ6/s1600/Screenshot-98.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZWSt6niCpqQ78PDDa0a2dZAn9J78O8UmQzpsNzWoYetbq8dMd4xRqQZJDfCIaz48SScc7v7tHlhaTEQeTEY_bfwyHNZBanme0PZErzWlUY86-4V9h-QDdApJRdWw0Ds5UOUqwwFUvcZ6/s400/Screenshot-98.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I opened to door to the crowded extra room upstairs. “I
know it’s kind of cluttered and all, but we’d love to have you stay here! Jared
and I don’t know what to do with this room anyways, so here you go.” I opened
my arms towards the room with a smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Wow, thank you so much!” Danielle hugged me again. “Well,
I’ll get changed and go to bed soon. Thank you again, Payton.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“You’re welcome here anytime.” I smiled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ashley was still right by Danielle’s side this entire
time. I pried her off of Danielle’s leg and led them out the door. “Goodnight,
girl!” I put my hand on the doorknob.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Night!” She replied and I closed the door.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNrpCC4hNCv81YrEIVHPa75iiYAOBpFNTEdoOwGRF7c8iNytKh4B3becGUHJ4rdNBvx6AR0oU4bpAzw-JrQ_rgXyXSklFczZv_ydrheHiXI1fxHiXe7_oFndGjtqbYePsgWfp2p1z96tc/s1600/Screenshot-99.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNrpCC4hNCv81YrEIVHPa75iiYAOBpFNTEdoOwGRF7c8iNytKh4B3becGUHJ4rdNBvx6AR0oU4bpAzw-JrQ_rgXyXSklFczZv_ydrheHiXI1fxHiXe7_oFndGjtqbYePsgWfp2p1z96tc/s400/Screenshot-99.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jared was coming up the stairs as I walked towards the
nursery. “The pets are all taken care of, so don’t worry about them.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Thank you. Help me put these little munchkins to bed?” I
opened the child locked gate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jared picked up Ashley and said, “Of course.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We went through the usual night time routine and turned
out all of the lights. Jared put his arms around me in the middle of the dark
hallway and sighed. “You know I love you, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I looked up at him. “Why wouldn’t I?” I held his hand and
walked to the bedroom, exhausted. I changed into my pajamas along with Jared
when we got inside. “And you know I love you more, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Jared pulled up his covers on his side of the bed. He
laughed. “Not possible.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He kissed me on the forehead before putting an arm around
me and falling asleep.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Well,
let’s see if we wake up to that winter snow, huh? </span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I snuggled
my face into my pillow and pulled Jared’s arm closer. I then closed my eyes and
slowly drifted asleep.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello, readers! So, here's an important announcement--</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 17px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">*throws confetti*</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">IT'S THE 100 BEARS ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY TODAY!</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Woop woop!</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 17px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">I feel awful because I don't have a gift or anything ready to celebrate it!</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 17px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">BUT, this is your gift for now! :D</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 17px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">I know, it's a lame gift, but I promise I will come up with something else and give it to you later!</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love you all and feel free to comment what you thought about the chapter and maybe even an idea for the one year celebration! </span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love you all and if you live in America, Happy 4th of July as of yesterday! <3</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*throws more confetti and gives everyone a red, white, and blue cupcake*</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But seriously, can you believe it's been a year?</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Holy crap!</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">~Heather ^_^</span></span></b></div>
Heather Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10216231018458039386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6217454030654055977.post-59918067221662852842013-04-20T08:15:00.001-07:002013-06-17T15:17:52.177-07:00Chapter 14 ~ St-Start Over? (Baby #7 and #8)<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSfPfU0IF0izVfrnaaPz8_jPxZGb4NaJonDTBI2GEFg0EEzjhmboGlqvBbghwjc1lLWnSaTeurbjmSJZgBPybQr1ptn5fKVU3DA_xZj8YwCXAI-1tcbj4beGpWbGZyR2h9jYEocOHbdWr/s1600/Screenshot-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSfPfU0IF0izVfrnaaPz8_jPxZGb4NaJonDTBI2GEFg0EEzjhmboGlqvBbghwjc1lLWnSaTeurbjmSJZgBPybQr1ptn5fKVU3DA_xZj8YwCXAI-1tcbj4beGpWbGZyR2h9jYEocOHbdWr/s400/Screenshot-9.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">My head hurt, my muscles ached, and my eyes seemed forced
closed… I felt too tired to do anything. I was very confused. I gathered enough
energy to open my eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmq34OXLp9pDSoz3X6-83EtlC_5IZyOXyBgNN5dn31H1kcDIz1TrURuwFgzxR1cvVK0Vomy05W_zuXmJnJsh0bEDVeQEQ8Y9t9XkLUKWCxvbgI0jdvpoZpr_KFUqi-zDM0Or5pc8hw4Gw/s1600/Screenshot-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmq34OXLp9pDSoz3X6-83EtlC_5IZyOXyBgNN5dn31H1kcDIz1TrURuwFgzxR1cvVK0Vomy05W_zuXmJnJsh0bEDVeQEQ8Y9t9XkLUKWCxvbgI0jdvpoZpr_KFUqi-zDM0Or5pc8hw4Gw/s400/Screenshot-3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I woke up to find myself lying on Jared, who seemed to
just have opened his eyes. I looked around to find myself lying in a bright
white, empty room with no furniture what-so-ever. I was lost, but having Jared
with me automatically made me feel better.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“Um,” I whispered to Jared, “do you
have any idea where we are?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">He looked at me with worried eyes and whispered
back, “No. I thought I heard someone else here, but that </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">doesn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> hel-“</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">We both
gasped as we looked up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4FGD_QAA38PNEo1A3RYqJLvqUQiiNbrQsO7D9IN2Nyjvas9vhdl-Y2ozDmq2sk3mLMx5drrrda0X5KQ4pSc-6hsfn8V3Ttb_lCtIDlTot0FzzXfwGzelpZdnSxv1RGJzWAGALWw677Sp/s1600/Screenshot-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4FGD_QAA38PNEo1A3RYqJLvqUQiiNbrQsO7D9IN2Nyjvas9vhdl-Y2ozDmq2sk3mLMx5drrrda0X5KQ4pSc-6hsfn8V3Ttb_lCtIDlTot0FzzXfwGzelpZdnSxv1RGJzWAGALWw677Sp/s400/Screenshot-8.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">“Awake now, I see?” The mysterious man said as he looked
at us. “Very good… very good.” He had an evil grin plastered on his face. Jared
and I looked at each other, frightened, but </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> dare say a word. “You are
now mine.” I gulped at his words. I don’t think </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">I've</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> ever been as scared as I
was in that moment.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I tried to speak but it was as if my words were trapped
inside of my throat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWcKCkvdcwJxX0Vaa_Zl-y44cugrrhqUP8mAQBgDVKnq9xJ9mkSTf5wmWwV7Tjn9xUxKHnCM8sjrFx7X99Lz9YPYnBRti0D1kBweK5xO1VAcB87Xf5WX_kKQRHgeVidzf53vwuJb1CetO/s1600/Screenshot-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWcKCkvdcwJxX0Vaa_Zl-y44cugrrhqUP8mAQBgDVKnq9xJ9mkSTf5wmWwV7Tjn9xUxKHnCM8sjrFx7X99Lz9YPYnBRti0D1kBweK5xO1VAcB87Xf5WX_kKQRHgeVidzf53vwuJb1CetO/s400/Screenshot-5.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Jared and I sat up, trying to get a better understanding
of everything. Jared worked up the courage to stand up and talk to the man.
Jared slowly stood up, his energy mysteriously very drained along with mine. “Why
are we here, where are we, who are you, what did you do to us, why did you do
this to us, and where are </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">Payton's</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> kids?” Jared angrily shouted all of his
questions at the man. I wanted to know everything he asked, too. But, that last
question made my heart stop.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">My kids.</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">
My everything. Are they gone forever? Where were they? Were the okay?</span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">My
mama-bear instincts kicked in and I stood up as fast as I could, wobbling a
little bit from my lack of balance and energy. I was now standing next to
Jared, looking angrier than he did. I looked the strange man straight in the
eyes and said, “Where. Are. My. KIDS?” I was filled with rage. My kids meant </span><i style="line-height: 107%;">everything </i><span style="line-height: 107%;">to me. They </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> just be </span><i style="line-height: 107%;">gone</i><span style="line-height: 107%;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">They had to be here… somewhere.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">The
man just looked at the both of us and laughed, evilly. “Now, now darlings.
It’ll all be fine now that you’re here with me… Mystery Jones.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i style="line-height: 107%;">Mystery Jones.</i><span style="line-height: 107%;"> I made a mental note of
his name.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“You have no need to worry about anything, since life from now on
will be alright.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Furious, I questioned him again. “You either tell me where my
kids are </span><i style="line-height: 107%;">now</i><span style="line-height: 107%;">, or I’ll just have to
tie you up, and skin you alive, pushing the blade deeper into your skin every
time you don’t answer my question.” I spat at him. “Now, it’s your choice.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Mystery just laughed again. “Payton, dear, calm down for a second and just
rela-“</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Jared interrupted him with yelling, “You better tell us where her kids
are right this moment or I’ll help her do so, is that clear?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Mystery looked
frustrated, but not as much as we did. Mystery got up out of his chair and
looked at the both of us before saying, “Look, Jared. I have more power than
you right now, obviously.” Mystery shifted his focus over to me. “I’ll tell you
where your kids are, Payton.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I felt relief at his words, but still anticipated
his answer. “They’re in a <i>better</i> place now.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">My whole body went stiff. I </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> breathe… I </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> focus. </span><i style="line-height: 107%;">Did
he murder them? Did he just kidnap them? What did he mean by ‘a better place’? </i><span style="line-height: 107%;">My
thoughts scattered off into millions of different directions. I tried to not
think of the worst, even though I had a feeling he meant the worst. “G-go-</span><i style="line-height: 107%;">gone?</i><span style="line-height: 107%;">” I choked out, barely able to
speak.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Mystery kept his smile on his face and said, “Yes. They’re gone. As in,
you’ll never see them again.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">I gulped, scared to death. Mystery paced back and
forth in the small room, each step making a click of his slightly heeled shoes. </span><span style="line-height: 107%;">“Well, you can see them again, of course, if you want me to send you to that
place.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I had never been in such a horrifying situation before… I had no idea
what to do. Jared punched Mystery in the face, protecting me after what he had
said. Mystery kicked Jared in the stomach back. Jared had more of the control
in this fight, though, and was able to punch him no less than twenty times
while slamming Mystery on the ground.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">At the end of it, Jared had a red mark in
the shape of Mystery’s footprint on the left side of his body and Mystery had
several gashes in his face and arms. I never knew Jared had it in him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I was
still shaken from everything that had happened in the past few minutes… so
much, that I collapsed on the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxedYAq96L7wDjD7jFw51JXJ-dB7CVY_zJ0Q7ORZAkuzACDkjAhobf7-EFMF2VIPypJD49qSmUm9odmsMjZhN9zhLbJ0Z42uG-1MVAmbhO6q1hCYT1hqvqj4COa05iBBKkcFfIvB7caQF/s1600/Screenshot-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFxedYAq96L7wDjD7jFw51JXJ-dB7CVY_zJ0Q7ORZAkuzACDkjAhobf7-EFMF2VIPypJD49qSmUm9odmsMjZhN9zhLbJ0Z42uG-1MVAmbhO6q1hCYT1hqvqj4COa05iBBKkcFfIvB7caQF/s400/Screenshot-9.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I felt he familiar fabric of my couch at home under me,
but had trouble opening my eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I found the ability to open my eyes to see
Jared looking down at me with a worried expression on his face. I rubbed my
eyes, yawned, and then laughed at Jared. “Don’t worry… I must’ve fallen asleep
on the couch last night. I’m fine, I promise.” I kissed Jared.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“No, Payton…
everything’s <i>not </i>fine. You must’ve
fallen so hard that your memory is gone. It’s good that you remember me,
though.” Jared rubbed my arm, helping me sit up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“Wait… I’m confused.” I rubbed
my forehead, where the pain mainly was.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“I know you are… let me explain.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9JX5StrY99j2LKGKxIwIeap89LAas91shlKqb-lnoljV40MRHoSmj05W6H_P8DqcFLSOvQ2td-PijPKzFGfLKbXkjhxdCIX4G8tyZAxsKVEFSRWLF4x0x5b-TN9QCKgE_SZymJgw_Cbl/s1600/Screenshot-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9JX5StrY99j2LKGKxIwIeap89LAas91shlKqb-lnoljV40MRHoSmj05W6H_P8DqcFLSOvQ2td-PijPKzFGfLKbXkjhxdCIX4G8tyZAxsKVEFSRWLF4x0x5b-TN9QCKgE_SZymJgw_Cbl/s400/Screenshot-14.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“So, let me get this straight.” I said, still totally
lost. “Okay, I still remember the part with Mystery, but nothing after that.
You said he knocked you unconscious, then gave me drugs that made me not
remember anything, right?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Jared sighed, “Right.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">“Then, he had sex with me?”
Jared looked as if he was going to cry. “Yes, I </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">would've</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> stopped him if only-“
I could tell he was trying his hardest not to cry in front of me.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“I know you
would have, but it’s not your fault, got it?” I tried to smile at him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“Got
it.” Jared said, looking more like his real self again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">“Then, you woke up and
found me on the floor, unconscious. There was a note taped to my shirt that read
‘</span><i style="line-height: 107%;">I’m the next challenge father, my work’s
already done.’ </i><span style="line-height: 107%;">You then picked me up and ran as fast as you could to
somewhere safe and far away from Mystery.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Jared nodded after everything I
said, then took over with reviewing the story.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">“As I was running, I saw a sign
that said ‘</span><i style="line-height: 107%;">Welcome to Aurora Skies’ </i><span style="line-height: 107%;">and
studied the map of the town beneath it.</span><i style="line-height: 107%;"> </i><span style="line-height: 107%;">I
saw a sign down the street that had a sign staked into the ground that said ‘</span><i style="line-height: 107%;">Free to anyone who needs it.’ </i><span style="line-height: 107%;">So, I took
it. I brought you in here, put you down on the couch with a blanket, and sat
here waiting for you to wake up, hoping that this was a safe spot that we could
stay forever in. It was a place on the opposite side of town from Mystery, so I
figured we’d be fine… at least for now.” Jared gave me a hug. “I’m truly
heartbroken about the kids, but I’m sure I’m nowhere as sad as you are about
it.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I hugged him tightly back and sighed. “I am devastated, but there’s
nothing that I can do about it now. Everything happens for a reason.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij59KDeoXrDT42eHlDLXz-wQB9K7qz75mqWZ5kDQtqvpxAO7lPIvOmUE8vaRR5OuMJlQTSi2xaoiWuvlrg43va21EqQd7Qcu6rwLM2Oqn6ssjje8CTePF_2PBknRaDgP_qRgPPvoB4suKy/s1600/Screenshot-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij59KDeoXrDT42eHlDLXz-wQB9K7qz75mqWZ5kDQtqvpxAO7lPIvOmUE8vaRR5OuMJlQTSi2xaoiWuvlrg43va21EqQd7Qcu6rwLM2Oqn6ssjje8CTePF_2PBknRaDgP_qRgPPvoB4suKy/s400/Screenshot-20.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">It had been two days since the whole ‘Mystery Incident’. I </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> as rattled up anymore, since I felt more protected with Jared and the
police knowing about the situation. It also helped me feel better when they
arrested Mystery.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Jared and I were doing pretty well in the new house,
especially since Jared managed to steal all of Mystery’s money before he ran
off with me. Fortunately for us, Mystery was a </span><i style="line-height: 107%;">millionaire</i><span style="line-height: 107%;">. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><i>Hah. Not anymore.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">We never mentioned that part to the
cops, but I figured he owed us a</span><i style="line-height: 107%;"> </i><span style="line-height: 107%;">lot.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Things were actually going pretty good for us. Oh yeah, did I mention the new
pets we have that we found in the backyard?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuucQOOOlcHtExAR9jtqbVqH4pRtvpqH-uTIJ1CY5SeozO1krB4Rx8cRYDWsTSABScEHlGXZMYNUJ2YDcqXTrw7HzAz23ZULWfncWV3VplHvm22n_TXClQwaZRoV5Zrc3DxODmHQgdwbN/s1600/Screenshot-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuucQOOOlcHtExAR9jtqbVqH4pRtvpqH-uTIJ1CY5SeozO1krB4Rx8cRYDWsTSABScEHlGXZMYNUJ2YDcqXTrw7HzAz23ZULWfncWV3VplHvm22n_TXClQwaZRoV5Zrc3DxODmHQgdwbN/s400/Screenshot-19.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">The Dalmatian’s name is Jack, and he is a really playful and cute puppy if I say so myself. The orange cat’s name is Katie, and I think she’s one
of the cutest cats </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">I've</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> seen. Yes, I did miss my old pets, but these were
practically already living here, so you can’t just kick them out, right? I
mean, c’mon, look at those faces! Jack was mainly Jared’s and Katie was mainly
mine, but we loved both of them very much.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECdZcC-n8Hh7mkaWiiKXiXYg9jG99vJfKLgRk1tvUCzXmuN_qu1skqULAP9d3w_bkrYn59cAUFTPVv796SLpIKXdZt2QxlzE0obDitunZ7thF5M5JrOvGww1OK1DbduchEPWEZUO7QVr4/s1600/Screenshot-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECdZcC-n8Hh7mkaWiiKXiXYg9jG99vJfKLgRk1tvUCzXmuN_qu1skqULAP9d3w_bkrYn59cAUFTPVv796SLpIKXdZt2QxlzE0obDitunZ7thF5M5JrOvGww1OK1DbduchEPWEZUO7QVr4/s400/Screenshot-28.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Jack and Jared got along really well. They both clicked
right when we found them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflD9vz19Q-KbvWimVFQfOqMBV3Qg4rm5MI0VYBf8Z5-_7JtnDEgZpMzc_boxZKxn8HvyWKNukHuBJBCoh4NUY4yLTAP78CTWhCP2GYtVYML5dHbjH1KRP6G-alk3dDycboVoVk7_OOQz8/s1600/Screenshot-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflD9vz19Q-KbvWimVFQfOqMBV3Qg4rm5MI0VYBf8Z5-_7JtnDEgZpMzc_boxZKxn8HvyWKNukHuBJBCoh4NUY4yLTAP78CTWhCP2GYtVYML5dHbjH1KRP6G-alk3dDycboVoVk7_OOQz8/s400/Screenshot-29.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Katie and I clicked, too. She took more of a liking
towards me than Jared, but it made Jared feel better when I told him that cats
are really stubborn. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSmwslHqoDXemiHD3ZiOWVLJtMi1Ld6PkphOrluwQkzhkr2If23J_zF3RTW1QsrCVj1gpOqDxCGEsugTBfQgR4X6bbd3JRBYQh2tLElkJz9aNqeNnEKyF1CBSH0XO06kPFRlPt6esTMIR/s1600/Screenshot-35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPSmwslHqoDXemiHD3ZiOWVLJtMi1Ld6PkphOrluwQkzhkr2If23J_zF3RTW1QsrCVj1gpOqDxCGEsugTBfQgR4X6bbd3JRBYQh2tLElkJz9aNqeNnEKyF1CBSH0XO06kPFRlPt6esTMIR/s400/Screenshot-35.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">After doing my usual morning things, minus the kids part,
I decided to make some food for later on during the day. I made some mac &
cheese that we could have for dinner. I gathered all of the ingredients and
started putting everything together.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Jared came up behind me and gave me a hug.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I smiled from the nice warmth of his body and the tightness of his strong hugs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“So, when do you think that little guy is going to show up?” Jared asked me,
rubbing my stomach lightly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“It should be soon… my children usually appear
early in the pregnancy. Now that I think of it, my pregnancies go <i>really </i>fast.” I shrugged. “You and I
both know that I love all of my kids very much, but to be honest with you,” I
took a deep breath, “I’m not too excited for this one. He or she will remind me
so much of Mystery, especially if he/she has a lot of his genetic traits. I
will love the baby no matter what, I just have a feeling it’ll be rough looking
into their eyes and remembering so much of their father.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Jared hugged me even
tighter. “I know what you mean… I understand, too. It’ll be okay, because the
baby will grow up fast, and we can get <i>fully
</i>away from Mystery. We’ll get through it… <i>together</i>.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I smiled at his comforting words and instantly felt
better.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Jared has a way of doing that with me. We click like that. I think
that’s the reason we’re so deep in love… we’re perfect for each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLicTzP7AF0bTJvDYcXxUUgTHKQDSct62iVadZULQPBfW3kuP0w7nfcSjssbmtksuCE2nWJ2FQTPpF09tWwLfdlZYZUocZ-91H5TPvMBMpYMPnQdifGwGZ2qPflOWWKlBcz-RDmNadU2ZF/s1600/Screenshot+-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLicTzP7AF0bTJvDYcXxUUgTHKQDSct62iVadZULQPBfW3kuP0w7nfcSjssbmtksuCE2nWJ2FQTPpF09tWwLfdlZYZUocZ-91H5TPvMBMpYMPnQdifGwGZ2qPflOWWKlBcz-RDmNadU2ZF/s400/Screenshot+-.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">After we ate dinner, I went upstairs into the nursery
just to think about things… I thought being in the nursery would maybe help at
least a little bit. I sat down near the colorful playpen and walkers that I was
excited to use and thought about everything.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">My whole life had stopped, flipped
upside down, was shaken, and then thrown at my face. <i>Everything </i>was different now. The only thing the same was being
with and loving Jared and doing my 100 baby challenge… <i>without </i>my kids.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Tears rapidly ran down my cheeks as I thought more
about my kids.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Jay, Nicole, Paris, Naomi, Bailey, Jack… <i>all gone.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I loved them all <i>so
</i>much. I looked down at my belly that was slightly extended from my baby. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLeWhDOK2XNwflo2xhEQTL9DuNXBurtUNec71LiwKQcZYUVUXp3XFq03lAusxkTXiDCPUXcI_e59WSPT8TmoX465n01-XHSM6UNEMJUYAOrdB70QaqyBU8phkP9-BNBlcQONffta17Drqy/s1600/yay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLeWhDOK2XNwflo2xhEQTL9DuNXBurtUNec71LiwKQcZYUVUXp3XFq03lAusxkTXiDCPUXcI_e59WSPT8TmoX465n01-XHSM6UNEMJUYAOrdB70QaqyBU8phkP9-BNBlcQONffta17Drqy/s400/yay.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">Dammit,
Mystery. Why’d you do this to me? What did I ever do to you? I never even knew
you before! I swear he—</span></i><span style="line-height: 107%;">My train of thought was interrupted when
Jared walked into the room.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I looked up at him and blinked repeatedly to keep
the tears from falling out of my eyes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">He reached down to touch my face. “Payton,“
He looked down at me sitting in the corner of the nursery, “Is everything
alright?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">I wiped my eyes, but </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> answer at his question. “Okay, that was a
stupid question, because everything </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">isn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> alright, because you’re crying, but—“
Jared fumbled with his fingernails trying to find the right words to say to me.
He realized he </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> come up with anything and sat down with his arm around me
in the corner of the nursery. He let me cry on his shoulder to just get
everything out.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">He </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> comfort me with his words, but his love and care
was all I ever needed to feel better.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj83VWt2u64YaTYIKwy69mT1ElJY_Twy_R6bGfw6eHBNlMHVHVTYS5MLgPmkGIT3bg-g7xSd1g7nCIk6OhZYVIi43Rt2ynv085atNmsDSgwmTedTqF8M_ADBDBd6BfSH1p5HJHDfxP95O8/s1600/Screenshot-61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj83VWt2u64YaTYIKwy69mT1ElJY_Twy_R6bGfw6eHBNlMHVHVTYS5MLgPmkGIT3bg-g7xSd1g7nCIk6OhZYVIi43Rt2ynv085atNmsDSgwmTedTqF8M_ADBDBd6BfSH1p5HJHDfxP95O8/s400/Screenshot-61.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“You have to get the mushroom to level up, dude!” Jared
yelled at me as we were playing ‘Super Mario Brothers’ later that evening. The
house had an amazing Adventure Time collectible—the BMO video game system. I
had always wanted one of those, but never got the chance to get one out of the
five in the world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">“I know, I know, my controller </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">isn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> working right!” I
yelled back, trying my hardest.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">We always became competitive when we played video games, but in a
cute way. We never were really mad at each other, but we did get a little
frustrated sometimes. I was a pretty good gamer girl, and </span><i style="line-height: 107%;">no, </i><span style="line-height: 107%;">I’m not one of those girls who posts pictures online of me
holding a controller and saying “Gamer Gurl! Xo”, I’m the one who used to stay
up all night trying to beat a game. I usually cuss a lot while playing video
games, too.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“Jump up!” Jared anxiously urged me, as I tried my best to keep up
with him. Jack then barked at the TV screen, laying on the couch next to us.
“See? Even Jack thinks you should be doing better!” Jared winked at me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">We just
both laughed, but continued to focus on the game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jhBoXuMXwHnBI87qRqoOKwnYarfcpWOrqPBHysZqhs9a17CY4OElZjX349jp1wnkDRRsjq60zRsVKeGK31jDf4oSpKuWfw5t3V4rAYANN3LKZccNHyhv0dmzQJO_wX2h4IMI-ccCWqCq/s1600/Screenshot-63.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jhBoXuMXwHnBI87qRqoOKwnYarfcpWOrqPBHysZqhs9a17CY4OElZjX349jp1wnkDRRsjq60zRsVKeGK31jDf4oSpKuWfw5t3V4rAYANN3LKZccNHyhv0dmzQJO_wX2h4IMI-ccCWqCq/s400/Screenshot-63.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Jack shifted from couch to couch as Katie left the room
entirely, not really a fan of all of the yelling.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“Smash his head!” I yelled at
Jared, as we were trying to defeat Bowser on the last level of the entire game.
Despite all of the instructions I kept yelling out, we ended up losing the game
on both of our last lives, causing both of us to rage. We hit the controllers
and yelled <i>some </i>bad words, but
nothing <i>terribly</i> bad.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">After the final
bang of the controllers, we decided it was time to get some rest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I filled the
pet bowls to the rim with food before heading upstairs to get some much needed
sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZjMs_J6P6Tp0ouninGM0yMa2KD_VS9XhFLSuIbK6VlnizPvJ4RHGUQeZr4r-lv1V16MNY0UM4NsQUoSWwxLpKH7kwmYNShjl5dc7ybqf8Ro7ddLCkdr2HPhLOixHE-0asyR-04Fth3kc/s1600/Screenshot-65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZjMs_J6P6Tp0ouninGM0yMa2KD_VS9XhFLSuIbK6VlnizPvJ4RHGUQeZr4r-lv1V16MNY0UM4NsQUoSWwxLpKH7kwmYNShjl5dc7ybqf8Ro7ddLCkdr2HPhLOixHE-0asyR-04Fth3kc/s400/Screenshot-65.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Before I even had one foot on the stairs, my stomach
gurgled loudly. I could feel my stomach churning my dinner as I ran to the
nearest bathroom to throw all of it up. I have no idea why people call this the
“joys of pregnancy”, because I’ll tell you this—it’s <i>not </i>joyful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElYICMycwiUCDkmA0cD-RazoP54bDD8RsMK8QdYAYQIOLqHpO7H5M4PgxoLGLu2jraX8tn5nQ_XkLabxgE_pEobU6XmyJin3W8XCHSyp9BztK-xX5FNOqCs4WOZoPeLPmibrwUlv5xkzX/s1600/Screenshot-68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhElYICMycwiUCDkmA0cD-RazoP54bDD8RsMK8QdYAYQIOLqHpO7H5M4PgxoLGLu2jraX8tn5nQ_XkLabxgE_pEobU6XmyJin3W8XCHSyp9BztK-xX5FNOqCs4WOZoPeLPmibrwUlv5xkzX/s400/Screenshot-68.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I could just barely hear a loud meow come from downstairs
from in my bedroom. This was strange, because Katie is such a good cat and has
never been disruptive in the middle of the night. I opened my eyes and
stretched in bed. Everyone else was sleeping, so I went downstairs to check on
Katie.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">I stumbled my way to turn on the family room light. I </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> very familiar with the locations of things in this house in the dark, or
even in the light.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I saw Katie standing on the green and blue rug, her stomach
a lot larger than it was before.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Is she
pregnant?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">She groaned and lied down on the rug, mumbling in pain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I think she’s in labor!</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I quickly got a
towel and tucked it under her stomach, being careful to not hurt her.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I woke
Jared up and told him to come down but told Jack to stay.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">We were going to have
a kitten, possibly kittens, in a few hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjUuQwAeFD4aX1DT1ugN0-KnMy6WBXMVEoTPtIWB-aOnOn6PzWnKTWwXzypMHOoHKAAj4NqRdu9u97DrjHtYfd_jXA8ODSrRMRvVn6yYtpRvJIFEewfGcK7gwbG43eQGwfb_f-OOccCci/s1600/Screenshot-93.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQjUuQwAeFD4aX1DT1ugN0-KnMy6WBXMVEoTPtIWB-aOnOn6PzWnKTWwXzypMHOoHKAAj4NqRdu9u97DrjHtYfd_jXA8ODSrRMRvVn6yYtpRvJIFEewfGcK7gwbG43eQGwfb_f-OOccCci/s400/Screenshot-93.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">It had been two hours of slipping in and out of sleep on
the couch in the family room for me and Jared. But, it </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> long until we
welcomed a new kitten into the family. We </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> name him right away, but he
looked just like his momma; orange fur, cute little ears, same meow. He was
absolutely adorable!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdHC13nKiEZyhSEI1cF8iR4MJiB_9SK_W3F54yqsFPtMzSTJ2Jf2O_hestUOfhJP8scgRI1cRMSePHC00JEWsw3u3nR3MivNp1M9vuvbSOndO817XSV7ZfYWiB5IvFqea8gPxCCpSeb03/s1600/Screenshot-94.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdHC13nKiEZyhSEI1cF8iR4MJiB_9SK_W3F54yqsFPtMzSTJ2Jf2O_hestUOfhJP8scgRI1cRMSePHC00JEWsw3u3nR3MivNp1M9vuvbSOndO817XSV7ZfYWiB5IvFqea8gPxCCpSeb03/s400/Screenshot-94.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">We both looked down at the new family addition, whom we eventually named Kyle! He
was adorable and Jared and I were relieved to finally be able to go back to
bed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">"Who knew that Katie and I were pregnant buddies?” I said as going back up
the stairs with Jared. He just laughed and put his arm around me before falling
back to sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZp4uaPza_y-VAqbRAvRq1hAc35aLRt6rc2gtkm73TDZlHZBktu1-jLDPYLV5iYkH0mdM5EEaCbMaGxXehAKtOl8n6IZ1c6vI10UTvZaau2Y6o181gI8lLv1dRsAk_QbDBTS2_2QGVJR0/s1600/Screenshot-75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZp4uaPza_y-VAqbRAvRq1hAc35aLRt6rc2gtkm73TDZlHZBktu1-jLDPYLV5iYkH0mdM5EEaCbMaGxXehAKtOl8n6IZ1c6vI10UTvZaau2Y6o181gI8lLv1dRsAk_QbDBTS2_2QGVJR0/s400/Screenshot-75.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">The next day was pretty normal. Well, at least for the
Bears it was normal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">My morning started off with feeding all of the pets and
myself. Around nine in the morning, while reading a new magazine, I felt one
kick after another short one in my stomach. I pulled out some new maternity
clothes I had bought within the first few days of settling in to the new house
and slipped them on. There was now plenty of room for my belly to stretch. I
was excited and felt more relaxed to be pregnant again and I </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> wait to
see my “new start baby’s” face.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllg1wZO1aNATAa4t5CAnMxVkgmmcqeyWBILeXnTm9eYPsYw7VT34ZE1ty_q6K5q8umthfMmtI-PXRcsC0KLZPwLg3A2Cw4fueEDHMKhetC7QX8yy3MqY1DAlOygAOBMaCkLCuLg-TXR9p/s1600/Screenshot-81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllg1wZO1aNATAa4t5CAnMxVkgmmcqeyWBILeXnTm9eYPsYw7VT34ZE1ty_q6K5q8umthfMmtI-PXRcsC0KLZPwLg3A2Cw4fueEDHMKhetC7QX8yy3MqY1DAlOygAOBMaCkLCuLg-TXR9p/s400/Screenshot-81.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I also started a garden in the front yard later on in the
afternoon. I figured it would be a nice way to relax when I’m stressed, it
would be my own ‘getaway’, and if I was ever going through a rough time, I
could remind myself that I was going through a bad time when these plants were
barely growing… now they’re full grown. It would be a sense of progress
whenever I’m struggling… just like how it works with my kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">I started with the basic plants, tomatoes, apples,
potatoes, etc., I </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> very talented at it, but I know I would get better. It
was also nice not having difficulty bending down yet, since my belly </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> too
large, yet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6XGCeKYTpI5APkdjKKCSoVLNxOHURAgt070dmrEJncTFhknGv_IgIUxL26A3qkgMrquJRuPXKGPOsgwlo5b1lWYy5bOtg6g5HQ4r3_4rjXJuMM-Mj_pOW6mASPXdFFkIwQSm0yx7beak/s1600/Screenshot-79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6XGCeKYTpI5APkdjKKCSoVLNxOHURAgt070dmrEJncTFhknGv_IgIUxL26A3qkgMrquJRuPXKGPOsgwlo5b1lWYy5bOtg6g5HQ4r3_4rjXJuMM-Mj_pOW6mASPXdFFkIwQSm0yx7beak/s400/Screenshot-79.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">It was such a nice summer day that the whole family spent
the afternoon outside. Jack was a crazy little curious dog, for sure.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">He curiously dug up
the ground right outside of the garden fence, like I </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">wouldn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> see or something.
“Seriously, Jack?!” I yelled, walking through the gate door to get a shovel
after I noticed he was digging a hole.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Jack just looked at me with the cutest guilty
face I had ever seen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">As I returned back with a shovel, Jack let out a little,
quiet “Woof,” as if saying he was sorry. I smiled a little, but still
disciplined him, making sure it </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">wouldn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> happen again.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">As I filled the hole
with the pile of dirt next to it, Jack stood there licking my face every time I
bent down and got more dirt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">He was cute, but he was a bad boy. I needed some
other way to distract him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiouvRp5Cxf4tC1ORJo0QbD94QoZ2iCaUYJYSHE07LvIX7re6njD60aVSmglk3t3apUBxrhsyQ146C9OhfZL0K2F6eZrelpqvpK48BxVoWqX94ZYYKlh2XOxaFWBJ6QOEnglwTjd-fAMp/s1600/Screenshot-85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiouvRp5Cxf4tC1ORJo0QbD94QoZ2iCaUYJYSHE07LvIX7re6njD60aVSmglk3t3apUBxrhsyQ146C9OhfZL0K2F6eZrelpqvpK48BxVoWqX94ZYYKlh2XOxaFWBJ6QOEnglwTjd-fAMp/s400/Screenshot-85.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“Jared!” I called from the front yard.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“Yeah?” Jared
replied from the back of the house.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“Can you play with Jack or something to
keep him from digging up more holes, please?” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“Sure,” Jared laughed. He called
Jack to him and like a silver bullet, Jack was racing around the house to find
Jared, his favorite person ever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRhDJyHcvGNTmaZ1z7vdaBRADsoL5ybA42se7nd0KhjbTYM3vpfH2iaC1w2TdQs8xei523zed_rNfVb7YUTxJ7PxfT6EKNSWy5bE3xOMwWDMq8J7j33s3O-VB_hQlEqdyt2J00yQkWMeU/s1600/Screenshot-77.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRhDJyHcvGNTmaZ1z7vdaBRADsoL5ybA42se7nd0KhjbTYM3vpfH2iaC1w2TdQs8xei523zed_rNfVb7YUTxJ7PxfT6EKNSWy5bE3xOMwWDMq8J7j33s3O-VB_hQlEqdyt2J00yQkWMeU/s400/Screenshot-77.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Jack loved that ball and always had it in his mouth while
walking around the house. He was so cute and probably the best dog I ever had.
Jared would chuck the ball and Jack would sprint as fast as he could, always coming
to skidding halts when the ball slowed down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">One of the times, he </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> slow
down fast enough and tripped over his ball, tumbling on the ground. Jared and I
both laughed, since we both saw the whole thing happen, and smiled at Jack as
he got up, all embarrassed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PsqOsfim3Dlam-Gj6MGEqw406aFtAQvB0SLLPeo3-IkFer3YvvPMhu6ceDXRzWOm7JK8sFqJeojDIG8Kk8QiOzxIuITwgX4mR-pXj_BVbFqqW7wyAmlKNRVpTIMxTMcwauv9OLjjmuUI/s1600/Screenshot-86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9PsqOsfim3Dlam-Gj6MGEqw406aFtAQvB0SLLPeo3-IkFer3YvvPMhu6ceDXRzWOm7JK8sFqJeojDIG8Kk8QiOzxIuITwgX4mR-pXj_BVbFqqW7wyAmlKNRVpTIMxTMcwauv9OLjjmuUI/s400/Screenshot-86.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Jack was so </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">draggled</span><span style="line-height: 107%;">, from falling into the mud chasing
his ball, when he walked into the house; I </span><i style="line-height: 107%;">had</i><span style="line-height: 107%;">
to give him a bath. He </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> refuse or fuss at all, which made my life a whole
lot easier. I let him have his ball in the bathtub, especially since he never
wants to leave it behind.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">I always pictured him feeling like he was leaving a
friend behind or something crazy like that that only Jack would think of. It </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> take too long to get him all clean, leaving me extra time in the night.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHZY6HrjvWy0KMtqALfrjyFuGHgql3ZdlrJR-h0aH2qJllktsCr6qRK3zCNGvZclzKX532vpuj6MZ2opjBdMUcO0y8aPGPpppiReIxOctN0h8loR9HRHnKTv2oPxrCJlKBDLdF1EOeLHw/s1600/Screenshot-87.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnHZY6HrjvWy0KMtqALfrjyFuGHgql3ZdlrJR-h0aH2qJllktsCr6qRK3zCNGvZclzKX532vpuj6MZ2opjBdMUcO0y8aPGPpppiReIxOctN0h8loR9HRHnKTv2oPxrCJlKBDLdF1EOeLHw/s400/Screenshot-87.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Katie walked into the bathroom to see what we were up to,
and I figured that I could give her a bath, too, with all of this extra time I
had.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“Do you want a bath, too?” I pet Katie on her head.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">She looked at me with
eyes full of fear and a back with hair sticking straight up. She did <i>not </i>want a bath.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I just laughed, picked
her up, and led everyone out of the small and crowded bathroom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNj1KVAyngH8uLgAo7uDOpl7PbvKtigCLCoFQs3L1gUzvaYJeS-pCB_YxB9JQBJSWQsgS8i5FnCdrBcGiCwy8ZENa7lm48GJzP9KtK3SNv8DriWO03exjMWkxxYkZEXDA_0v5EKswoDTXt/s1600/Screenshot-97.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNj1KVAyngH8uLgAo7uDOpl7PbvKtigCLCoFQs3L1gUzvaYJeS-pCB_YxB9JQBJSWQsgS8i5FnCdrBcGiCwy8ZENa7lm48GJzP9KtK3SNv8DriWO03exjMWkxxYkZEXDA_0v5EKswoDTXt/s400/Screenshot-97.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">As I walked out, I almost squished Kyle, who was running
around the house as fast as he could. His fast </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> very quick, but it sure
was adorable the way he turned the corners with his back feet falling under him
from running so fast.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Jared walked in to see what I was laughing so hard at. As
Kyle approached Jared, he stopped, looked around, and then pranced on Jared’s
leg, as if capturing it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">This made me laugh even harder and Jared joined in. We
kept laughing and watched as all three pets started running around the family
room, through the dining room, in and out of the kitchen, out the pet door, and
back in the house to lay down and catch their breath.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I was then 100% sure that
we owned the cutest pets in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqx1N2mAUjmxXKkNVf7Efq7bxfSGNP3vXCR0WqeH4kx8e_0vdJvP0YpPM_WP8LAy2yGAXnxQD5UXSAq0mcF4MfAhT060yzk94m3W-ynUssVNdAW7ImivLsMRpzJyr46mfVcbRLoH7yIX9S/s1600/Screenshot-92.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqx1N2mAUjmxXKkNVf7Efq7bxfSGNP3vXCR0WqeH4kx8e_0vdJvP0YpPM_WP8LAy2yGAXnxQD5UXSAq0mcF4MfAhT060yzk94m3W-ynUssVNdAW7ImivLsMRpzJyr46mfVcbRLoH7yIX9S/s400/Screenshot-92.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">I was sleeping really hard that night, at least until the
labor pains kicked in. I had no idea I was so close to having my baby. My
stomach </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> big at all the day before, but I </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> question it. I got up,
in a lot of pain, and walked across the hall into the nursery.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEGoYuja-bJHiaGSQxxxGzVDKRBPSHMqtuLxRSYJSMd-hQym7CWk81eKmyzX-k4IXCf9IIXsu0eeZ8lDewgkBSx0x0rn7n9fxqGa2qwysNun4YObrCsJar-2eOQx6yc7JP1GKVVKbNwkK/s1600/Screenshot-103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwEGoYuja-bJHiaGSQxxxGzVDKRBPSHMqtuLxRSYJSMd-hQym7CWk81eKmyzX-k4IXCf9IIXsu0eeZ8lDewgkBSx0x0rn7n9fxqGa2qwysNun4YObrCsJar-2eOQx6yc7JP1GKVVKbNwkK/s400/Screenshot-103.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Jared noticed about three minutes later that I was gone.
He poked his head in and half-asleep-half-awake said, “Oh my God, is the baby
coming?” He was obviously really tired and </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> get himself to wake up.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“Just
go back to sleep, I’m fine.” I managed to mutter between the sharp shoots of
pain, sending Jared back to bed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"> forgot how much this really hurt after each
pregnancy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">I just had to push the baby out and </span><i style="line-height: 107%;">fast</i><span style="line-height: 107%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHz13RppUM-2lyCJZi1D6HZwaj8MsaBgV95_j0ptkvEzF6gnAFryoGh3Eipicd7cfNbViGulhVVkHCB0yG_XIcI38_-1hHk5bCj7j0Z8L3zWXuEgm5sS8mjTY0OgAl-yt0tI1XgaDy6W2/s1600/Screenshot-104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHz13RppUM-2lyCJZi1D6HZwaj8MsaBgV95_j0ptkvEzF6gnAFryoGh3Eipicd7cfNbViGulhVVkHCB0yG_XIcI38_-1hHk5bCj7j0Z8L3zWXuEgm5sS8mjTY0OgAl-yt0tI1XgaDy6W2/s400/Screenshot-104.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">About two hours later, I gave birth to a beautiful baby
girl, Ashley Bear. I wrapped her in a blanket and laid her down in her crib
just to feel another jolt of pain in my lower abdomen. <i>Twins? Oh God.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_KWzoz7bbFJdPzkbfGWbE-VArP87l6yDXdsSiu_vE6MAx0eN3taimuxQyh4Izxwat-F1gVJycnOXtrXvoXPQB4F-B8uGueUnHTFWUFjGQUqfNyt2SqaSAGZNRM97rcd_l9yRMilUXeh0/s1600/Screenshot-105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_KWzoz7bbFJdPzkbfGWbE-VArP87l6yDXdsSiu_vE6MAx0eN3taimuxQyh4Izxwat-F1gVJycnOXtrXvoXPQB4F-B8uGueUnHTFWUFjGQUqfNyt2SqaSAGZNRM97rcd_l9yRMilUXeh0/s400/Screenshot-105.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">It wasn't much longer until I</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> welcomed another baby into
my family, this time a boy.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I named him Adam.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JXR5Vz9wz8rAN5n2TGDco8f2i58NOHqDIy6BbQlTmxCIXfH_yHJUndehZANONWZcldGkxGtFGr4wNm1m8xOAw-MZL_vnZ7YQZggRqs30u0tbj7HF_g8j8e0Tt5i86i5M1WiapssZH9Aq/s1600/Screenshot-107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JXR5Vz9wz8rAN5n2TGDco8f2i58NOHqDIy6BbQlTmxCIXfH_yHJUndehZANONWZcldGkxGtFGr4wNm1m8xOAw-MZL_vnZ7YQZggRqs30u0tbj7HF_g8j8e0Tt5i86i5M1WiapssZH9Aq/s400/Screenshot-107.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I did what any good mother would do after giving birth to
twins and fed them both bottles, then making sure they were all wrapped up warm
in blankets and comfortable in their cribs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtneCqANjFxZ0-ADL2SGQTR8JAryOZBShB1uFzgI6DUlGcSiUl5M0JipflRRKgeNPHg_nWGELtaojB1yxnhmZ55F_5Nv5ctYphn6gpr1FivXIAR2Vtzvjt8ATmlP1Wlb2oMzLphpEoC5VQ/s1600/Screenshot-109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtneCqANjFxZ0-ADL2SGQTR8JAryOZBShB1uFzgI6DUlGcSiUl5M0JipflRRKgeNPHg_nWGELtaojB1yxnhmZ55F_5Nv5ctYphn6gpr1FivXIAR2Vtzvjt8ATmlP1Wlb2oMzLphpEoC5VQ/s400/Screenshot-109.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I looked down at the both of them, thinking to myself,</span> <i>‘You can do it. You’ll raise these kids up
to be the best kids anyone could ever want, despite who their father is. They’ll
never meet their father and see what kind of a sick bastard he is. I never want
them to experience that. They’ll only experience my burning, raging love I have
for them and Jared’s kindness and care towards them.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">“I promise,” I whispered, giving them both kisses on
their heads as they laughed in response.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I loved both of them so very much.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI03RPQoIrccXpQLuhI3UT1pYUfadURjCN2rVQO4TrqhB7B7UrQ8CF0lo98F2rODhFsvqwjoklpxzYVKjN9j52RnT8IwLYMeyL3yIT4fMPXoKO3G6ZtgZtegAICCDhyMMrpBqqPXEzxqqR/s1600/Screenshot-110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI03RPQoIrccXpQLuhI3UT1pYUfadURjCN2rVQO4TrqhB7B7UrQ8CF0lo98F2rODhFsvqwjoklpxzYVKjN9j52RnT8IwLYMeyL3yIT4fMPXoKO3G6ZtgZtegAICCDhyMMrpBqqPXEzxqqR/s640/Screenshot-110.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">Adam
and Ashley Bear. </span></i><span style="line-height: 107%;">It even <i>sounded
</i>cute. Not as cute as they grew up to be, though.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">They both had their father’s
ginger hair, Ashley getting her dad’s stunning blue eyes, Adam getting my green
ones. Ashley was definitely the more outgoing one, while Adam was the shyer,
cute, and quiet twin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">They both loved each other very much, but not as much as
I loved them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">Take
that, Mystery. I am strong enough to do this after what you did to me, you sick
bitch.</span></i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><b>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">I hope all of you enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I loved making it! I'm truly sorry about the huge delay, but I didn't have a computer, so I couldn't make a new chapter. I finally a got my new one and it has </span><span style="line-height: 17px;">amazing</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> graphics! :D</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Sorry, too, for the strong language in this... I just felt like it fit with how Payton felt.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I love you all, and thank you so much for sticking with me! <3</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large; line-height: 17px;"><b>Love, Heather/Payton Bear ^_^</b></span></div>
Heather Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10216231018458039386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6217454030654055977.post-72428369137843657242013-02-18T11:25:00.004-08:002013-06-17T15:18:54.550-07:00Chapter 13 ~ Will You Be Mine, Here In Sunlit Tides?<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIWNfpyPvX4o168KlCTtcPNkqkxZo2od4IzCBQJAW6i2JDZ6e24GK4484iMiGPe6tG8Fewlf3-tVt7Kzrg-SmxM6g8Ooz4V2cwuHTeoB3oG7Jmd-_yOgD1KZuqHdtoX9-0awlX2mpSP3f/s1600/Screenshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIWNfpyPvX4o168KlCTtcPNkqkxZo2od4IzCBQJAW6i2JDZ6e24GK4484iMiGPe6tG8Fewlf3-tVt7Kzrg-SmxM6g8Ooz4V2cwuHTeoB3oG7Jmd-_yOgD1KZuqHdtoX9-0awlX2mpSP3f/s400/Screenshot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The morning sun was shining bright and the excitement in
the house was overwhelming. I checked everything in my bag, mentally creating
notes of everything, making sure I had everything I needed for this trip. <i>Shampoo, clothes, a brush, makeup, camera.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I was running around like a maniac, panicking that I had forgotten something.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I
kept double-checking with Nicole and Paris, making sure that they had all of
the emergency phone numbers and other information they needed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Make sure you
keep this list some place where it is always in sight, you got it?” I said,
pointing a finger at both of them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Nicole rolled her eyes and laughed. “Yes,
Mom, we will be fine!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Paris joined in. “Yeah, no need to freak!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I hugged both
of them. “You know that I’m trusting you these next few days to take care of
everything and everyone. You need to make sure that the girls are safe going to
and coming from school, Jay is here in the morning to take care of Jack, and
that the pets are taken care of. This is a big responsibility, you know.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">They
both held onto one of my arms. “Calm down, Mom. We have it all under control.
You need to relax and have a fun time with Jared, and don’t worry one bit about
us!” Paris reassured me. I took a deep breath.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“You’re right. I just need to
relax.” Right as I zipped up my pink suitcase, I heard a knock at the front
door downstairs. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Coming!” I yelled, dragging my suitcase down the stairs,
causing it to thud every single time it went down a step.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I then heard the
clink of the doorknob as someone had apparently opened the door, letting
whoever it was inside. I heard laughter and cheery voices, and I figured it was
Jared. I heard his laughter before I saw his face.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">He was laughing at the way I
was carrying my suitcase down the stairs. I laughed back at him as soon as he
became visible. He smiled, noticing how happy and excited I was. “You ready?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I
smiled back and replied, “I’m pretty sure!” Right at that moment, Miles whined
and looked up at me with sad eyes, knowing that I was leaving. “Awe, Miles!” I picked
him up and cuddled him in my arms. “You know I’ll be back in a few days! But,
for now, you’ll be with the girls.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">He attacked my face with kisses and Kittles
rubbed her face on my ankles. They sure did love me a lot to do that. I thought
it was adorable, though.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We all pried the pets off of me, and I went over
everything one more time with everyone, giving hugs and kisses to all of them.
I said my goodbyes to all of my kids and pets, and I was out of the house, on
my way to the airport with Jared.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Hey, Little Red.” Jared smiled and winked at
me just as we got settled in the car. “You ready for this? I have everything
planned out already, and it will be perfect.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I smiled back and buckled my </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">seat belt</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> sitting in the passenger seat, and replied, “Of course I’m ready! I
need a vacation. Plus, everything is under control at home, so I have nothing to
worry about.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Except for the plane crashing or something,” Jared laughed.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I put
my hands over my face and sighed, “Oh God. Please don’t remind me.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared
reached out and rubbed my hand. “I’m just teasing. You have to get over your fear
of planes! You know, we have a more likely chance of dying on the way to the airport
than there is a chance that anything will go wrong during the flight.” He
reassured me.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“I don’t care. I’m still going to be scared.” I said as we backed
out of the driveway.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“You’ll be fine.” He kissed me on the cheek.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Flight number 32, departure time from Sunset Valley; 10:00
AM and arrival time in Sunlit Tides; 1:00 PM, your plane is ready to be
boarded. First class, please board first.” The flight attendant said over the
microphone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“That’s us,” Jared said as he picked up my bags for me and held my
hand, leading me to the plane entrance. My heart was racing and my stomach
aching with fear.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared had told me how first class is amazing and that it
would make the flight much more enjoyable, but I still remained scared.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Oh,
well </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">aren't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> you two a cute couple! Going on a honeymoon?” The flight attendant
said, never removing the smile from her face.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I laughed. “No, just a vacation.”
She stamped our tickets and handed them back to us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Then it struck me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><i>Were we a couple? Were we dating? I mean, we
were going on this vacation together, but we had never really made anything
official. Did I want-</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">My train of thought stopped as the polite flight
attendant motioned us through the tunnel that led to the plane. As we walked
closer, my heart jumped out of my chest more and more the closer we were to the
plane.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I had never liked planes. I have no idea why, but the thought of being
thousands of feet high off the ground in a heavy vehicle just </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> end safely
in my mind.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t ever think I’ll get
over my fear of planes.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We found our seats in the very front of the plane.
Jared put all of our bags, except for my purse, in the luggage compartments
above us. I sat in the window seat and Jared took to aisle seat.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">First class
only sat a total of eight people in groups of twos. The seats were a beige
color and looked very comfortable.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">As we sat down, both of us sank into the
cushioned chair and laughed. I looked around at everything. I saw a TV in front
of me, and armrests, a window, and a remote on the sides of me. I looked at
Jared and he smiled at me. He told me that I looked amazed at everything.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I had
never been on a plane, before, though. Everything here was a new experience.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">He
then smirked and said, “Watch this.” He reached down in between the seats and
pulled two levers, one belonging to each of our seats, and we both slowly tilt
backwards, our feet reclining into the air.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“No way! These seats recline?” I
said with excitement.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared laughed, “Only in First Class.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I then realized how
luxurious that this section really was.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We had everything anyone could possibly
want.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Attention passengers, we are about to take off and head on over to
Sunlit Tides. Please fasten your </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">seat belts</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> and turn off any electronics. For
that couple in first class, please return your chairs back to normal, it’s
unsafe to take off with reclined seats.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared and I laughed at each other and
un-reclined our seats.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“I’ll talk to you folks as soon as we are safely in the
air.” The pilot announced over the loudspeaker.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We both fastened our </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">seat belts</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> and I looked at Jared, trembling with fear. This was the worst part for me.
Jared noticed I was scared and took my hand, squeezing it tightly, telling me
that everything would be fine.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The plane would rumble and it would get a little
loud, but it was normal. I took a deep breath and tried to relax as the plane engines
rumbled and the plane shook. We built up speed on the runway and lifted off of
the ground. At this moment, I was squeezing Jared’s hand so hard, I was sure it
was already broken.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We slowly rose higher and higher into the air, when suddenly;
the pilot was back on the loudspeaker.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Alright, folks, we are now safely
flying in the air and it is safe to now turn on your electronics and you can
now get up and walk around the cabin if you need to. Enjoy your flight on EA
Airlines.” The pilot said.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I figured that was the last time that we would hear
from him until we landed.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The pilot jumped in on the loudspeaker again, “Oh,
and by the way, the flight will be about 3 hours. Talk to you when we land!”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Now, that was the last time we’d here from him.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Are you good now?” Jared asked
me.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I shrugged my shoulders. “I think so… maybe. I don’t know.” I sighed and leaned
on his shoulder. We shared headphones together as we continued our flight.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I
took a bite of the complementary chocolate chip cookies that were given to
those of us in first class.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Then, I remember hearing the last line in ‘Wake Me
Up’ by Ed Sheeran before falling asleep.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Attention folks, this is your pilot speaking, we are now
preparing to land in Sunlit Tides.” The pilot’s voice woke me up.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I looked up
at Jared, my head originally leaning on his shoulder, and smiled at him as he
smiled back.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I sat up and listened to the rest of what the pilot had to say.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Please
make sure you are seated with your </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">seat belt</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> on. Turn all electronics off,
please sit with your head against the head rest, and I’ll speak to you when we
are safely on the ground.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared and I did as he said and held hands, me squeezing
his really hard again, and landed safely.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We laughed together as we walked out of the airport as
Jared told me about all of the things I said in my sleep, again. I never knew
it, but I seriously was a sleep-talking freak at night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We headed towards
baggage claim and I asked him everything about the trip.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Where are we staying?
What do you have planned for us to do? How long are we going to be here?” I
questioned Jared all at once. He had planned this whole trip as a surprise for
me. All I knew was that we were going to Sunlit Tides on a vacation. I was so
excited and wanted to know all of the details.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Calm down, calm down,” Jared
said, laughing at my excitement. “We’ll be here for a few days, I rented a
small house for us to stay in, and I have tons of fun surprises planned for the
next few days.” He kissed me on the forehead.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I spotted my pink suitcase and
his black one next to it, so I tried to catch up to it as it continued its way
on the conveyor belt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, we both had our bags and we were in the back
seat of a taxi, heading to our rented house.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGSbuPXMuuAqI7JgCCBcu5TWWgu_ud7pMnBeENlhHxLovHJHN2TRHqkZkjGYrBcIIDzI-QS0eOKm3qcSPP8ez-fs3uZhJ7nY2Tt3GjD4FJAryE7KnQ5iY4FwINi3mlw4JXj2Y5PNOJyLc/s1600/Screenshot-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGSbuPXMuuAqI7JgCCBcu5TWWgu_ud7pMnBeENlhHxLovHJHN2TRHqkZkjGYrBcIIDzI-QS0eOKm3qcSPP8ez-fs3uZhJ7nY2Tt3GjD4FJAryE7KnQ5iY4FwINi3mlw4JXj2Y5PNOJyLc/s400/Screenshot-4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We arrived at the house and there was a man standing
outside of it, waiting for us. He looked like a worker from some sort of spa,
with a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and flip flops on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">As Jared and I got out of the
taxi, I looked at him, confused. Jared just smiled, took my hand, and walked with
me up to him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Aloha.” The man said as he bowed to us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I looked at Jared, still
confused, as we both said, “Aloha.” at the same time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The man smiled, “Welcome
to Sunlit Tides. You are Payton and you are Jared?” He pointed to both of us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared grinned, “Yes, we are.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Very good, then. This is your house where you
are staying for a few days. We love travelers and we treat you people like
family.” The man pushed his hands out towards us, one hand towards me with an
assortment of tropical flowers, and one hand towards Jared with a pair of flip
flops. “Please, take these items. Payton, choose a flower for your hair, and
Jared, put these flip flops on.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I looked at Jared’s feet. He had converse on.
I could see why he would want flip flops; it was really warm outside. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">I looked
down at my shirt, skirt, and shoes. I chose a yellow flower to put in my hair.
I took a hair tie out of my purse and pulled my hair into a loose up-do and slipped
the bright yellow flower behind my ear while Jared changed his shoes.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Thank
you for being here, Mr. and Mrs. Bear.” The man said with a smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared and I
laughed really hard for a few minutes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“No, no, we’re just dating.” Jared
explained.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“My mistake, very sorry. Enjoy your stay here in Sunlit Tides,
Aloha.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Aloha.” Jared and I said in sync, again, as we watched the man get
into the taxi and drive away.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCpNf1kGgOQ0uqm7KBzj7AkqFSQyBFPtDP7iVrSXwKe5lm46iE3LYaK3JfD6nSmdnxnnZ-eXFQdf_Uio8sytAZkgLSOm-4MXjcpNT9KoFNgzUb44pTWxvS6joQVpt7HR50a9D55de1UpN/s1600/Screenshot-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCpNf1kGgOQ0uqm7KBzj7AkqFSQyBFPtDP7iVrSXwKe5lm46iE3LYaK3JfD6nSmdnxnnZ-eXFQdf_Uio8sytAZkgLSOm-4MXjcpNT9KoFNgzUb44pTWxvS6joQVpt7HR50a9D55de1UpN/s400/Screenshot-5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I walked with him over towards the flowers by the house.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“So,”
I started, “Are we a couple? I mean, I do love you, you’re amazing, but do we
really want to do this?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared stared into my eyes for a long moment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><i>Oh God, he’s gonna say no.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I worried in
my head. He then kissed me for the longest, perfect moment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The smell of the
beach and the warmth from the summer sun made it even better. We stood there,
for what seemed like forever, and stayed next to each other.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Gosh, I loved him
so much.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Finally, we had pulled away from each other’s lips, but not bodies. He
kept his hands around my waist and I kept my hands by his face.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Pay. I love
you more than </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">I've</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> ever loved anyone. You are the one who is just the other
half to me. I know, that sounded really corny, but I’m serious. Payton Bear,
will you be my girlfriend?” Jared held my hands and looked deeply into my green
eyes.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I looked back into his bright blue ones and said, “Of course, Jared. I
feel the same; you complete me. </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">I've</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> never felt like this before, and it’s one
of the best feelings in the world to have someone who loves you back as much as
you love them.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“I love you.” We both said at the same time.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We then pulled
into another long kiss, standing outside together, not letting go.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUoj5Wk_T6vTxAAkJjoPebu4Od7uFY4NskNMcm4ofJSgnu6b9ZwkIHrwwHSqJcS0YotNhJeUuXR8lVfFJhcXxWUrxFkGhg2d_qXk_Ox6dHF6m_cBslN3YqplgVSwO9HuDFpCriF89tO9x/s1600/Screenshot-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUoj5Wk_T6vTxAAkJjoPebu4Od7uFY4NskNMcm4ofJSgnu6b9ZwkIHrwwHSqJcS0YotNhJeUuXR8lVfFJhcXxWUrxFkGhg2d_qXk_Ox6dHF6m_cBslN3YqplgVSwO9HuDFpCriF89tO9x/s400/Screenshot-8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared took his hands off of my hips and smiled at me. “Now,
I have something planned for right now.” He stood there smiling for a few
moments.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I raised an eyebrow. “Well, </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">aren't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> you going to tell me what it is?”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">He laughed, “No, little red! You just have to wait and see. But, make sure you
have your bathing suit.” I already had it under my clothes, and he had his under
his, too, so we were off to this mystery place. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">He put his hand on my shoulder
and pulled me close to him as I followed his lead to my surprise. I had a
feeling it </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">wasn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> going to be the last surprise of the next few days.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQjVGBlxXpGOOEOkElKaXd_-vNp0ASXfSbtYbDWpdd6U_GRVvN62Fiz9R-MaesHLPXBGVir1ZcmTW-w7T5wQ9swmtaEWU4tDzNoMt91DESmRKcXi_x7Mjlvg11peBJ1TyywOzjcLwWmXU/s1600/Screenshot-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQjVGBlxXpGOOEOkElKaXd_-vNp0ASXfSbtYbDWpdd6U_GRVvN62Fiz9R-MaesHLPXBGVir1ZcmTW-w7T5wQ9swmtaEWU4tDzNoMt91DESmRKcXi_x7Mjlvg11peBJ1TyywOzjcLwWmXU/s400/Screenshot-10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We walked for a while and finally approached a beach
after a few minutes. “Is this it?” I asked him, letting go of his hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Yes! </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">Aren't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> you excited?” He smiled at me, hoping for a positive answer.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Very!” I
smiled back.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">~</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Memories once again flooded into my head. This seemed to happen a
lot when I was with Jared. Memories of my dad and me, when I was two years old.
I don’t know how I remember all of these moments so clearly, especially since
it was years ago. I guess a little video camera was constantly going on in my
head when I was younger. The memories from the day I had first ever gone to the
beach filled my mind. It was the middle of summer, as hot as ever. The sun was
warm, the cool ocean water felt good against our skin, p</span><span style="line-height: 18px;">opsicles</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> were in the
family ice chest, I had my pink bathing suit on, and my mom and dad were both
there. It was rare to have my dad and mom in one place at the same time, since
I remember my dad always being overseas. My mom was starting to set everything up:
putting the blanket down, setting up the chairs, putting sunscreen on all of
us, getting out all of the beach toys. I remember my dad holding me in his arms
as he walked towards the ocean water. He held onto my hands, standing above me,
letting the waves crash against my legs, but making sure I </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> tip over. I
also remember making a sand castle. It </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> very fancy, but it was mine and
my dad’s sand castle, and it was the best it </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">could've</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> ever been to me.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">~</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared
noticed that I was kind of staring off into space. “You okay, Pay?” He said,
concerned.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I snapped back into reality and smiled, embarrassed. “Yeah,
everything’s great!”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I noticed I had a little bit of a sarcastic tone in my
voice after I said it.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">He placed his hands on my shoulders and looked me
straight in the eyes and softly said, “We can talk about it, you know, because
I have a feeling it’s something related to your dad. Your eyes always look a
certain way when you’re thinking about your dad.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I just shook my head, “No, I’d
rather not right now.” </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We sat down on complementary lounge chairs that were
placed underneath an umbrella and talked for a while, laughing here and there.
I found myself kissing him passionately, both of us leaning on the edge of our
chairs. The smell of salt from the sea was strong as the waves continued crashing
on the shore.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared finally pulled away from our long-lasting kiss and smiled
at me. “Well, are we going to get in or just sit here?” He smirked at me.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“What
are we waiting for?” I smiled back at him.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We both stripped our clothes off so
that we had on only our bathing suits.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I was wearing a similar bathing suit to
the one I wore that day with my dad. It was pink with purple polka dots. It
brought back so many memories, good and bad. Jared looked at me and smiled.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Your
bathing suit is amazing.” He winked.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I laughed, knowing what he was obviously
talking about. “You </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">aren't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> bad, either.” I said, smoothly. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">I might’ve seemed
calm on the outside, but on the inside, my heart and stomach were jumping
around.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="line-height: 115%;">God, his muscles.</i> <i style="line-height: 115%;">God, his hair. God… him.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">My heart was
fluttering as he put his hands around my waist and pulled me in for another
kiss.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We finally let go, for what seemed like the millionth time, and I grabbed
his hand and ran into the water, laughing. The water was freezing; enough to
send chills throughout my whole body, but it </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> stop us. The waves crashed
on us as we ventured further and further out into the water. The water was so cold;
my toes became numb after about 5 minutes.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Hey, see that little island out
there?” Jared said, pointing in the distance.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Yeah.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Want to swim there?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I
looked at him in shock. It had to be a few miles away. “You sure? It’s really
far.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared then put a smile on his face, his hands on my back, he dipped into the water, and swept me
off of my feet, literally.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">He smiled at me in his arms, “This way it’ll be
faster.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I laughed as he started swimming towards the island, carrying me.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">On
the way, he pretended to drop me a few times, making me freak out for a moment,
then laugh at his sense of humor. He never got tired of carrying me the whole
way there, which surprised me, because I knew I </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> the lightest person on
the planet.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Maybe he did get tired, but he never said anything, because he </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> want it to seem like I was really heavy or fat.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He sure was strong, though.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBClGH3WCamQd0B1wBokRN2IGhPNcWCUGWHrf_9lyZAda6C7aDF_B1CkuwictHtxRuirvhBSFp_-SmgqLJkU6CaGXRReY4zE_WdheT1D8uErDtRa_i1E9GvrS1QAumUhyphenhyphenxnF6xyWu-ogfQ/s1600/Screenshot-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBClGH3WCamQd0B1wBokRN2IGhPNcWCUGWHrf_9lyZAda6C7aDF_B1CkuwictHtxRuirvhBSFp_-SmgqLJkU6CaGXRReY4zE_WdheT1D8uErDtRa_i1E9GvrS1QAumUhyphenhyphenxnF6xyWu-ogfQ/s400/Screenshot-15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">After talking for what seemed like hours, we finally were
so close to the shore of the tiny island that was once in the distance. Jared
dropped me, letting me walk up to the island’s shore by myself. We arrived onto
the island, and now it was the beach that was far off into the distance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I
looked around on the shore. We were alone here, surrounded by water in each
direction.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The sun was till bright in the middle of the sky, and I could tell
it was still afternoon. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">We sat down for hours and talked about anything and
everything, getting to know more about each other the longer we sat
there.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I learned that his favorite music artist was Ed Sheeran, just like me.
It was unusual, since most Ed Sheeran fans are girls, but I </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> question it
one bit.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“What’s your biggest fear?” Jared asked me, continuing on with the
questions.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Planes. As you already experienced,” I laughed. “What’s yours?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">He
looked me straight in the eyes, and I could tell he was serious. “Losing you.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">His hand met with mine and he squeezed it tightly. In that moment, I realized
how much he honestly loved me. He always seemed happy and joyous when I was
around him. Of course everyone was like that around their boyfriend or
girlfriend, but his happiness seemed so… so </span></span><i style="line-height: 115%;">real</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.
I gave him a quick kiss on the lips, letting him know that I never wanted to
lose him, either.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabriESd2xK9vDwRYt87TWtwY_X14rzL8HhG2JOheHe4G7ylbRRoYwBdT1xlmoVoMJX1Ci46Y19I8EOe2tgPMYR4JDspdzAKpYywLsGel14fjr08FwEEBL0ZCVbbhAUgqXdh6KNpOVHFX6/s1600/Screenshot-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjabriESd2xK9vDwRYt87TWtwY_X14rzL8HhG2JOheHe4G7ylbRRoYwBdT1xlmoVoMJX1Ci46Y19I8EOe2tgPMYR4JDspdzAKpYywLsGel14fjr08FwEEBL0ZCVbbhAUgqXdh6KNpOVHFX6/s400/Screenshot-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We stood up, our legs getting tired from sitting so long,
and stretched out for a few moments. “When do you think the baby will start
showing?” Jared said, patting my stomach.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I put my hand over his, on my
stomach, and said, “I don’t know. I have no clue why the baby </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">hasn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> shown up.
It’s usually only three days, and that’s at the most.”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared suddenly had a
worried expression on his face. “Do you think everything’s alright?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I laughed,
“Yes, everything’s fine. I promise you. Our baby will be beautiful, healthy,
and loved.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Okay, good.” Jared sighed, trusting me. “Ready to go, Little Red?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I nodded my head and jumped into his arms, giving him a quick hug before we
took off into the water, back to the shore, as the sun just started to set.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvnT3jQukrOIAQb3pR7YXdbRv3EyP2Rv7nwAwB4UBK3CaHI093aTBNfcO0Wfv8vBoSysX2OtY8K66e6WWtuOMagwUiZ3ImIME9AOh_RwIoDZFDd1YX6-W0Awu3ReiUJZv6XFdQ5oiwhYj/s1600/Screenshot-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvnT3jQukrOIAQb3pR7YXdbRv3EyP2Rv7nwAwB4UBK3CaHI093aTBNfcO0Wfv8vBoSysX2OtY8K66e6WWtuOMagwUiZ3ImIME9AOh_RwIoDZFDd1YX6-W0Awu3ReiUJZv6XFdQ5oiwhYj/s400/Screenshot-25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">As soon as we got home, Jared took a shower and I started
to make dinner.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">There was some food in the fridge, and I managed to make a
salad out of it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I checked to make sure I could make something in the morning,
and there were ingredients to make waffles. I showered after Jared, washing all
of the sand and sea salt out of my hair.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We ate dinner, which </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">wasn't</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> bad. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0Lv0i-an3Emi5-BVv-YicEs0QrGf6bi8HP1OvWkHtsmyDeVZN4JOLECnYCNOFy7wMV-CwUZBFP82Pqwn6EfcFohVMINskoxBPwR-WfeOz-exhsArrvdou9Tb5hhUbuW8gNuMcicY6X9v/s1600/Screenshot-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0Lv0i-an3Emi5-BVv-YicEs0QrGf6bi8HP1OvWkHtsmyDeVZN4JOLECnYCNOFy7wMV-CwUZBFP82Pqwn6EfcFohVMINskoxBPwR-WfeOz-exhsArrvdou9Tb5hhUbuW8gNuMcicY6X9v/s400/Screenshot-26.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We then ended the day cuddling on the couch, watching
some foreign show on one of the ten television channels they had to offer in
these rental homes.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">It was easy to follow up on; a famous pianist who was shot
after one of his performances, the investigation following up from that point
on.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The show ended, and Jared and I both yawned.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Ready to go to bed?” Jared
looked down at me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I looked up at him and said, “Defiantly.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYyaQgkS-dnadYaErenxR34l8tgqQ5FD2mbL1YCyvGr_3AOFL5gOrqcghqAn4jxwO9bdD2eedCRmvags9X3SEwn1Dr-mWiaqzXPIVri62MqJKmHyh0quyn2N-wvLlwbDeYwBMdhAvppFc3/s1600/Screenshot-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYyaQgkS-dnadYaErenxR34l8tgqQ5FD2mbL1YCyvGr_3AOFL5gOrqcghqAn4jxwO9bdD2eedCRmvags9X3SEwn1Dr-mWiaqzXPIVri62MqJKmHyh0quyn2N-wvLlwbDeYwBMdhAvppFc3/s400/Screenshot-29.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We both got up and crawled in bed, easily falling asleep
as soon as we both lied down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I put my arm around Jared, laying close to him,
and whispered, “Goodnight, Jear Bear.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He smiled and whispered back, “Goodnight,
Little Red.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3eAXOKSyFdUQhql72C5u-5Ji0v0Dc1zNnPwC1PAgPKBSBE8oqbP5KF0fnlktmh6GZ0RlbJE5PFG0FJcNRt0wDWe-tEs7reGZVmTIFaf10d5XlD-2VObEATkkbbig2MGLeAG2ySE4-jea/s1600/Screenshot-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3eAXOKSyFdUQhql72C5u-5Ji0v0Dc1zNnPwC1PAgPKBSBE8oqbP5KF0fnlktmh6GZ0RlbJE5PFG0FJcNRt0wDWe-tEs7reGZVmTIFaf10d5XlD-2VObEATkkbbig2MGLeAG2ySE4-jea/s400/Screenshot-30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The sunshine just barely peering through the windows is
what woke me up. As soon as I opened my eyes and regained consciousness, I
realized I was in bed alone. The smell of waffles and maple syrup floated from
the kitchen into the bedroom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I took a deep breath in, the smell almost
hypnotizing me; I was so hungry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The clock read “8:30” as I put my slippers on
and walked into the kitchen, being greeted by Jared. “Morning, Pay.” Jared
said, fully awake.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Morning, Jer.” I said, yawning.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">He smiled and held his arms
out, towards a plate of waffles and proudly said, “Look at these amazing
waffles, made by muah!” He put his fingers to his lips and made a kissing
noise, exaggerating how great they seemed to be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I laughed at him and grabbed a
plate to eat his amazing waffles.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">He </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> lie. They were really good.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“I </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> know you could cook, Jer!” I said, eating the last bite of my waffles.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">He smirked and said, “Well, what can I say? Just one
more reason to love me.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I kissed him and said, “Indeed.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\</span></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">After both of us took a shower and got all ready, I met
him in the kitchen and took a deep breath. “So, what are we doing today?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">He
took my hand and said, “Follow me!”</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We walked outside together and stepped into
a cab that was already waiting there for us.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkXy8B4oOvq7YU4fOK1HY49qcfLF1GGVWIU-LPHfb6iaIl67fTtTOmbo5VEBkCdqg8SQnH4xlggvaS_k7q_GMCvlbIeP7z6soijhVRdRg7CSNbEcVFqLX07IWJyxgUO_UGIJMOwKkSHTx/s1600/Screenshot-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkXy8B4oOvq7YU4fOK1HY49qcfLF1GGVWIU-LPHfb6iaIl67fTtTOmbo5VEBkCdqg8SQnH4xlggvaS_k7q_GMCvlbIeP7z6soijhVRdRg7CSNbEcVFqLX07IWJyxgUO_UGIJMOwKkSHTx/s1600/Screenshot-31.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We were holding hands, in the backseat of the cab, the
whole time it took to get to the next mystery place on this trip. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">The cab
driver stopped in front of a building that was large and looked like it was
some sort of resort.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Here we are, at Sunlit Spa!” Jared said, looking at me,
waiting for me to respond.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">My eyes widened as I looked closer at the tropical building,
stepping out of the car with Jared. It was beautiful and I already felt relaxed
as we both walked up the steps.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We were nicely greeted by a preppy girl at the
front desk and given a tour of the place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">It was seriously <i>huge</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Without saying
a word, Jared took my hand and lead me through big doors towards the back of
the building, and out into the outdoor area.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOTWKcTTm9oANePaONbcCnj2m85lI-MK1zKvD_7Ya1V8EEWmbcnB3nwtttZxwmyiEsoeNoctCQOohGjMb0ZXTmk3UqV_gldD81Z4hLPfnCi55bHHqm2Hheh2WVseWdKcTxpVIPbLe5x3Y/s1600/Screenshot-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOTWKcTTm9oANePaONbcCnj2m85lI-MK1zKvD_7Ya1V8EEWmbcnB3nwtttZxwmyiEsoeNoctCQOohGjMb0ZXTmk3UqV_gldD81Z4hLPfnCi55bHHqm2Hheh2WVseWdKcTxpVIPbLe5x3Y/s1600/Screenshot-32.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I stood out there, my jaw wide open, in awe. It was
stunning… absolutely beautiful. The sun was brightly shining, the scent of the
ocean was strong, the sunshine felt warm on my skin, the cool breeze was
relaxing, and Jared’s hand felt complete in mine. It was absolutely wonderful.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared pointed towards a massage table and said, “Do you like massages?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I
smiled, “What girl </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">doesn't?</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">”</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">He took my hand and led me over to the massage area.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I changed into different clothes and lied down on the table.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">He started rubbing
my back in different patterns, and it felt really relaxing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I really was
stressed out at home with all of the kids, pets, and challenge, but Jared
always helped me to calm down and relax. I really needed him for that. I’m
pretty sure I fell asleep while Jared was giving me my massage, but I never
really knew.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I was too relaxed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared rubbed my arm gently to wake me up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I slowly opened
my eyes to his face smiling at me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Enjoy it?” He said, helping me get up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“I
think a little too much! I fell asleep, you know,” I laughed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Yeah, but it’s
alright. Does your back feel better now?” I stretched my back out and there </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">weren't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> any cracks.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I felt a lot better. “Amazing… thanks Jared.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I kissed him
and he kissed me back.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UUMEr52bHZZiSNht4pn6-D8LaraP_DCanapf4T-2kGFVdZLfxkEX6mSvt8cIG5aBOfDefxQWwqn1QjUfldg6D9DPG5ZGrhlBthw2CLOjDlKYPqmnzDemt_6m3snpr88-8UFViYzM1ch-/s1600/Screenshot-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UUMEr52bHZZiSNht4pn6-D8LaraP_DCanapf4T-2kGFVdZLfxkEX6mSvt8cIG5aBOfDefxQWwqn1QjUfldg6D9DPG5ZGrhlBthw2CLOjDlKYPqmnzDemt_6m3snpr88-8UFViYzM1ch-/s1600/Screenshot-34.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Now, wanna go into the hot tub?” Jared said, pointing to
the rocky hot tub, surrounded by tropical plants.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Sure! I have my bathing suit
on under my clothes, again. Do you?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared nodded, and we took off our clothes,
leaving just our bathing suits on, once again. Jared stepped in first and took
my hand, helping me get in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The water was really hot, but it felt really good.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">There were about eight seats available, all with their own back and feet jets. As
we chose our spots, the jets automatically turned on, making it even more
relaxing. I put my arms behind my head and leaned back a little. Steam rose up
from the water as we sat there.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Jared and I </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> even say a word to each other.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We looked at each other and pulled into a long kiss.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiDQ1a7af5EniRIWpJurK_rPXvJthXhZlllOl5RBEQGX7dPnG3qUpZpeYwpgrA_YWX2-xHQ5WGV5NRlwPOZdJxIKAvhpHr4eFNcI_UHnbD6MX1oAK2a85ROT4S3fTNpykrAaE-kL1DVe5/s1600/Screenshot-36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitiDQ1a7af5EniRIWpJurK_rPXvJthXhZlllOl5RBEQGX7dPnG3qUpZpeYwpgrA_YWX2-xHQ5WGV5NRlwPOZdJxIKAvhpHr4eFNcI_UHnbD6MX1oAK2a85ROT4S3fTNpykrAaE-kL1DVe5/s1600/Screenshot-36.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things got steamier, if you know what I mean.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YCyAUzrZUod2aET1gSQUVgdScQ_eeCU9Nh-fEKz_lIKiF7kKvkWkAWR3kuaByDWP8EQnr5R5a2sxrQ6AWBd91YhQIoQRtDz8rRgh7KmSDvWvJHgM34JERDnRfS3-mjBrbG_Y32gd0HDB/s1600/Screenshot-39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YCyAUzrZUod2aET1gSQUVgdScQ_eeCU9Nh-fEKz_lIKiF7kKvkWkAWR3kuaByDWP8EQnr5R5a2sxrQ6AWBd91YhQIoQRtDz8rRgh7KmSDvWvJHgM34JERDnRfS3-mjBrbG_Y32gd0HDB/s1600/Screenshot-39.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The road was bumpy, and the backseat of the cab’s seats
were torn in scattered places, but since Jared was right next to me, it </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> really matter how ‘high class’ my surroundings were. Jared was all I needed.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We
were on our way to the Sunlit Tides Summer Bash to see is what all of the locals
were talking about was really as fun as they claimed it to be.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I could see the
festival growing larger the close we got. There were balloons hung up,
streamers everywhere, and the beach right behind the festival area.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The details
became clearer as we approached the festival grounds.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaZ28hMOTipEDo0lOblcAKeXByv5NEKG0eRd_2nM58QMNzss4Jx8m5k04k_etr4ABZsis44kj7ZFgUYSAuFTjF0nrnxaXw9Fj4L02tYMwbafeNtyuDLoAMGZM80cGLgNeeCjd4P2zTioa/s1600/Screenshot-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaZ28hMOTipEDo0lOblcAKeXByv5NEKG0eRd_2nM58QMNzss4Jx8m5k04k_etr4ABZsis44kj7ZFgUYSAuFTjF0nrnxaXw9Fj4L02tYMwbafeNtyuDLoAMGZM80cGLgNeeCjd4P2zTioa/s1600/Screenshot-40.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Here we are!” Jared, the leader of this whole vacation,
said.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I smiled and clapped my hands excitedly as I stood outside of the car,
taking everything in. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">The whole scene was perfect, but the thing that really
was the icing on the cake was the orange sky as the sun was setting.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Wow, it’s
beautiful!” I whispered.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Just like you,” Jared whispered back, twirling me
around once and pulling me in for a kiss.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We pulled apart just a little bit,
and I left my hands on his cheeks, enjoying the moment. “WHOOOAAA!” Jared and I
heard a scream coming from the center of the festival.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We both turned our
attention to the man, who was slipping all over the place in the middle of the
skating rink.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Looks like fun.” I said, laughing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“C’mon, let’s go try it!”
Jared took my hand as we walked towards the booth next to the rink to rent a
pair of skates. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTroV4rWL-2Jzd3zUSyRZ41r9O_xcmVZ3GW_hyphenhyphenkURfQiBrTBDW8TkE1n28xaZcffbUjkpONNlhJvkAFw2bq74NRwbQSfCqnbsQIqYbkTg-UB6Er5jEURAXFCYJoyrMcdU4bKQSo57Qc0x/s1600/Screenshot-43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSTroV4rWL-2Jzd3zUSyRZ41r9O_xcmVZ3GW_hyphenhyphenkURfQiBrTBDW8TkE1n28xaZcffbUjkpONNlhJvkAFw2bq74NRwbQSfCqnbsQIqYbkTg-UB6Er5jEURAXFCYJoyrMcdU4bKQSo57Qc0x/s1600/Screenshot-43.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared got black skates with white laces, and I got white
skates with pink laces.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">It had been forever ago since I had last skated. I
always used to roller skate with my mom at the town's local rink, but that stopped
after she was signed into a traveling acrobat show.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I stood up on my rented skates and wobbled
a little bit, but as soon as I got onto the rink, I skated around with ease, twirling a little bit here and there. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;">Jared followed me onto the rink, holding onto the railing for dear life at
first, but eventually being able to balance without it.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">He skated in front of
me shakily, and said, “I </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> know you were so good at this!”</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I rolled in
front of him and began to skate backwards then said, “I have my little tricks.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I winked at him, and then sped up, twirling a little bit.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XAHHR1aPc-PxQrOGC0Qv6_yD6jbYZlHDzoGbwdirREXKzm4dXFNtbileApItL5EQizKM_cv7Y8IRyupivuljfS5n8lxCkNt8fBKarjp2qp15sWvldCYDLiRH1hCwhVxwS5XqDqH-q_VZ/s1600/Screenshot-42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XAHHR1aPc-PxQrOGC0Qv6_yD6jbYZlHDzoGbwdirREXKzm4dXFNtbileApItL5EQizKM_cv7Y8IRyupivuljfS5n8lxCkNt8fBKarjp2qp15sWvldCYDLiRH1hCwhVxwS5XqDqH-q_VZ/s1600/Screenshot-42.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I looked back at him, as he stared at me in awe. He was
so distracted that when he tried to move forward again, he messed up his
footing. He waved his arms around crazily, trying to catch his balance again.
He yelled and fell to the floor with a loud thud.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><i>Oh God.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I skated as fast as I could and came to a skidding halt
right by him. My roller skating skills helped me to be able to keep my balance
while helping him up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Are you alright? That was a hard fall,” I said, brushing
off his shirt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Yeah, I’m alright.” I noticed his leg had a bruise on it
already. “You’re really good at skating. As you can tell, I’m not.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Well, you’ll
get better at it. You just have to practice. Here, just come to the center of
the rink with me. We can just spin around for a little bit while you get the
hang of it again.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7rO2NcNuCQj40fdIvbiQD4OLGDlEZghu1sJXqsNAm7XxH29Ej76P2Uv9QHgklejuopOSHjcqIRzHMji3gurCdcXZpbF2fUu2rOdC7B2IwHFw5hrXnui6UZb1T1SdsykgEh4_ptMcdB3O/s1600/Screenshot-44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7rO2NcNuCQj40fdIvbiQD4OLGDlEZghu1sJXqsNAm7XxH29Ej76P2Uv9QHgklejuopOSHjcqIRzHMji3gurCdcXZpbF2fUu2rOdC7B2IwHFw5hrXnui6UZb1T1SdsykgEh4_ptMcdB3O/s1600/Screenshot-44.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I helped him skate to the center and I took his other
hand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Follow my lead.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started twirling to the left, and he managed to keep
up with me.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1w-7iP230tSYt3zi14HjP_MpDqSJtkw_O090Dy8fxdRWcVpzYTJT7Lzb1_nF7H-ihDf_RTRZrIWFu2lpUhLUAZtOF5jwqawLIqLpqEuyYvsMdEKWpmzziNV1e-KyQh6fqorxKceLtHpR/s1600/Screenshot-46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1w-7iP230tSYt3zi14HjP_MpDqSJtkw_O090Dy8fxdRWcVpzYTJT7Lzb1_nF7H-ihDf_RTRZrIWFu2lpUhLUAZtOF5jwqawLIqLpqEuyYvsMdEKWpmzziNV1e-KyQh6fqorxKceLtHpR/s1600/Screenshot-46.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The breeze from us twirling in circles felt good against
my skin.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpoQ6nyHNIfaui9FwsnEbe5LC3sT9FuGuLOEHWvfk5ek_BSkXONSb8NlYGmO0YQSsjG6Nyrv2eSOI1WtR4xs2LY04N4OgP-sPA6E33HroDl7wFO2i9f_La-m23uSsM6vEYjxLo-_g08D2/s1600/Screenshot-45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWpoQ6nyHNIfaui9FwsnEbe5LC3sT9FuGuLOEHWvfk5ek_BSkXONSb8NlYGmO0YQSsjG6Nyrv2eSOI1WtR4xs2LY04N4OgP-sPA6E33HroDl7wFO2i9f_La-m23uSsM6vEYjxLo-_g08D2/s1600/Screenshot-45.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a good momentum going, until Jared lost his
balance again.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWfBx7LnR2jk27xizDPvl7HVK0bcHwh7tLH4OOd5XBi1SNnpDKaQ92d50nVsdtGKQAzfkPsbQZ19l7Y7sA74OYM5Ck5jYjnIu0B_F6w4u-kUZeyZ0ssIR59DsfODbjYDfTPK1gl0b1tpK/s1600/Screenshot-48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWfBx7LnR2jk27xizDPvl7HVK0bcHwh7tLH4OOd5XBi1SNnpDKaQ92d50nVsdtGKQAzfkPsbQZ19l7Y7sA74OYM5Ck5jYjnIu0B_F6w4u-kUZeyZ0ssIR59DsfODbjYDfTPK1gl0b1tpK/s1600/Screenshot-48.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I had perfect balance, but Jared was still pretty shaky.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Since we were holding hands, when he fell, <i>I</i>
fell.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We slammed to the ground together, trying to catch each other in the
process.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I had taken bad falls before, when I was younger, but this one was at
the top of my ‘worst falls while roller skating’ list.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We looked at each other
after making sure we had no broken bones and started busting up in laughter.
Neither one of us could hold it in. We laughed for a good three minutes, just lying
in the center of the roller skating rink at the Sunlit Tides Summer Bash. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We
each </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> have any broken bones or anything, so that was a good sign, but I
was sure that we would feel it in the morning. We picked ourselves up, returned
our rental skates, and called a cab to head home.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-nQ_8flrY6OoBO8Olvo7pXvlWB0LlG-89N-VG3v-5yzoF74SDmH0KYzNLrQMwfnOm9lJvlL4VGCgbTjbexoeGNhaPr1i517z-fcLds3DOky9INBQ68PXJ9yJcRy-riC0mroUYnEfACj_/s1600/Screenshot-53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-nQ_8flrY6OoBO8Olvo7pXvlWB0LlG-89N-VG3v-5yzoF74SDmH0KYzNLrQMwfnOm9lJvlL4VGCgbTjbexoeGNhaPr1i517z-fcLds3DOky9INBQ68PXJ9yJcRy-riC0mroUYnEfACj_/s1600/Screenshot-53.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
We rode home in the brightness of the moonlight, and both of us had no trouble falling asleep as soon as we got home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaiKdW_oQkFVfy2NdPs3b54CldHgQEK4wbmenF-AmlLcfK54jYR2YGkaTO9a3UTuWgonrtS8daGGNDdwmGEkJUh_HwaOYxJv_7OmOoGtnZYcbAFcFTV8RbjDqDQXAcA9oJnKS5Te8AIDAm/s1600/Screenshot-54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaiKdW_oQkFVfy2NdPs3b54CldHgQEK4wbmenF-AmlLcfK54jYR2YGkaTO9a3UTuWgonrtS8daGGNDdwmGEkJUh_HwaOYxJv_7OmOoGtnZYcbAFcFTV8RbjDqDQXAcA9oJnKS5Te8AIDAm/s1600/Screenshot-54.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I looked out of our rental house window while I drank
some tropical coffee. The sunrise was absolutely beautiful. The sky looked
pink, almost purple. It gave the whole island a nice look. Jared came behind me
and patted my shoulder, interrupting my dreamy, sunset thoughts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“I have a
surprise for you, today!” He sounded excited.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“When do you not?” I laughed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He
took my hand, helping me up, since I was sore from falling at the festival
while roller skating yesterday.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aB4srQ5X59UgXJaHq2oJBzzYfPt7K3fLuZmgOaD_98wtNJYGXfAxFlu89NCeQtIRVgyjrGhYm45WJ_IamKjaVzBii2pQB1GSXprmoVUzkOB1RtOgHo1HJiwI7Bx69n6_TFA9y3eDe-XS/s1600/Screenshot-56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aB4srQ5X59UgXJaHq2oJBzzYfPt7K3fLuZmgOaD_98wtNJYGXfAxFlu89NCeQtIRVgyjrGhYm45WJ_IamKjaVzBii2pQB1GSXprmoVUzkOB1RtOgHo1HJiwI7Bx69n6_TFA9y3eDe-XS/s1600/Screenshot-56.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Are you afraid of needles?” Jared asked me. I raised an
eyebrow. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“No… why? Should I be scared?” I laughed.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared laughed along with me,
“No, there is no need to be scared. It has to do with today’s surprise.” He
took my hands and swung them back in forth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“What, are we getting shots or
something?” I giggled, again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“No, just trust me,” He kissed me and led me
outside to wait for the cab he had called.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrtJ2JGv4oAGcv2jj_FyP8wTxMWGB0eK9Ph7aJODVR6Fc6Z6Hl-ueCZklDFUST6_tNeP0Vy0b2SA61LFk6jLOBz_6AUcJS1nuCEWsGE_37BdOBhuaPxUKw9GY2QEU6e6aNpSDVM9HKLzV/s1600/Screenshot-59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjrtJ2JGv4oAGcv2jj_FyP8wTxMWGB0eK9Ph7aJODVR6Fc6Z6Hl-ueCZklDFUST6_tNeP0Vy0b2SA61LFk6jLOBz_6AUcJS1nuCEWsGE_37BdOBhuaPxUKw9GY2QEU6e6aNpSDVM9HKLzV/s1600/Screenshot-59.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Are you sure that’s what you want on your arm?” The
tattoo man said, confirming his design. Jared looked at me and smiled,
“Positive.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The tattoo needle started whirring and spinning. The tattoo artist
carefully placed it on Jared skin. Jared </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> even flinch as it touched him.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I stood back at cringed at the sound of the needle going through his skin.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> believe I was going to be doing the same thing as Jared was in a half
hour.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I tried to not scare myself out of it, and stayed positive, thinking
about the final product.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UMlzP0RBaLes5nBpwKRYg8pqTe1IsIq626pAnDxwEN17oaLMVWMD0d-zxjP3OPEbw_aPr23CrJEjCLjt1UUzJXvZuILP-oBHvpHuGybQ725_eWu54L2sK64kdEGT2ESuA0fQKWTT5XZR/s1600/Screenshot-77.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UMlzP0RBaLes5nBpwKRYg8pqTe1IsIq626pAnDxwEN17oaLMVWMD0d-zxjP3OPEbw_aPr23CrJEjCLjt1UUzJXvZuILP-oBHvpHuGybQ725_eWu54L2sK64kdEGT2ESuA0fQKWTT5XZR/s1600/Screenshot-77.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“I’m proud of you, Pay!” Jared kissed me on the cheek as
we walked out of the tattoo parlor.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“I </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> even think I’d be able to do it.”
I said, looking down at my new tattoo. Jared and I held our arms out next to
each other’s’, admiring our new inked skin.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">My tattoo said ‘Jared’ with two
hearts above it on my right arm, and Jared’s tattoo said ‘Payton’ with two
hearts above it on his left arm. I loved them so much; I </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">couldn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> take my eyes
off of them! I was confident enough, knowing that Jared was the one who I would
end up marrying one day, to get matching name tattoos with him. Now, even when
I </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">wasn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> with him, I could always look down at my arm and remember that he is a
little part of me, and he will be… forever.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Now, do we count as one of the
cute couples who do cute little things like this, showing their love for each
other loud and proud?” I said, smiling up at Jared.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">He smiled back at me, “We
will always be that cute couple, Payton.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We kissed and kissed for the longest
time, finally going back home to give our skin a little break.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vhxL1qfv2Nm5JwwO0MaSHvX2F7FFW2-eE8U2muaO0sINtOVIKt_vz_3_YbNjR6tzoebIzYKE-t3StpwpQnOEmAgDWJp-3B7DlRmPL_YqWHTJYmSG7AoG53vnD3VSvu8y5uWquyYOP91B/s1600/Screenshot-82.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vhxL1qfv2Nm5JwwO0MaSHvX2F7FFW2-eE8U2muaO0sINtOVIKt_vz_3_YbNjR6tzoebIzYKE-t3StpwpQnOEmAgDWJp-3B7DlRmPL_YqWHTJYmSG7AoG53vnD3VSvu8y5uWquyYOP91B/s1600/Screenshot-82.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Jared and I </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">couldn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> stop talking about our tattoos. We
thought it was the best thing we had ever done! We loved the idea, were glad we
went with it, and now </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> stop staring at them.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I could just hear my mom’s
voice in my head saying, </span></span><i style="line-height: 115%;">‘You’re dead for
getting this tattoo! Payton Lynn Bear, how dare you do something like this to
your skin! It ruins it!’ </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I just blocked it out, focusing on how I’m the
boss of myself now. I could do whatever I wanted!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was very proud of that.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmErlzMy8sEwxPdyqacD05VXM_8fA0dOZNoISxlJFj7z31sALwR-Y7cbnldkUX2qI8yHJnHre0VKZgOGgSPvkx7sfee55jVAyMOanG3eYHkegSpEnaVrrko7SodeQBtE1R4oAtFbxrbjy/s1600/Screenshot-83.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtmErlzMy8sEwxPdyqacD05VXM_8fA0dOZNoISxlJFj7z31sALwR-Y7cbnldkUX2qI8yHJnHre0VKZgOGgSPvkx7sfee55jVAyMOanG3eYHkegSpEnaVrrko7SodeQBtE1R4oAtFbxrbjy/s1600/Screenshot-83.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The scent of popcorn, ocean, and sugar was very strong,
like it always was, at the Sunlit Tides Summer Bash. I loved this place, and I
had no idea why. Maybe because there were so many fun things to do, or because
it brought back lots of memories.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">I </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">didn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> know for sure, but I knew that I
always felt joyful when I was there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxqfs729CLImvf0Iwqs5fpsyyjvnf8RFgw4Qm5rmp_TdW8j9J3jOtyHPrjVkRsRV0JTH6-O4RjT3ANkEq0xoG_MXuFFjOggQo2DKI5mgpqJiEWeWP_bMUVKtAXH5sep5DRhXv3G-Rk6GK/s1600/Screenshot-86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxqfs729CLImvf0Iwqs5fpsyyjvnf8RFgw4Qm5rmp_TdW8j9J3jOtyHPrjVkRsRV0JTH6-O4RjT3ANkEq0xoG_MXuFFjOggQo2DKI5mgpqJiEWeWP_bMUVKtAXH5sep5DRhXv3G-Rk6GK/s1600/Screenshot-86.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">“Spray tans! $20! Step right up, folks, to get the best
spray tan </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">you've</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> ever had! Only $20 right now! Hurry, hurry!” The preppy
salesman shouted, standing in front of a tanning booth.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared came up behind me
and said, “Want to try it?” He pointed towards the spray tan area.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I looked
over there to see the salesman now doing an awkward dance, trying to get
people’s attention.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Hey, why not?” I said.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We made our way towards the man. He
told us to change into our bathing suits, so we did. “Ladies first!” The man
said, reaching his hand out towards mine. I took his hand and stepped into the
machine, closing the door behind me as the man moved out of the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">There were
several options to choose once I got into the machine, but I went with the best
choice I saw, reading ‘Sun Kissed Skin’, which sounded perfect to me. I hit the
button and stood how the machine had instructed me to, suddenly being hit with
an orange-colored spray. It sounded like a can of hairspray being used.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I just
hoped that everything would work. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1eVtTf0IDFjY5eowY4KhyphenhyphenVCN_6HG7CJNq1_tDrQM63AIcXGUfhCbcmDbeGUzEZ1ZeQgr_bnYz6vJ9sJkBgHttQ9jmiiquCwvP5sRXAy_qSs7si5mPVBH1fB9_YvwAANScMrAAElx62Yg/s1600/Screenshot-87.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1eVtTf0IDFjY5eowY4KhyphenhyphenVCN_6HG7CJNq1_tDrQM63AIcXGUfhCbcmDbeGUzEZ1ZeQgr_bnYz6vJ9sJkBgHttQ9jmiiquCwvP5sRXAy_qSs7si5mPVBH1fB9_YvwAANScMrAAElx62Yg/s1600/Screenshot-87.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“All done!” The robot voice inside the machine said,
“Now, go get all the dudes with your amazing sun-kissed skin!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I laughed and
opened the door, stepping back into the room. I stepped in front of a mirror,
admiring my tanned skin. It turned out great! I had envisioned images of me
turning out all orange, but since everything turned out well, I was thrilled!</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Wow,
you look great!” Jared said, admiring my golden skin. “Now it’s my turn.” Jared
said and made his way towards the machine.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GGJBPx2auetwOXrPw9aEErNDA-MGZEYw4zhKpl8MoQPSIZIejxE8c7cMRdblqa2FN2-44iQoTiSELj-7Jggq_ELUb2bcDVRbVaCJy5QFec6a6thAXIqoHJFaMUl5PPwmrvjU1TfqI__5/s1600/Screenshot-84.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GGJBPx2auetwOXrPw9aEErNDA-MGZEYw4zhKpl8MoQPSIZIejxE8c7cMRdblqa2FN2-44iQoTiSELj-7Jggq_ELUb2bcDVRbVaCJy5QFec6a6thAXIqoHJFaMUl5PPwmrvjU1TfqI__5/s1600/Screenshot-84.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jared stepped inside and chose his tanning option, while
I stood outside of the machine crossing my fingers that everything would turn
out good.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOr0V_eFxnI1deD1Wi1490UT71UzFAhfHf2qmBihUr4l1YfCQz-UN2sRlh_o_JKAHbohAMsRuxQ4sJaZf5G5J3gJUbFq8SqE0GaYNu8s5uA9OLo_d_swttNkYL7HO6yuR4zbLZhyfgvDaq/s1600/Screenshot-85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOr0V_eFxnI1deD1Wi1490UT71UzFAhfHf2qmBihUr4l1YfCQz-UN2sRlh_o_JKAHbohAMsRuxQ4sJaZf5G5J3gJUbFq8SqE0GaYNu8s5uA9OLo_d_swttNkYL7HO6yuR4zbLZhyfgvDaq/s1600/Screenshot-85.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared was laughing as the tanning booth door opened and
he stepped out. “Did your machine say something to you like ‘Finished! The
chicks will be all over you with that golden skin!’?”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I giggled with him, “Yes,
something along those lines.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The man clapped his hands as Jared and I both
stared in awe at our new tanned skin. “Wonderful, wonderful! Now, that will be
$40.” He held out his hand as I put two twenty dollar bills in it. Jared and I
both put back on our regular clothes after twenty minutes, our spray tans now
set and dry. The man assured us that it would stay for about three days, but I
highly doubted it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Jared and I walked around the festival for a bit, buying
some cotton candy here, playing some games there, and just having a good time.
The sun started to set and the festival’s big stadium lights turned on. They </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">weren't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> very bright, but it was way better than darkness.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtKQRGPGuLye4-sKdFMlMIkU8boaW6u2dD8Bc0-bsPcv_XPj0HkaU6jCDtGtdOFmUVDbHJ0H6GCEYfpYT008xsQ7tGnpf1ZRgW3h2gd7uOAB2hwOv2KEdairx66Vknj0mLHRv2H4hMMI5/s1600/Screenshot-92.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtKQRGPGuLye4-sKdFMlMIkU8boaW6u2dD8Bc0-bsPcv_XPj0HkaU6jCDtGtdOFmUVDbHJ0H6GCEYfpYT008xsQ7tGnpf1ZRgW3h2gd7uOAB2hwOv2KEdairx66Vknj0mLHRv2H4hMMI5/s1600/Screenshot-92.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Ohh! Do you want to roller skate again?” I said to
Jared, pointing at the rink.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Sure! Let’s go get our skates.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We walked to the
roller skate rental booth and asked for the same size roller skates again,
paying the woman $20 dollars for both of our pairs of skates.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Hey, you’re the
one who was the really good skater here yesterday, right?” The lady said,
pointing to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“I’m experienced, yes,” I smiled taking my skates from the
counter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared looked at me and winked, as if he was saying <i>‘See? You are good!’ </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I just laughed and
tied to skates on. We both had our skates on and both of us stepped onto the
rink, with more confidence than we did last time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">After skating around for a
little bit and getting my momentum again, I decided to start doing some spins.
I skated to the center of the rink and prepped for my turn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared slowed down
on the side of the rink to watch me.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pushed off the ground and lifted my foot
into the air, beginning to twirl with ease.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Pssh. I could do that!” Jared winked at me and skated towards
the center with me, as I finished my turn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Are you sure you feel comfortable
twirling? I can help you if you want,” I said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“Nah, I got this.” Jared copied
my movements when I spun around. He was perfectly balanced as he turned around
three times.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">He landed gently and said, “See?”</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I laughed at him, “You can do
it! But, can you do this?”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I picked up speed again and turned around, skating
backwards, while still making all of the turns and keeping perfect speed and
balance. Jared watched me closely as I glided around the rink backwards.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">It
felt so good to be doing this again. The last time I had roller skated like
this was when I just turned nine years old, since I had my ninth birthday party
at the roller skating rink. I felt like a little girl again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I came to a stop
in front of Jared, again, and said, “Now you try it.”</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Okay, watch and learn.”
Jared waved his arms in front of me as if he was casting a spell on me, and
then left to attempt backwards skating.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared barely ever took his eyes off from the ground
behind him, being very cautious.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I laughed as he tried to look at me, instead of the ground, but almost
took a fall while doing it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">He then stopped in the middle of the rink and
sighed. “Well, you watched, but I think I need to learn more from you.”</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I smiled,
“It’s alright, you’ll get the hang of it.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I fell asleep for the last time in our rental home, since
we were leaving Sunlit Tides and returning home tomorrow.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared and I ate the last of the leftover waffles that
morning in a rush, trying to get everything packed up and ready to go. We had
to be at the airport in an hour from then. Both of us quickly scarfed down our
waffles and washed the dishes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">We packed everything up and still had ten
minutes to spare.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our cab would arrive at our house in five minutes.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I looked at Jared as he walked out of the bedroom with
both of our suitcases, all packed up and ready to go. He set them down by the
front door, then walked over to me and put his hands around my waist. I put my
hand on his shoulder and leaned my head down with his.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“I really had a great
time on this trip with you, Jared.” I said, memories of every event clear in my
mind. “I will never forget this… thank you.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">Jared tilted his head up a little
bit and kissed me as I kissed him back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">“I love you,” I said, softly.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“I love
you, too,” Jared kissed me again.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Yy2YTTcz59V0oqz0xvS0IqvS-RFCxKaMOzjqW2lXbHxnphrSWo_MmlSwWTx5hcEDWS0tmGOzIk25OdpxQdM6wWBTA_2l4eFVnOAB3qbqdsWm80HggLNDSBgvekcOqYE7Gy3X_9FUX80L/s1600/Screenshot-100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Yy2YTTcz59V0oqz0xvS0IqvS-RFCxKaMOzjqW2lXbHxnphrSWo_MmlSwWTx5hcEDWS0tmGOzIk25OdpxQdM6wWBTA_2l4eFVnOAB3qbqdsWm80HggLNDSBgvekcOqYE7Gy3X_9FUX80L/s1600/Screenshot-100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The taxi horn honked outside, making us jump a little
bit. We quickly grabbed all of our belongings and closed the house door for the
last time. The taxi driver took our bags from us and put them into the trunk as
we sat down in the back.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I looked out of the back window as Jared held my hand
in his. I watched the rental house become smaller and smaller in the distance.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">I would never forget this trip. It was the best thing I
had ever done. On this trip, I did a lot of things I thought I would never do,
but I was glad that everything that happened did happen. I would always look
back on this trip in a positive way. Jared was my everything, and it made me so
joyous inside knowing that I was his everything, too. I loved him.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I faced
forward in the car as we were on our way to the airport, heading back home.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\</b></span></div>
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Heather Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10216231018458039386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6217454030654055977.post-68758167532949278732013-01-17T17:29:00.005-08:002013-06-17T15:19:02.505-07:00Chapter 12 ~ Well, Hello There!<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroxunltezIR4INvfbYSlyMEvLPx7PlPZ4Nhy7XyrBQ8obtmtpzXkOGvmfxc3y3ZUIA1-jp0wsb_ZFpPs6QbHHgLLy7pfjIxc0yK3GRMh6_bzZLZFe4DBHmSMt0KgazGlpdt_GuAlvb5ry/s1600/Screenshot-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroxunltezIR4INvfbYSlyMEvLPx7PlPZ4Nhy7XyrBQ8obtmtpzXkOGvmfxc3y3ZUIA1-jp0wsb_ZFpPs6QbHHgLLy7pfjIxc0yK3GRMh6_bzZLZFe4DBHmSMt0KgazGlpdt_GuAlvb5ry/s400/Screenshot-31.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I woke up before sunrise the next day. It felt way too early.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought about falling back asleep, but when I noticed that Kittles wasn't in her bed, I went on a mad search for her, hoping she didn't run away in the middle of the night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I felt very relieved when I found her scratching her scratching post downstairs.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I turned around to go back to bed when the baby monitor echoed with Jack's cries.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I headed up the stairs, faster than I had planned, knowing for sure that I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep this morning.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHRi3Km9pwhv8MqcI3z_Hce4D9T0A0s5k47U6Xslxdq0bgaeK5jLr05IoZyo5S3Y49aQQ1Ua81kFb5ZsursL_-V3bU6WtBJYtM3cT1duhgPjx8Z31jDUQLYtoB1hfSqXt7HpM_XBs3AL_/s1600/Screenshot-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcHRi3Km9pwhv8MqcI3z_Hce4D9T0A0s5k47U6Xslxdq0bgaeK5jLr05IoZyo5S3Y49aQQ1Ua81kFb5ZsursL_-V3bU6WtBJYtM3cT1duhgPjx8Z31jDUQLYtoB1hfSqXt7HpM_XBs3AL_/s400/Screenshot-33.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the sun started to make it's appearance, I took care of Jack.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I was changing his clothes, he pointed out the window and 'oohed' in awe at the frost building up on the window. I smiled at told him how it was just frost from the fall/winter chill outside. He wanted to look out the window, so I walked closer. His eyes widened as he saw the ground, trees, rocks, and houses covered in frost. I thought it looked beautiful, too, but we couldn't just stand there forever. I had to finish getting everyone ready.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About an hour later, I walked downstairs again to find Nicole brushing Miles and Bailey brushing Kittles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I smiled and asked them, "Do you guys just love them, or what?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole looked up at me with a huge grin on her face and said, "Mom, they're perfect and unique! Thank you so much for letting us keep them!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Oh, you're welcome. I love them just as much as you kids do, you know." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kittles purred in contentment as Bailey finished brushing her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole was right about them being adorable, but especially about them being unique.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suddenly, the bus horn honked out front. I looked at all of the frost again and made all of my kids put on a jacket and their choice of either a scarf, mittens, or a hat before they left.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Ugh, do we really have to, Mom?" Paris groaned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Do you not see the snow building up as we speak? You're going to freeze if you don't put something on!" I said as I put her hat on for her, since she refused to. "Now, have a good day at school, girls!" I waved to them, realizing I had no boys who were in school.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Things were different now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lot different.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went upstairs to take care of my only current boy in the house, Jack. I noticed something about him when I picked him up; he really needed a bath. I thought for a moment, then saw the bathing table Jay had given me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Time for a bath!" I sang in a cheery tone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jack wasn't so cheery at first. "But, Mom, I don't want to... it's scary."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"What's scary about a bath?" I started running the warm water as Jack sat on the counter space beside it. "Oh, is the drain scary?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He nodded his head. "Yeah, it's gonna suck me up." He looked as if he was going to cry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"No worries, as soon as the water is warm, we plug it up." I felt the water with my hands to see if it was at the right temperature or not. It felt perfect. "See? Watch." I plugged the drain and the water started to fill up around the little bath seat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jack looked relieved. "Okay, good."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I laughed and ruffled his hair as I placed him into the water. He insisted on keeping his shoes on, for whatever reason, and I let him. I don't know why I did, but I let him do it. That little goofball.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, when I started to wash his body, for some reason, he still didn't like it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was done scrubbing him and I knew exactly what would make him happier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Here, you can play in the bubbles if you want, Jack." I smiled at him, drying my hands with a towel from the shelves underneath the bath area.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His face lit up with excitement as he scooped up some of the bubbles with his little hands and put them on his chin, just like any other toddler would. I laughed at him as he became more and more creative with how he placed them on his face and body.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually, bath time was over, the water was drained, and Jack was all clean.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I came downstairs to a kitchen full of girls who were busily working on their homework, helping each other here and there. They all were laughing while doing their homework, which was strange to me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Is homework fun, or something?" I said, curiously.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They all laughed even more and Naomi finally answered my question. "It's super fun."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was still wondering, but I decided if they were having fun while doing homework, that I should let them. "Alright then. And, uh, Naomi? Why are you sitting on the floor?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She shrugged. "I dunno."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Alrighty then.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of a sudden, it hit me. I wasn't pregnant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know it's a weird thought for someone to have, but I'm constantly pregnant, so not having that big, baby bump is weird for me. I decided to head across the street to find the next baby daddy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Paris, you're in charge for tonight!" I said, handing her the extra car keys, just in case they needed to go somewhere.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She smiled and jingled the keys in her hand. "Don't worry, everything will be fine."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I smiled and closed the door, hoping that she was right and everything would be fine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I walked over there, in the rain, I thought about something else.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Would I ever find the love of my life and get married? Would I be willing to bend the challenge rules a little bit? Would that work? Would- </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Out of nowhere, lightning struck and interrupted my thought process. I immediately dropped all thoughts I had in my head and ran as fast as I could across the street. I was relieved when I made it to the front porch without getting electrocuted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was panting from running for my life when this man greeted me at the door.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His eyes a bright blue and his hair a dark brown, he was very handsome. I was sure that his child would be as cute as ever, that is, if he accepted my offer to be in my challenge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After he opened the door, he noticed that I was out of breath and he quickly invited me inside. He didn't say anything, all he did was stare at me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hi, I'm Payton Bear." I said, trying to get some conversation going. "And you are?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He shook his head as if he was trying to literally shake thoughts out of his head. "Hey." He sighed. "I'm sorry, you're just so beautiful, I couldn't find the right words to say. My name is Jared White." He shakily smiled, obviously nervous.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I felt a little flutter in my heart. I was in shock. No one had ever said that to me, besides my dad. That was years ago when I was last called beautiful. "Why, thank you." I blushed. Now I was the one who didn't know what to say. Out of habit, I just explained my challenge and asked if he wanted to participate, all while hoping on the inside he would agree.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Wow, that's cool. 100 kids? You sure, girl?" He laughed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gosh, his laugh was contagious.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Giggling, I managed to reply, "Yes, I'm totally sure."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Well, Payton," He smiled again, "I'd love to help you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was relieved, "Great!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"But.."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yes?" I raised an eyebrow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He seemed even more nervous now than he was before. "Are you sure I can't stay around for the baby, to you know, help out and watch him or her grow up?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was shocked. No other challenge dad had ever asked before hand about that. They always just seemed to want to have another baby with me, which is against the challenge rules. "Um, sure! If you really want to, I guess that's fine." I smiled slightly at him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His face lit up in relief. "Okay, great! I love little kids, and if it means spending more time with you, then I'm all in."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He tilted his head to the side and kissed me. Wow. Something lit up inside me as our lips met. I never felt this way with any other challenge dad before.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>It was like we were meant to be.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I shook the thought out of my head as we ended our kiss and headed to the bedroom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But... was it really true? Were we meant to be together? Would he be the one that I would end up marrying?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With all of the thoughts in my head, it was hard to focus on what my heart was telling me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After I was sure I was pregnant with his child, I fell asleep at his house. Paris was in charge at home anyways, and I had faith in her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As Jared turned out the lights and crawled back into bed, he put his arm around me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I love you, Payton."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't know what to say, but I tried to say what my heart was telling me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I love you, too."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sound of the rain hitting the windows woke me up. I found myself with my head on Jared's chest when I woke up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I rubbed my eyes and stretched as Jared, already awake, said, "Good morning, Payton." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I smiled and said "Good morning, Jared."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He laughed a little bit after looking at me for a few moments.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"What?" I laughed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He smiled and said, "You know, you sleep talk a lot."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Memories of my dad flooded my head. My dad used to always sleep talk. He told me I did, too, as a little girl, but I thought I grew out of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sat up and criss-crossed my legs on the bed as he told me all about what I was saying last night. He went on and on and on. "First, you were talking about how you were worried that Paris had burned the house down by accident, then you mumbled on about how the pet food dishes needed to be filled."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I laughed, remembering the dreams I had last night that all were along those lines.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, he suddenly looked sad. "But then... you started crying in your sleep, talking about your dad. I got worried, but I didn't want to wake you up, so I just rubbed your back until you stopped sleep talking."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sighed. "Yeah, I remember that dream, too." I started playing with my fingernails. "You probably don't want to hear my sob-story, so I'll just go." I started to get up and leave when Jared reached out to touch my arm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"No, Payton. It's fine. If you want to talk about it, I'm here for you." He said, sympathetically.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took a deep breath. "Okay, here goes nothing. So, um, my dad was a soldier in the military. He had been in the military for 5 years when my mom had me. He decided to stay home with my mom and I while I grew up. Right after my 3rd birthday, he decided to go back into the military. Little did I know, that goodbye was the last. He died in war, trying to save his partner from an incoming bullet. He dove in front of him, blocking it from harming his friend. His friend survived, but he didn't." Tears filled up in my eyes. "I still remember what he last said to me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>'Pay Pay, you never stop anyone from being the beautiful girl you are. Love you, bunches!'</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jared saw the tears in my eyes as I finished my story.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Wow, Payton... I'm sorry that you had to go through that." He couldn't find the right words to say, but when he wiped the tears from my cheeks and kissed me, I felt like he was all the comforting that I ever needed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a little more chatting, I got up to leave.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Wait, Payton, you forgot one thing." Jared said, getting up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I did?" I looked around, searching for my clothes, make-up, or umbrella to see if I was forgetting it. I had everything, though.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"This."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jared kissed me for the longest time, yet I didn't want to let go. I really felt a spark between us. Maybe we were meant to be husband and wife, or maybe best friends. I wasn't sure, but I knew one thing I was sure of.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He loved me without a doubt, but I was questioning if I loved him or not.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I arrived home to a sleeping toddler, quiet house, broken sink, giant puddles, and a plumber.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hi, Ma'm, I'm sorry about anything my kids did... I was out for the night and left my oldest teenager in charge." I apologized to the repair technician.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She looked up from her work. "Oh, no, it's fine. I got a call from a girl named Paris saying that the sink starting flooding while they were upstairs and needed someone to come fix it."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I smiled. "Oh, great! Thank you for fixing it, then!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The plumber started to put her tools away. "It's all done! Good as new."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Thank you very much!" I handed her $50 for the repair work and she was on her way out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, this left me alone to mop up the puddles from the sink breaking earlier.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I mopped I thought about what had happened at Jared's house. Millions of thoughts bounced around in my head, making me a little dizzy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Do I love him? Is he my soul mate? Are you sure, Payton? Is this the right thing to do? Should I listen to my heart or my brain? Is this what you want to do? Really? Why are you doubting yourself? What is happening?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was so much stress going on for me right then and there. I had to stop mopping the puddles for a few minutes to sit down, just to be able to stay conscious. I almost passed out, feeling so light-headed from the confusion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really felt lost. I had no idea what to do or where to go.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I'm just going to have to take it one step at a time.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really decided that I needed some fresh air.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"C'mon Miles, Kittles! Wanna go outside?" I said, playfully, making Miles' ears perk up. As I opened the door, Miles was skidding on the wood floor to get outside, while on the other hand, Kittles slowly rose out of her bed to follow me out the door. Boy, were they different.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sat on the front porch for a little bit, watching Miles run around and jump into the leaves and poke his head out. He eventually got tired and lied down in his warm dog house. I realized how big the house really was when he actually got in it. I could have saved money on a smaller one, but this one was so darn cute I just had to keep it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the other side of the yard, Kittles was running through her Kitty Palace, playing with a stuffed mouse on each level. She was adorable as she crawled through the tunnels, peeked her head out through the little windows, and pounced on her cute, mouse toy. She wasn't as active as Miles was, but I think all cats are like that. I loved having a cat and a dog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I finally got up and off of the porch to rake some leaves. I really needed to relax outside with fresh air to fill my lungs. But, I just really needed to loosen up. It didn't matter where. I was just so stressed with all of those thoughts, feelings, and questions bouncing around inside of me, so unwinding made me calm and feel better.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was done raking up a big pile, so I burned it to get rid of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Boy was that a mistake, though.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I lit the match and lit the pile of leaves, and little did I know, the breeze had caused the fire to catch the bushes and the grass on fire along with the leaves, too. I cursed under my breath as the fire became bigger and bigger, and getting hotter and hotter by the second. I ran inside as fast as I could to grab the fire extinguisher that hung up on the wall near the door. I freaked the pets out with how quickly I was moving and how scared I seemed. I just didn't want it to move the the house.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pulled out the little bit of braveness that I had to try and extinguish the bright and burning flames in the front yard. A huge cloud of smoke started to build up above the house as I struggled with getting it to calm down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a familiar looking man running towards me with another fire extinguisher. I looked closer and found out that it was Jared.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was instantly relieved. Hopefully he was braver than I was. I knew for a fact he was stronger than me. "Jared! Please help!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was shocked. "Payton, you live here?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't really have time for questions in that moment. "Obviously. Can you please help me?" I sounded sarcastic and mean by the way the tone in my voice sounded when I said it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He instantly starting aiming at the blazing fire with his fire extinguisher. He was able to do the trick. The fire had finally stopped burning, leaving only a burnt patch of grass behind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sighed as the fear of the raging fire was done and over with. I tossed the almost empty fire extinguisher on the grass by a tree and looked up at Jared. He seemed upset.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took a deep breath again and apologized. "I'm sorry... I didn't intend to sound mean, I was just panicking. Yes, I do live here, just right across the street from you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He smiled at me. "You know I'd never be mad at you, right? I just saw a huge cloud of smoke and came to help as soon as possible. I didn't know you lived here. That's awesome, though."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I smiled and gave him a hug as he accepted it and hugged me back even tighter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I'm just glad you're alright." Jared said, releasing our hug, but still holding his hands around my waist.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I left my hands around his neck and said, "As long as I'm here with you, I'm perfect."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Gah.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For some reason I felt as if I should've never said that. It was like I mentally slapped myself. I have no idea why, but I had a strange feeling it was all wrong.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Just go with your heart.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I kissed him as he kissed me back, and we stood there for what seemed like forever, the leaves falling and the pets playing together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The school bus horn honked very loudly, interrupting our little moment we had.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I let go of him and he let go of me. "You should stick around for a while, maybe we can go see a movie or something later."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He smiled and headed with me to the door. "Sounds like a plan."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My kids all looked at me curiously, but I just gave them that 'Not-Right-Now-I'll-Explain-Later' look and they instantly understood.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jared stayed downstairs in the kitchen to get something to eat as I went upstairs to check on Jack. When I walked in, Nicole was playing with him already.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Momma!" Jacks face lit up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I smiled at him and said, "Hey there, sleepy boy! You've been sleeping all day!" I ruffled his messy hair as he laughed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole put Jack down on the floor to play with some toys and told me she had questions for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"That guy was a challenge dad, huh?" She asked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yes, why?" I raised an eyebrow at her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"He seemed like much more than that to you. The way you looked at and held each other... I could just tell there was something more than just the challenge between you two." Nicole explained. "Are you dating?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought about it for a moment. "I honestly don't know." I finally said, "I feel that way, too... almost like we were meant to be. But, how would we stay together? I'm still doing my challenge no matter what, you know."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Well," she started, "As long as he's alright with it, you two could date, he could live here or what ever, and you could still call/meet other guys, <b>just</b> for the challenge."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hm." I thought about what she had said for a minute. "You know, that actually could work."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I then explained to her how we were planning on going to the movies or something later and how she could now be in charge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Now. Don't let the other girls do what they aren't supposed to or get into trouble while I'm gone. You can explain everything to them about me and Jared if you'd like to." I handed her the extra set of house keys and the keys to the extra car. "I'm trusting you."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Trust me. Everything will be fine! Now, go have fun with Jared!" She jingled the keys in her hand, then continued to take care of Jack.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtF7YKEce2VzoNMp-LZThNHzC2sRh4GOMA8TCEc1WuWnocsSY1Ke2ctTNWq8xGh2XMd2rPFWZVrF9DosZaVQF8zCK1w45LVXhjr0abtEJjSCrE5-DE8fSpaX1-P_wu6Nl4otq3v25Da-d_/s1600/Screenshot-77.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtF7YKEce2VzoNMp-LZThNHzC2sRh4GOMA8TCEc1WuWnocsSY1Ke2ctTNWq8xGh2XMd2rPFWZVrF9DosZaVQF8zCK1w45LVXhjr0abtEJjSCrE5-DE8fSpaX1-P_wu6Nl4otq3v25Da-d_/s1600/Screenshot-77.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I walked down the stairs to see Jared talking to all of the girls who were sitting at the dining table, being distracted from homework by listening to him. They all started busting up in laughter suddenly. I didn't know why, but it was probably because I didn't hear what Jared had said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started to slow down on the stairs, re-thinking what Nicole had said about dating Jared. It was a possibility, but I didn't know if right now was a good time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jared looked at me and I gave him that 'Let's-Talk-Somewhere-Else' look. He understood and walked towards the kitchen sink.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">“So, are we leaving soon?” He asked, checking the time on his watch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">“I
know where we are going, but I’m driving because it will be a surprise to you!
We are going…” I checked the wall clock to see what time it was. “Right now!” I
grabbed his hand and pulled him out the door with me. The door slammed when I
realized something.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Whoops, forgot one thing.” I poked my head back inside. “Paris,
you’re fired. Nicole is in charge.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The door closed for good this time and I
walked down the porch steps, still holding Jared’s hand, and left to the voice
of Paris whining and the other twins laughing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTaRlujM1Y0Kzx4j9JggVoxt7fOjlHnKqJ5NzZcKoGGdb6a1hL6wsQa4ydaNGb1G0DyYzU2XtLPr8IfyhwimhN6P5GeCEIcNpFoUGcTRy3kXrY0EYYNPDXjpvO91ZqTxjLTSDcXTAoznh/s1600/Screenshot-78.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTaRlujM1Y0Kzx4j9JggVoxt7fOjlHnKqJ5NzZcKoGGdb6a1hL6wsQa4ydaNGb1G0DyYzU2XtLPr8IfyhwimhN6P5GeCEIcNpFoUGcTRy3kXrY0EYYNPDXjpvO91ZqTxjLTSDcXTAoznh/s1600/Screenshot-78.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I hopped into the car and sat down in the front seat. “C’mon
Jared! I’m excited!” I smiled. He was taking his time to get there. “I’m
coming, I’m coming!” He reassured me, laughing. I started the car and drove out
of the driveway, excited to get there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiCJHLw6IL3LtzXIAQoP_kQHMrcETsEtV7esX_n1L2jotN9oe67Kz2Crhx0-RXI1OIPptEJO8P99RzXw1MRDnsvQgA2H7ieGX9AoRGzPMe1t8tT49dvzQjaaIGhl5i9PHAQi9sOu4V1KS/s1600/Screenshot-79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiCJHLw6IL3LtzXIAQoP_kQHMrcETsEtV7esX_n1L2jotN9oe67Kz2Crhx0-RXI1OIPptEJO8P99RzXw1MRDnsvQgA2H7ieGX9AoRGzPMe1t8tT49dvzQjaaIGhl5i9PHAQi9sOu4V1KS/s1600/Screenshot-79.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I parked the car and stepped outside, breathing in the
fresh, autumn night air. Suddenly, my stomach churned and I quickly said, “Be
right back, Jared.” before rushing to the bathroom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I then threw up everything
I had eaten that day. Well, at least I knew I was pregnant. I ate a mint and
walked back to the car.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Sorry, Jared, it’s just the sickness from pregnancy.”
I said, rubbing my stomach.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He looked down at me and frowned. “It’s all my
fault, huh?” He asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I smiled at him and said, “No, it’s not your fault. This
is the way it always goes. Besides, I’m as happy as I could ever be, carrying
our child inside of me.” He smiled and kissed me again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Gah.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>Why do I keep saying things like that? Do you really mean it,
Payton? Really?</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was getting really good at pushing my brain’s thoughts
out of my mind and listening to my heart’s wants.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>For the rest of the night, I’m going to listen to my heart and my heart
only.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFLHrR6my5v99p5buiZd4ZJXIVmU7nyH3BR_8-FgKeT0PPmDDHJMYTuEeUN30_jpM12OcVZUMxMqL6N7q0f0FNSHAvUiD3k7SYF7SK8luBXsULriJhqByo8zdNa7NmNYXBkDr5VD8PoPh/s1600/Screenshot-81.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFLHrR6my5v99p5buiZd4ZJXIVmU7nyH3BR_8-FgKeT0PPmDDHJMYTuEeUN30_jpM12OcVZUMxMqL6N7q0f0FNSHAvUiD3k7SYF7SK8luBXsULriJhqByo8zdNa7NmNYXBkDr5VD8PoPh/s1600/Screenshot-81.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We stood in the moonlight for what seemed like forever,
with my hands on his neck and his around my waist. Suddenly, music started to
get louder and louder, breaking us from our trance. I looked around and took in
a deep breath of the fresh air.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Well, we are at the Fall Festival, after all,
so let’s have some fun!” I said, grabbing one of Jared’s hands and pulling him
along with me towards all of the activities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We both laughed as he tried to
keep up with me, losing his balance here and there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My heart was fluttering the
whole night. Every time I looked at him, he smiled, or he laughed, I felt like
my world had slowed down and my heart was just happy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was at the fall
festival with Jared, my kids were safe at home, and I was pregnant with Jared
and I’s child.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Everything was <i>perfect</i>.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNl9DpVQmHHB6kPYwc2JgPKbsQqHE43n7JH8tAtiTTd-DWWsKxk5TxN8vx7tXTbIKEDvdUWXmLyeY5jGGjruGRftFOT9bUKZihAp5w_l6MvKrKONs_CPvbyXtLix9KeKhpum1bAx0feT8/s1600/Screenshot-85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNl9DpVQmHHB6kPYwc2JgPKbsQqHE43n7JH8tAtiTTd-DWWsKxk5TxN8vx7tXTbIKEDvdUWXmLyeY5jGGjruGRftFOT9bUKZihAp5w_l6MvKrKONs_CPvbyXtLix9KeKhpum1bAx0feT8/s1600/Screenshot-85.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As soon as Jared saw the pie-eating contest table, he
took control of where we were going, sending me flying this time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Are you
sure, Jared?” I said, not really wanting to participate in the competition.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Oh,
c’mon Payton, it’ll be <b>loads</b> of fun!”
He smiled at me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I took his word for it and headed closer towards the table. We
decided that it would be best to go on opposite ends, so that we would have no
idea who was winning. We all lined up with boysenberry pies in front of us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Two
small bell rings sounded and one long and loud horn sounded, signaling the beginning
of the contest! All of us smashed our faces into the pies, eating as fast as we
could.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was down to just the pie crust left when the festival worker announced
that Jared and I were both tied, and that it would be a photo finish. I was
determined to beat him. I swallowed the last bit of the pie and raised my hands
in victory, only to hear another cheering voice at the same time I shouted.
Jared and I had tied. We looked at each other and laughed. I guess we were both
really good at this sort of thing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The festival worker then shouted, “Award
goes to this young man in the red!”, and handed Jared an award, plus a bunch of
pies. I cheered and clapped for Jared, along with everyone else, when suddenly,
Jared then looked at me and said, “I think Payton deserves it way more than I
do. Congratulations to the most beautiful girl in the world, Payton Bear!”
Jared handed me the award and all of the pies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Awe, thanks, babe.” I said,
kissing him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Jared then stopped for a moment. “I don’t really like the nickname
‘babe’. We should come up with really cute nicknames for each other! Want to?”
He raised an eyebrow at me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With a smile on my face, I said, “Sure.” “Okay, I’ll
go first. You’ll be Pay for short and Little Red for a nickname!” He said,
confidently.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I smiled, looking at my hair color. I thought it was adorable. “I
love it! You’ll be Jer for short and Jear-Bear as your nickname!” I said,
proudly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“It’s perfect. Just like you.” He kissed me in the middle of the
festival.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The moon was shining bright, the music was playing, the orange leaves
were falling, and fireworks were going off in celebration.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That moment was
<i>perfect</i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I felt perfect, Jared was perfect, and the night was perfect.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">No, it
was better than perfect.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">It was outstanding, amazing, fantastic, awesome, and
absolutely stunning.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZrwy7kciP4IlP2huAKsT6q5IvvGwnt7R4c2mJvIjIgayYTI2YVuELKo201RkIocYPJhc5R-96jlQsFNLmw1lyJX6VAjZQCYvbL9AMkpX4_lUmEdZB7Czz8uQ56v6KoZ2YXBtDx7pP6-t/s1600/Screenshot-95.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZrwy7kciP4IlP2huAKsT6q5IvvGwnt7R4c2mJvIjIgayYTI2YVuELKo201RkIocYPJhc5R-96jlQsFNLmw1lyJX6VAjZQCYvbL9AMkpX4_lUmEdZB7Czz8uQ56v6KoZ2YXBtDx7pP6-t/s1600/Screenshot-95.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I got home to a house full of sleeping kids and sleeping
pets.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Everything was unusually quiet. It was strangely relaxing, though.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It
gave me time to think about everything that had happened this day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Meeting
Jared, to me, was I think the best thing I have ever done. I feel so complete
when I’m with him. But, what to do, oh, what to do?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I went into the bathroom and turned the shower water on
the ‘hot’ setting. I really needed to just take a nice, relaxing, warm shower
to loosen up and think about everything.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I scrubbed my face with face wash, trying to get the face paint from the festival off.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As the steam started to fog up the
bathroom mirrors, I thought everything over, never taking my mind off of the
situation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I decided that I just needed a full night’s sleep, and then I’ll
feel better in the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I pulled the covers over me and I turned out the bedroom
light.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><i>You just need to sleep, Payton.
Then, everything will be better.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">My thoughts were right. I just needed
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After about 30 minutes, I finally fell asleep as I was lost in a world of
thoughts, confusion, pregnancy, and love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Heather Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10216231018458039386noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6217454030654055977.post-90123613293920611812013-01-04T20:24:00.002-08:002013-01-05T13:31:33.392-08:00Chapter 11 - Paws and Wings! (Baby #6)<div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>First off, I would like the thank The Baudelaire Legacy and Calista's Crazy Colorful Cats for the new family fur balls!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Check out The Baudelaire Legacy <a href="http://www.thebaudelairelegacy.blogspot.com/">here</a>!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Check out Calista's Crazy Colorful Cats <a href="http://www.facebook.com/CalistasCrazyCats?fref=ts">here</a>!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Enjoy the chapter!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next morning was as normal as they always were in this family. Waking up to the sound of growls on the sunny Saturday morning, the calmness after the kids are taken care of, and the strong scent of my coffee coming from the kitchen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a nice Saturday morning, so far.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hey, Mom!" Paris said, as I stirred creamer into my morning coffee, "Nicole and I are going to rake the leaves... wanna come?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I will come with you girls, but, after I finish my coffee, okay?" I smiled at their cute faces.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Okay!" They dashed out the front door and towards the trees with leaves scattered all on the grass below them. I sipped the last drops of my coffee and headed out, realizing that raking leaves would be difficult with my huge, pregnant stomach that was always in the way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mainly just helped them build up the big leaf piles and burn them, leaving a patch of burned grass in random spots.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was all pretty relaxing. I went to walk back inside, but I noticed all of the sad, rotten pumpkins on the front porch. All of my kids' jack-o-lanterns didn't last very long. The only ones left were my toddlers'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I grabbed a trash bag from one of the kitchen cupboards and gathered all of the sad, rotten, deflated pumpkins into it. It made me a little sad that the little moment of joy we had as a family making those jack-o-lanterns had nothing to represent it anymore. It was just a memory now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know that it seems like a silly little thing to feel sad about, but it was one of the rare times that we were all together as a family doing an activity with each other. I'm always so busy and the kids are, too. It was a fun moment that we all had together that I was proud of.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It occurred to me how much I cared about this moment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I just need to make more of them.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bent down a little bit to drop the trash bag into the trash can when I felt a strong kick in my stomach. It did hurt, but I figured I had just overdone it for today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walking up the porch steps, I felt another strong pain coming from my stomach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Labor was the only thought of what was happening I had in my mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Barely making it to the nursery in time, I welcomed Jack Bear into the world!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought of the name Jack with all of the sadness in my mind with the dead jack-o-lanterns that are now in the garbage can. Jack would be our new "jack-o-lantern" for us in the middle of fall right now. I was thankful he was a boy, too. I need</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ed a boy to break the streak of girls.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Welcome, Jack!" I gave him a kiss on the cheek.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His little, bright pink eyes, inherited from his dad, sparkled up at mine as a little smile showed across his sweet face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sat down in a chair and unwrapped his blanket a little bit to play with his fingers and toes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To my surprise, I discovered little blue wings coming out of his back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You're a FAIRY!" I shouted in excitement, way louder than I should have.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stared in awe at his natural blue sparkle and glow on his face that he had to him. He was <b>adorable</b>. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Let's see what else you look like!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With that, I called everyone downstairs for birthdays.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jay aged up into a smart, brave, kind young adult. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was handsome and would </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">definitely</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> have no problem building a family of his own, with his good looks and love for kids.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, aging up into a young adult meant moving out on your own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would focus on that after all of the other birthdays, though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My first set of twin girls grew up into beautiful teenagers. I loved them so much!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My second set of twin girls aged up into gorgeous little werewolf children. They were as excited as I had ever seen them when they found their werewolf fur finally growing, their fangs getting sharper, their growls becoming deeper and their eyes turning more yellow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They were adorable little werewolves!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, Jack was obviously as cute as anyone could be. His vibrant blue/pink/purple hair, bright pink eyes, and sparkling blue wings. He was the best fairy I had ever seen and as adorable as ever! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How could you not just fall in love with that sweet, fairy face?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of my other kids admired his wings and natural sparkle and glow he had to him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was something else, I tell you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the birthday excitement dying down and the cakes being put away in the fridge, I knew exactly what time it was. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Time to say goodbye.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jay looked at me from across the room with that 'Well-I-Guess-It's-Now-Or-Never' look on his face. We both sighed as he held his arms out, asking for a hug.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I tried to hold in the tears as he rubbed my back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Jay," I started to say, my voice starting to become shaky, "You were such a big help to me and I'm glad that you were my first child. Thank you for always helping out and encouraging me. I'm going to miss you." I hugged him even tighter. "I love you, Jay... bunches."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He hugged me back and sniffed a little bit, too. "I love you too, mom. But, you know that this isn't goodbye forever, right? I promise I will keep in touch with you. Always."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a bitter-sweet moment. Sweet that my challenge was making progress, but bitter because I had to accept that fact that my kids were growing up and moving on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And with that, he had taken his belongings and walked out of the house, calling a taxi.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I grabbed a tissue and wiped the tears from my cheeks as I watched him drive away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I couldn't believe that my first child had just moved out as an adult. I don't think I will ever be as emotional as I was with Jay moving out as I will be with any other kids. Jay was just my only child for a long time and he was with me and as loving and helpful as any child could ever be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I surely would miss him. But, like he said, it wasn't the last goodbye.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"But, Mommy, why can't I just fly?" Jack whined, blocking the morning sunshine from his face by covering it with his hand. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Well, everyone else learns to walk as a toddler, including you. It'll be fun!" I put his hands in mine and helped him stand up. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He sure was smart for a toddler, trying to get his way around things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Maybe his fairy powers made him smarter.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm pretty sure I was right. He caught on <b>way </b>faster than any of my other kids had.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Within 20 minutes, he had it down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Now can I just fly everywhere?" He smiled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I smiled back at him. "Sure."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He first floated off of the ground, then flew in circles around the block table.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yay! I'm better at flying than walking, anyways." He had a smirk on his face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I giggled and kissed him on the cheek.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the ring of a doorbell, I was out of the nursery, and opening the front door to see Jacob standing there, a frown on his face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was instantly curious. "Uh..."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, looking nervous. "I know that challenge rules are to only... you know... 'have a baby' once and then not see each other again, but I was wondering if maybe, you-"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<b>No.</b>" I interrupted, "These things are a one time, and one time only, kind of deal. I'm sorry, but the answer is a definite no."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Oh, c'mon-" He pleaded.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cut him off again, "<b>NO. </b>Now get away from me and my family."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He gave up the fight and jumped back in his car, intimidated by me a little bit.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really didn't mean any harm, I just never want to/ like to deal with the challenge dads after already having the baby.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went back inside to check on my little baby, whose dad had just run off.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was as cute as ever, playing with a toy rocket, not even bothering to get out of the toy chest.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everything was normal and happy, until I heard a loud pounding on the front door.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I opened the door, looking for a person, when, to my surprise, I heard a meow instead of a voice. I looked down and saw a cat and a small dog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole's words and smile rang back through my mind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"Are we getting a puppy?"</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They were strangely colored, with multi-colored spots covering both of their bodies. It looked like both of them had got into a fight with a huge bin of art supplies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Maybe it was paint.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bent down and looked at them closer as the dog playfully bowed, shaking his butt in the air and the cat lifted her paw up to put it on my hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I carefully pet each pet's fur to inspect their strange colored dots.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My hand ran smoothly through each animals' fur. It defiantly wasn't paint. It was an odd color for a cat or dog to have, but I guess it just makes them very unique.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought about keeping them for a little bit, but when the dog started licking my hand and the cat rubbed her face on my leg, I instantly fell in love with the both of them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey, we had room in our family, so why not keep them?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was decided.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These two animals are now part of the Bears!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I called all of my kids down to make friends with our new pets.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole was the one who was down there first. She was confused at their strange colors at first, but after I explained everything to her and added in that we were keeping them, her eyes lit up with excitement.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The dog was instantly drawn towards her, too. They had a special connection right from the beginning. She bent down, letting the dog sniff her hand, and instead, the dog smothered her hand in kisses, making Nicole bust out in laughter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As they were bonding, I realized that neither of us even bothered to look at their name tags on their collars.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Once he stops kissing your hand, you should check to see what his name is. I never bothered to look." I said, picking up the cat to check hers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It says 'Miles'." She smiled, "That name is perfect!" She rubbed his ears with love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I read the cat's name out loud. "Kittles. Her's is pretty good, too." I scratched her neck.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She squirmed to get down after a while of me carrying her, so I put her down. She ended up sniffing my hand, too! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess it's something that all pets do to get to know a person. I wouldn't know, since my mom was always <i>very </i>against having a pet, even though I had begged her for years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, it was my house, my family, and my rules, so we were going to have pets!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought about it for a while and came to the conclusion that I would probably take care of them myself, without help from the kids. They would most likely only be willing to fill their pet bowls and play with them, but I was totally fine with it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having pets is a big responsibility, but I was ready for what was ahead of us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I led Kittles inside with the kids and Miles to relax and make themselves at home.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole bought some pet supplies and watched the pets for a while to make sure they were comfortable with their new home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I was about to head inside, too, I heard a shout from the street.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Wait, Mrs. Bear?" I looked back and standing there was a delivery man pulling a large box out of his delivery truck.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yes?" I was curious. The only mail that I ever received was bills. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is that package for me?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He started rolling it up the pathway on a cart. "Sure is. I just need you to sign here." He handed me a clipboard that read 'To: Mrs.Bear From: Jay Bear ... Love you Mom! Hope this will help you out.'. I quickly signed the paper and brought the box inside the house to open it up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After being distracted by Kittles and her cute little face for a few minutes and reading a few assembling instructions, I figured out that he had given me a baby/toddler changing/bathing table and 3 baby monitors.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stopped what I was doing for a moment because I was so shocked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was living on his own now... how could he afford to just gift this to me?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was always very generous and kind-hearted, but I worried about him financially a little bit. I got up off the floor and stopped assembling the table to mail Jay some cash before I forgot to do it later. I put the same words on the note in the envelope as he did, changing the 'Mom' to 'Jay'. I also added a little 'P.S.' note telling him how much I loved and appreciated this gift.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About an hour went by, and the table was built, in the nursery, and the monitors were placed around the house. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I fell in love with it and couldn't wait to use it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As soon as I went back downstairs to check on the new pets after building the changing table, I saw Miles playing with a squeaky bone toy he got out of the dog toy crate. I laughed at how he rolled on his back with the toy in his mouth, the way his ears flapped around, and the way he was growling at the toy. The squeaking got annoying really fast, but the way Miles played with it sure didn't. I knew I wasn't going to regret bringing these pets into the family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upon further inspection, I found Kittles playing with a wall feather toy that Nicole had hung up for her. She swatted the feather over and over again, entertaining herself with the new toy. I grabbed something to eat from the fridge when I heard her sneeze over and over again. The toy must have tickled her nose. I laughed from the other room and dug into my plate of leftover cake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I then saw Paris come down and plug in the coffee maker.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Coffee?" I looked at the clock. It was getting late. "Really?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She shrugged her shoulders as she placed a cup into the machine. "Eh, why not?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You're going to get all buzzed from the caffeine in that drink. You just wait." I warned her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About 15 minutes later, I was right. She was all hyped up on coffee.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"See? What did I tell you?" We both laughed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I'll just get some work done around the house. Take out the trash, feed the pets, you know, make use of my late-night energy." She rinsed out her mug.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"There you go." I gave her a pat on the back. I was thankful she was willing to help out. This way I could relax for a little bit.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_9ISoY4cQJ1MXOSIa8tTn85YD0IUENGsPl6Der4-p0hGstYNG4Tl2KXA-RzrBrAUc0VcJU4-uIQUXpnRDwKnf5RUuPl7GUeSIK_EtuJ9SrehQq1UpD_JRTbvho75QGdr7Yah1iXhJtkK/s1600/Screenshot-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_9ISoY4cQJ1MXOSIa8tTn85YD0IUENGsPl6Der4-p0hGstYNG4Tl2KXA-RzrBrAUc0VcJU4-uIQUXpnRDwKnf5RUuPl7GUeSIK_EtuJ9SrehQq1UpD_JRTbvho75QGdr7Yah1iXhJtkK/s400/Screenshot-18.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris indeed did what she said she would do. She filled the pets' food dishes, one with cat food and one with dog food. Miles didn't hesitate to dig right in, but Kittles spent some time pawing her food before eating it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris left upstairs to put Jack in his crib, while I stayed downstairs and washed the dishes.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwsOgfRHExg2UGGY0rJ9-Sm3kLGassUWqldcELZ-LywTxEKHSaYxvKpn-CjEqVR_jCwtR2m7jChoWO_fTJqgnDOCopWnLEGTQU6ORHzaniYTOtf_R2gXbHeYSNxz19oi5Lc7lCY69L-1p/s1600/Screenshot-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwsOgfRHExg2UGGY0rJ9-Sm3kLGassUWqldcELZ-LywTxEKHSaYxvKpn-CjEqVR_jCwtR2m7jChoWO_fTJqgnDOCopWnLEGTQU6ORHzaniYTOtf_R2gXbHeYSNxz19oi5Lc7lCY69L-1p/s400/Screenshot-12.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suddenly, I felt my back pocket vibrate. I pulled out my phone to find a new message from Paris. This picture was attached to it. I read the message.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It looks like Miles followed me up into the nursery. Him and Jack love each other!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I laughed at the way both of them looked curious of each other.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrvSR8_PCA9J1RQ_Stn28nzjUonKbT0iDUd2BDt6MNr0krQb4BXayIqcrS5HtzXjTAHh2zAU9c0jMivhofPEiCzMFqMCU1i8L6Q7e2txScegZsWKkaYtn72e-KWmb3y8QDdNU9QUHl3_1/s1600/Screenshot-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrvSR8_PCA9J1RQ_Stn28nzjUonKbT0iDUd2BDt6MNr0krQb4BXayIqcrS5HtzXjTAHh2zAU9c0jMivhofPEiCzMFqMCU1i8L6Q7e2txScegZsWKkaYtn72e-KWmb3y8QDdNU9QUHl3_1/s400/Screenshot-19.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Out of the blue, I heard a weird, electronic noise. Peeking around the corner of the stairs, I realized it was some sort of high-tech litter box Nicole had picked out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I figured out that every time Kittles would use it, it would automatically clean it using some sort of laser technology. Seemed odd to me, but if it kept me out of cleaning the cat litter, I was totally fine with it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQtV5bB1A2rj2DTxfvlqjOyQn-RQ-f2g6Ni21-JNezvW_d1tHQjNBwhKLDeCncE8V0GO7kl-vueLSOsBPk_qWq0yK7iLuWWIk4Xq3KmtGJ_M3jLu-dUkyiqLRrb7tFMXfRFTwAE2P5ksN/s1600/Screenshot-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXQtV5bB1A2rj2DTxfvlqjOyQn-RQ-f2g6Ni21-JNezvW_d1tHQjNBwhKLDeCncE8V0GO7kl-vueLSOsBPk_qWq0yK7iLuWWIk4Xq3KmtGJ_M3jLu-dUkyiqLRrb7tFMXfRFTwAE2P5ksN/s400/Screenshot-20.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With all of the kids and pets taken care of, I figured I would go to bed, since all of my other children were sound asleep. I started to head up the stairs, and Kittles followed right behind me. I really loved her. I wanted her to be <i>my </i>kitty. I've always wanted a kitty, too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I was changing into my PJ's, I came up with an idea.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kittles can be mine, and Miles can be all of ours!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought it was a great idea, so I decided to go with it and announce the news to the kids tomorrow.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5GMQb_xgaW_fHzWV4SwKmd-o1uocnhyphenhyphenTjqr3D8SGO5AEQ6f14l8oWw1FbLPS1rQHLS07FfaulZVUfbr3p1LaxGOZe1E41Hi1J8i91IQAEyYZqbOEbCb2lcPDhmGtRgLXZFCWK-eDpyvW/s1600/Screenshot-21+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5GMQb_xgaW_fHzWV4SwKmd-o1uocnhyphenhyphenTjqr3D8SGO5AEQ6f14l8oWw1FbLPS1rQHLS07FfaulZVUfbr3p1LaxGOZe1E41Hi1J8i91IQAEyYZqbOEbCb2lcPDhmGtRgLXZFCWK-eDpyvW/s400/Screenshot-21+%25282%2529.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miles was already sleeping in his small, blue bed when I walked in.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pZFT9rpF113xrkbka0tZcSYfuw1aaoOYVstQz8Ejkbd8QAQLrUG81nZX5_8yi2-_97My-ZIU4SBPt8x_ViKaYtEH5z6t4_hFT1puebj4adFshn3XEVBaYpf_UuKi3fQcaU8IERJtbnxj/s1600/Screenshot-22+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pZFT9rpF113xrkbka0tZcSYfuw1aaoOYVstQz8Ejkbd8QAQLrUG81nZX5_8yi2-_97My-ZIU4SBPt8x_ViKaYtEH5z6t4_hFT1puebj4adFshn3XEVBaYpf_UuKi3fQcaU8IERJtbnxj/s400/Screenshot-22+(2).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kittles had no choice but to sleep in the leopard-print bed. I found it adorable how our beds matched. I also loved the pets sleeping in my bedroom with me. That way, I won't have to worry about them escaping in the night, because if they leave, I'll hear it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjU0WQ3yYK_uJNwGZ2wSx5EZcoD6pemc6ImIoMTmJAROeJVOHplaSkd3nveoYGNEfLXCdPQEd-bFR9luVMXStrK10XGAiARGAA9RBstT4wg1cTOP5phXSwsIGgL30bEwhji9_T7rvWJNaD/s1600/Screenshot-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjU0WQ3yYK_uJNwGZ2wSx5EZcoD6pemc6ImIoMTmJAROeJVOHplaSkd3nveoYGNEfLXCdPQEd-bFR9luVMXStrK10XGAiARGAA9RBstT4wg1cTOP5phXSwsIGgL30bEwhji9_T7rvWJNaD/s400/Screenshot-23.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I pulled my bed covers up and laid my head down on the soft pillow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday and today had been pretty successful, with my 6th child, birthdays, and 2 new pets, I would call it a great new start in the new house... in my new life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I just had to wait and see how the whole fairy child and pets thing would work out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only time could tell.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Thank you for reading and sorry for the long wait, the holidays caught up with me!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I also apologize for the shortness of this chapter!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I love you all, and don't forget, all feedback is appreciated!</b></span></div>
Heather Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10216231018458039386noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6217454030654055977.post-19835872334663945512012-12-19T09:24:00.000-08:002012-12-19T09:24:05.035-08:00Chapter 10 - Changes, Changes, and Changes!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISvqJRepjCpy70X2HzxciaExVcqnDxVPUBLOY7wk5rkLz4EB1QK0ZlcrcAhOy6wuyHisJxUjg4PAeo9dGMFZ8xVaxZVOy9fdstrdAxmcZZ6G9PK7Z5sNYYO4_UYi7DoyQdqp0kRYZZm8D/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISvqJRepjCpy70X2HzxciaExVcqnDxVPUBLOY7wk5rkLz4EB1QK0ZlcrcAhOy6wuyHisJxUjg4PAeo9dGMFZ8xVaxZVOy9fdstrdAxmcZZ6G9PK7Z5sNYYO4_UYi7DoyQdqp0kRYZZm8D/s1600/1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was time for a change. Something different.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved my house, of course, but it felt weird living in the same house that I grew up in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It felt like I wasn't on my own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was time to move.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I called all of the kids downstairs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Okay, guys." I said, looking at all of their sweet faces. "Guess what we are gonna do!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole took a shot and guessed. "Are we getting a puppy?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I laughed and said, "No, sweetie."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Darn." She looked sad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I kept her want for a pet in mind while I announced the news.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"We are moving to Sunset Valley!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of my kids started cheering and my werewolf twins howled in excitement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"When are we leaving?" Jay asked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't really think about that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I shrugged. "I guess right now. Go grab what you want to take with you!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of my kids ran upstairs to their rooms with excitement, getting ready to move.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went into the nursery and grabbed Naomi and Bailey's werewolf teddy bears to take.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After about 20 minutes, everyone met downstairs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Say 'Goodbye house!'" I said to Bailey as I held her in my arms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Buh-Bye house!" Bailey said, waving and blowing kisses towards the stairs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of us laughed and loaded up into the car to drive to our new home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a 45 minute drive, we finally pulled up to our new house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I smiled in excitement as I realized how beautiful our house is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking into the back of the car, I found everyone but Jay to be sleeping.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Softly rubbing their arms and shaking my kids awake, we all grabbed our belongings and headed out of the car.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just fell in love with my new pink car in the driveway as we got closer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The closer you got, the more beautiful the house became.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had been looking at this house secretly online for a while, but it looked 10 times better in person.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNw1hyPqpxRD0U7Vx0xlOd8-JMbMpk5Te7Z2DPuk8HKV-RVKZczebbhJKIy_Vyn4WDPBkb4beKuD9tnhw2WMX_d_EI5DwScanHF8H_d-PY65Osu0YtC4yPa1VwvKIxHzhRPVUrBKqax-7o/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNw1hyPqpxRD0U7Vx0xlOd8-JMbMpk5Te7Z2DPuk8HKV-RVKZczebbhJKIy_Vyn4WDPBkb4beKuD9tnhw2WMX_d_EI5DwScanHF8H_d-PY65Osu0YtC4yPa1VwvKIxHzhRPVUrBKqax-7o/s1600/8.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The porch looked amazing. I couldn't wait to use it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris said she liked the mistletoe being outside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Why?" I asked.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It'll make it more romantic when it is cold outside." She replied, with a professional tone in her voice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Ugh, she has been reading too many romance novels." Nicole groaned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just giggled at both of them and took out the house key from my pocket.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VNmM93g6YuvGXmQw98LPq4LofnFAOLGX0Rd7e0_1-0R3RGzlcpCz6f0s-ciN3O_AZXWCMdoxw3O4GkHSbOObIglcKP4LgnQIDfPrg3KAl6cXLrO8vk2-zDCxG99-mNclaVz88eePcm5c/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VNmM93g6YuvGXmQw98LPq4LofnFAOLGX0Rd7e0_1-0R3RGzlcpCz6f0s-ciN3O_AZXWCMdoxw3O4GkHSbOObIglcKP4LgnQIDfPrg3KAl6cXLrO8vk2-zDCxG99-mNclaVz88eePcm5c/s1600/5.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we walked into the house, I told the kids to go, explore, and have fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I first walked into the gorgeous kitchen as my kids ran up the stairs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved the accent of blues everywhere.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRw_zvNhGW5dbdsISfIzIlbTb9axAr93cSuvyv4jR-SS_SkHyb8WLIITVh339hsYaRpuK731dYqhd1OFcfH9h-mhofTS3EXQzqtBTWqaGhd6QJ_4HhiSiw5hR5QQOrQgKCzTIxWbm6sGo/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRw_zvNhGW5dbdsISfIzIlbTb9axAr93cSuvyv4jR-SS_SkHyb8WLIITVh339hsYaRpuK731dYqhd1OFcfH9h-mhofTS3EXQzqtBTWqaGhd6QJ_4HhiSiw5hR5QQOrQgKCzTIxWbm6sGo/s1600/11.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The nursery was adorable! The tree bookshelf, I think, tied the whole room together.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbua15tUbYInMPadwuHy83TiiHiOHjR0ZCmDkIUb04pLxgmx_OrPpmLillzOJT3rpTmheTG4SbKxJ5jXWCLAYLn_cSM3mbi7yUES5TtFZCLdX0uCzEOFwz4rfv3Q-7xysjfmv6RggGC13/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRbua15tUbYInMPadwuHy83TiiHiOHjR0ZCmDkIUb04pLxgmx_OrPpmLillzOJT3rpTmheTG4SbKxJ5jXWCLAYLn_cSM3mbi7yUES5TtFZCLdX0uCzEOFwz4rfv3Q-7xysjfmv6RggGC13/s1600/12.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved my new bedroom, my favorite part being the leopard-print bed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHIZxuDWd7ZQdaAdrn6l0hDAki8PUJIX9y1rI8SaKJvQPkDlPSQv1EzyS4ba_L6Bk8j8ubZi1vfuTD2sUcpa6So3hCBcBtVDkhi08AFmZmOeQBJJDG1j0kH0Hpkr0kjGvlkTutsm59675/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHIZxuDWd7ZQdaAdrn6l0hDAki8PUJIX9y1rI8SaKJvQPkDlPSQv1EzyS4ba_L6Bk8j8ubZi1vfuTD2sUcpa6So3hCBcBtVDkhi08AFmZmOeQBJJDG1j0kH0Hpkr0kjGvlkTutsm59675/s1600/16.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kids' room was everything they wanted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I walked in as everyone was claiming their beds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I call the butterfly one!" Paris shouted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Good, because I like the patchwork one better!" Nicole said with a face filled with joy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I already know which one is mine." Jay said, laughing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I giggled and moved on to the rest of the house.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGlPOHjTHrl6yZgZPfn-hwBAOkiiJ_5TPkyxZKUmLUL_ZNXnVUH0xkZEIfRiBrUIkspJeljbh_EpxUfQA9RbZY3EOxSzxaJ5KbEjKDyzmeZS32rlKLVjh0RITu0q2rsAKuOiSz_DTTa9R/s1600/19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGlPOHjTHrl6yZgZPfn-hwBAOkiiJ_5TPkyxZKUmLUL_ZNXnVUH0xkZEIfRiBrUIkspJeljbh_EpxUfQA9RbZY3EOxSzxaJ5KbEjKDyzmeZS32rlKLVjh0RITu0q2rsAKuOiSz_DTTa9R/s1600/19.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walking out the slider back doors, I found a porch with lounge chairs and a grill.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I looked really nice, and I was very pleased with it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0DL-ibcI6jeOoeZl3YsNCIrNnIoOHWkcJEJp3gUU4luXpOCDZBnMWV_Lh8pOj5jawRmnBOwPWbn7oBVRgx7oz1_IvY1xF4EcsvRV0zuXA5aXyn2sQura4D4XxTZlNR2nHU-mD2xzMMgm/s1600/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg0DL-ibcI6jeOoeZl3YsNCIrNnIoOHWkcJEJp3gUU4luXpOCDZBnMWV_Lh8pOj5jawRmnBOwPWbn7oBVRgx7oz1_IvY1xF4EcsvRV0zuXA5aXyn2sQura4D4XxTZlNR2nHU-mD2xzMMgm/s1600/20.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I looked to my right, I saw a hot tub surrounded by bushes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I couldn't wait to use it!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-JgboDkCmKkxY7gY14K6aaVYbjHhPeaPvIQwzuk1XKOBBKVgMqPmeyWfalPQqrQCSPlbVOD039bhoUxhJpWesPdWO7Ws7hAxq5ApLCBNeww2WwsDHY_-Iic8FpYPGQj23bSSpzf2Xb6T/s1600/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-JgboDkCmKkxY7gY14K6aaVYbjHhPeaPvIQwzuk1XKOBBKVgMqPmeyWfalPQqrQCSPlbVOD039bhoUxhJpWesPdWO7Ws7hAxq5ApLCBNeww2WwsDHY_-Iic8FpYPGQj23bSSpzf2Xb6T/s1600/21.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I walked back into the house to get everything settled.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I asked Jay for some help, and like the great son he is, he helped me get the toddlers settled in the new nursery.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0G6DB6NVDHUB9knw2BhT5l0a3smuPXJMlSx5bbMzuzHp5QQu6tfYlxCR1M3ECUaXMQmozriyq7hkWtLjw19bF_ppcDTz21qvzKew-86g4Kz-eXyQAykDTzOUBPI7Nfj1-Axd8yk9Mwe_/s1600/26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0G6DB6NVDHUB9knw2BhT5l0a3smuPXJMlSx5bbMzuzHp5QQu6tfYlxCR1M3ECUaXMQmozriyq7hkWtLjw19bF_ppcDTz21qvzKew-86g4Kz-eXyQAykDTzOUBPI7Nfj1-Axd8yk9Mwe_/s1600/26.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He escaped to his room to play computer games, but it was fine with me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He said he loved the new laptop because it ran 'Tony Hawk: Pro Skateboarding' better than the old computer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As long as he was happy, I was happy.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVUDAXpqHWCAp0ScURHPEsLivxmyNLQWFwjtxUpJxrVNWsSPxpQncd1_DriG6Vn_eVrEN1Td9b6qovEagjI7WzJeVPyYYiTZrflE7E7eZDstom1pJ4-vVJVgfFd7axgC6tQcce_b5_ZsK/s1600/24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOVUDAXpqHWCAp0ScURHPEsLivxmyNLQWFwjtxUpJxrVNWsSPxpQncd1_DriG6Vn_eVrEN1Td9b6qovEagjI7WzJeVPyYYiTZrflE7E7eZDstom1pJ4-vVJVgfFd7axgC6tQcce_b5_ZsK/s1600/24.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Walking and talking lessons went on for a while in the nursery, switching off girls every so often.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Say, 'I like the new house.' Bailey!" I said, teaching her new words.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I <i>love</i> the new house!" She said enthusiastically.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Great!" I laughed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBXcs_toyVQopnT1T0_YyOMx3YfCa8zT9y-AtFfvrhv4i2Nc-149EB1zxNOABJ_g8DxmkwpmifjciQnW2QsuGnUgm4OqkGuH2UXzd5AtbEM2Hl1ldQcrek0SKmvt2EOFJ4QDgrANbAzVM/s1600/29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJBXcs_toyVQopnT1T0_YyOMx3YfCa8zT9y-AtFfvrhv4i2Nc-149EB1zxNOABJ_g8DxmkwpmifjciQnW2QsuGnUgm4OqkGuH2UXzd5AtbEM2Hl1ldQcrek0SKmvt2EOFJ4QDgrANbAzVM/s1600/29.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I looked out the window to find Paris and Nicole having a water balloon fight in the heat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I heard the laughter, screams, and shouts all the way from inside, upstairs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris tossed the water balloon up and down in her hand and had a competitive smirk on her face. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You ready?" She said confidently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole clapped once and replied, "Oh, it's on like Donkey Kong!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris threw the balloon as hard as she could. She had great aim.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The balloon hit Nicole with a big splash as they both squealed and laughed with excitement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They were both so cute.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngZS8mUB-vfU4gKNZPeRuE07nQ4_Snc32EBUot1Y2cl6W9gLkiMRHqAEvy3lEluOnes03Of28p1ZUSnBuhpiP-HAHtecQF923JYHnuzAMs-Bo5TgZAF2TIRyJQ9C7VOUNFGShMXUIH9op/s1600/31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngZS8mUB-vfU4gKNZPeRuE07nQ4_Snc32EBUot1Y2cl6W9gLkiMRHqAEvy3lEluOnes03Of28p1ZUSnBuhpiP-HAHtecQF923JYHnuzAMs-Bo5TgZAF2TIRyJQ9C7VOUNFGShMXUIH9op/s1600/31.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I felt the heat coming on, too, so I turned the AC on to cool off the house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It didn't kick in right away, so, impatiently, I walked downstairs and made myself an ice cream cone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ate it while I watched my girls have their water balloon fight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris noticed me standing there before Nicole did, and she mouthed the words, "Watch this."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did as she wanted me to, and I watched her nail Nicole with a purple water balloon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole wasn't expecting it and she fell to the ground with a laugh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I noticed that they were out of water balloons, so I invited them inside, each handing them a beach towel to dry off with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"There's ice cream in the kitchen!" I said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those were the magical words that made them rush inside.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHWXamh9F3zvI5bQeKHt3aG24VCn15NjSmEk-jxalaJCwRx3JP9YbvYdgNaDxFDpVk67tOnAIfOp0HCR4_digQLAl1WUY_1JeLo1wFqH7N_i4c6An5l_0E4qpnS0FkEV35K1DMdzp1jK6/s1600/32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHWXamh9F3zvI5bQeKHt3aG24VCn15NjSmEk-jxalaJCwRx3JP9YbvYdgNaDxFDpVk67tOnAIfOp0HCR4_digQLAl1WUY_1JeLo1wFqH7N_i4c6An5l_0E4qpnS0FkEV35K1DMdzp1jK6/s1600/32.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris got to the machine first, and Nicole was not impressed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris took her sweet time, knowing that her sister was waiting, just to bother Nicole.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually they both got their ice cream and everything was all better.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They then both went back outside to fill up some more water balloons continue their fight.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh350KiwazHtmSr0WFTnolSmMFjRO4E0qEUC5Z4X3-DX_4lOdjrAiNRQXstooJtQ7XD-PQ670U1RBEmJQ-90VUubWcxeU37GsGWuMNdmbYZAAvC0_-HzaW7FfKMJBHSpCOS4Cw0EIXtckeT/s1600/38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh350KiwazHtmSr0WFTnolSmMFjRO4E0qEUC5Z4X3-DX_4lOdjrAiNRQXstooJtQ7XD-PQ670U1RBEmJQ-90VUubWcxeU37GsGWuMNdmbYZAAvC0_-HzaW7FfKMJBHSpCOS4Cw0EIXtckeT/s1600/38.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With more hours and more lessons, Naomi and Bailey were exhausted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I put both of them into their cribs to go to bed and headed downstairs.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOD58gMfBAqKTlT8YANfMp2Z9mrj0h0BQ37yFUEYP6xJWJNr0xk3MGZRNesLe44BXXSZCnSJstNSjZqBSqzwb3RbPnSfCquiVOOz7Jj1eefGOxvUE1KwuQC7klxNadeOb1zmGvfjZs8Us0/s1600/40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOD58gMfBAqKTlT8YANfMp2Z9mrj0h0BQ37yFUEYP6xJWJNr0xk3MGZRNesLe44BXXSZCnSJstNSjZqBSqzwb3RbPnSfCquiVOOz7Jj1eefGOxvUE1KwuQC7klxNadeOb1zmGvfjZs8Us0/s1600/40.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suddenly, Nicole ran into the house, <i>drenched</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Is everything okay?" I asked, worried.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole shook her head. "No, look outside! There is water coming from the clouds!"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was immediately suspicious. "Okay, just go upstairs and get ready for bed, sweetie."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Okay." She said, a little confused.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I quickly ran to the window, to find that Nicole was right.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XRTTV1wvdBQMW0rqa2Fzos-nNj69l4eBQZPm7ATseWg8HxQGRjC9XLCyT01uxl7AwS_KTLVdyQ95a4IHG9F_Wl1ZkHAIHmIOQov1-xJnlo1bH0BcLxF1xWKN7YqakCockgt4LpMvtsaW/s1600/41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XRTTV1wvdBQMW0rqa2Fzos-nNj69l4eBQZPm7ATseWg8HxQGRjC9XLCyT01uxl7AwS_KTLVdyQ95a4IHG9F_Wl1ZkHAIHmIOQov1-xJnlo1bH0BcLxF1xWKN7YqakCockgt4LpMvtsaW/s1600/41.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sure enough, you could clearly see the raindrops falling down fast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It hadn't rained since I was 2 years old.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember my dad holding me in his arms outside in the rain.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember feeling the cold raindrops on my hands and face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I couldn't believe that it was raining again.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It had been <i>years</i> since I had seen rain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There weren't that many memories involved with rain in my head, but I would never forget this one.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But then, I started thinking.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Since there is rain... will there be snow?</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I shook the thought out of my head and sunk into my soft, warm bed, falling asleep to the sound of raindrops hitting the windows and house.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiId6thgMNGd14Qf8cXNDRn45EPeQMlJdvkl5F8Cd5w3ZGtt3FsBnwLGJMeOmRxMSv5UXJSih33Bb4N819MT-HSgLKl-DVwEBXZVUvY9h_kTQJ7H5oFH-oxHMbMVqISD0YNCHjS2czzNU65/s1600/48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiId6thgMNGd14Qf8cXNDRn45EPeQMlJdvkl5F8Cd5w3ZGtt3FsBnwLGJMeOmRxMSv5UXJSih33Bb4N819MT-HSgLKl-DVwEBXZVUvY9h_kTQJ7H5oFH-oxHMbMVqISD0YNCHjS2czzNU65/s1600/48.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I woke up sometime around 12:35 in the morning and heard footsteps downstairs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I figured it was just one of my kids getting a midnight snack.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What made me sit straight up in bed, though, was the sound of an evil laugh and the dragging of furniture.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJZz4s92uoLkEcOIgEm-1ziHrc92nTH8VnihVPUXY8t9kS6dmlzTXW9IXX_RytP1lBL1VXWMsCp967I-FotgiCN1J9NPOZGE0_-iCWE9lKqbNYsO-PiGKEctsuUo6PcCqzrpKnfe_G0Kq/s1600/50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJZz4s92uoLkEcOIgEm-1ziHrc92nTH8VnihVPUXY8t9kS6dmlzTXW9IXX_RytP1lBL1VXWMsCp967I-FotgiCN1J9NPOZGE0_-iCWE9lKqbNYsO-PiGKEctsuUo6PcCqzrpKnfe_G0Kq/s1600/50.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cursed under my breath and quickly ran out into the hall.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jay was there, too, on the phone with the police.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sure was thankful that Jay was a brave kid.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was so dark that you could barely see the robber, but I knew he took something outside of the upstairs bathrooms, for sure.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgycyJezfMclngCbT9fmtdVKLF2pvo3sqGCKkWXIsoQWNyLS6cnV7qR-pTbFHLVNkWGZmllE8osDmc88h4joiQbEwzRxvETaHXUXTLg3lGAyIHFW190Gnqhtfq-MdDCv03xbOI6mGdybZ/s1600/51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgycyJezfMclngCbT9fmtdVKLF2pvo3sqGCKkWXIsoQWNyLS6cnV7qR-pTbFHLVNkWGZmllE8osDmc88h4joiQbEwzRxvETaHXUXTLg3lGAyIHFW190Gnqhtfq-MdDCv03xbOI6mGdybZ/s1600/51.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The girls came out of the bedroom, too, awaken by all of the noise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I heard police sirens from down the street and felt relieved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I reassured my kids and told them that everything was under control, but then ordered my kids immediately to go back to bed when I heard car doors slamming.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I watched from the upstairs window as the police came running up to my new house.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGraODPWKT1lrtFSBAKbZi95S8yZbDrZoKJGvvm69wKbXsVwhQGrvhA1bVNXZRvEhuM8AoYpwtBD9ZWcWfHIKkIptG-wlUUoJw3UeB_ENaJAiBd4TSMG4Ndi51pbIrw6MxHNwta7BB2MZA/s1600/54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGraODPWKT1lrtFSBAKbZi95S8yZbDrZoKJGvvm69wKbXsVwhQGrvhA1bVNXZRvEhuM8AoYpwtBD9ZWcWfHIKkIptG-wlUUoJw3UeB_ENaJAiBd4TSMG4Ndi51pbIrw6MxHNwta7BB2MZA/s1600/54.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The police woman did the job and won the fight with the criminal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was relieved, once again, when the robber was in handcuffs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The officer led him over to the cop car and shoved him into the back seat.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8tgVAFTBfPur_hyphenhyphenCzF1nUuHHTMca5Y-XHp9YE0kOI0b42vx0kuTiT18G3aXCpCuPN1Bgh5cOWyJIhxta62iW2rwhhhyAKuiM3AUzZTssm6zGnfonc1g0gOh6XvIWg-wqo_ZHeRPy3mSv/s1600/55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8tgVAFTBfPur_hyphenhyphenCzF1nUuHHTMca5Y-XHp9YE0kOI0b42vx0kuTiT18G3aXCpCuPN1Bgh5cOWyJIhxta62iW2rwhhhyAKuiM3AUzZTssm6zGnfonc1g0gOh6XvIWg-wqo_ZHeRPy3mSv/s1600/55.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The officer came into the house, with the criminal officially under arrest, to replace any items that he took.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She made sure that I was aware of the lack of security in my house.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was confused. I looked over to the front door and realized that there was no security alarm.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I explained that we had just moved here and I was too busy getting my kids settled in that I forgot about alarms. I quickly pulled one out of the moving boxes and hooked it up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She understood and continued to creep around, making sure that everything else in our house was normal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jay was having a midnight snack, ice cream.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0ufA5YpMuvO7cCBqn90YZAa7g-zVRCTDaXeP9RqOvvUgoB5QWM5O6xWpZ81_s7HXs4XFlfW989BUmskYql-SwmDAuParDG5XAtipwhzMXqsWPtvoC4l78Q7sSLr3nOGqHFE8rC0K3KXh/s1600/56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0ufA5YpMuvO7cCBqn90YZAa7g-zVRCTDaXeP9RqOvvUgoB5QWM5O6xWpZ81_s7HXs4XFlfW989BUmskYql-SwmDAuParDG5XAtipwhzMXqsWPtvoC4l78Q7sSLr3nOGqHFE8rC0K3KXh/s1600/56.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess Jay didn't hear us having our conversation because his </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">heart skipped a beat from seeing the police officer un</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">expectantly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> M</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">oments later, his Cookies N' Cream Ice Cream Cone was on the floor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Aw, man." Jay sighed, as he got paper towels out of the cabinet to clean up his mess.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The police officer apologized to him and told me that everything was fine now.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I giggled quietly, to myself, and walked up the stairs to go back to bed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0-d6R7XulU-LBsrWnwyfxU_JAS3TsC2Pe8L6cNZor5sFMhAd3kyGChOQS-5KYb6fh7X8FcehQqY1s3Sml_LcNUFbEbsWhHmpiZ_J8stdKnzOvKJzA_J_-7DWRJ3x8a5znnv5c67AGGfK/s1600/59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0-d6R7XulU-LBsrWnwyfxU_JAS3TsC2Pe8L6cNZor5sFMhAd3kyGChOQS-5KYb6fh7X8FcehQqY1s3Sml_LcNUFbEbsWhHmpiZ_J8stdKnzOvKJzA_J_-7DWRJ3x8a5znnv5c67AGGfK/s1600/59.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I slowly woke up to the sound of quiet, happy growls and howls.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, fully awake now, I heard Jay softly sush them, telling them that they were going to wake up mommy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I walked in to see Naomi waving to me and drinking down a bottle of warm milk, at the same time, and Jay changing Bailey's clothes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Thanks, Jay." I said with a smile as I waved back to Naomi.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFsChE7lq63E2DwIPZqPMGoP9lZT90YWCKmsqBEuL0IGoVrKfldiRkC8tueObRSdIG7jCVtgsan36sATEbvtu2ZqY7XMQOYdZTnijj_OGj7okquXXBV9FUI1MFqK6V617Dg5LFKY_KCbs/s1600/65.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFsChE7lq63E2DwIPZqPMGoP9lZT90YWCKmsqBEuL0IGoVrKfldiRkC8tueObRSdIG7jCVtgsan36sATEbvtu2ZqY7XMQOYdZTnijj_OGj7okquXXBV9FUI1MFqK6V617Dg5LFKY_KCbs/s1600/65.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rest of my day consisted of eating, cleaning, and putting everything from the moving boxes away, while my kids were at their new school.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until now, I had never realized how many books we had.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LLgGHHfDpCxHN6k-34k6fYb9iaflYBlffB9QpZ2i00bKAvZ4i9d6JZG44IDS7q07FqG0y2srVsg2nvqDS3eJitqqFXb-1uJVRZPlxsSM3JiOkJ6US0kVG1Btli19KwXl51wuuxVTRa4T/s1600/68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LLgGHHfDpCxHN6k-34k6fYb9iaflYBlffB9QpZ2i00bKAvZ4i9d6JZG44IDS7q07FqG0y2srVsg2nvqDS3eJitqqFXb-1uJVRZPlxsSM3JiOkJ6US0kVG1Btli19KwXl51wuuxVTRa4T/s1600/68.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before I knew it, they were all home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole had brought home a new friend, which was fine with me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm used to the house being busy and crowded anyways.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They were all eating afternoon snacks and doing their homework together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I went downstairs to start cooking dinner, only Nicole and Paris were left at the table.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jay usually finishes his homework before them, being older and all, but I had no clue where the other boy was.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"So, where's your friend?" I said to my twins as I grabbed milk and cheese out of the fridge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Oh, he went upstairs with Jay." Paris said, looking up from her work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"He wasn't even done with his homework, though." Nicole added in as she counted on her fingers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Okay. Hey, how does Mac & Cheese sound for dinner?" I said, pouring the milk into a bowl.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Great!" Nicole said, turning around and giving me a thumbs up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soon, Nicole had finished homework, the mac & cheese was finished, and Paris was still doing her homework.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I put some of the mac & cheese into a bowl for myself to eat, and I sat down next to Paris.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Do you like the new house?" I asked, hoping for a 'yes'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris put her pencil down. "IT'S AMAZING!" She said, her arms moving in the shape of a rainbow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Glad you like it!" I laughed, "I love it, too. What's your favorite part of the house?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She thought about my question for a moment. "I think the yard is the best. There is a ton of space to run around and play!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I'm glad you love it!" I smiled.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I then washed the dishes, put away the mac & cheese leftovers, and headed up stairs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My toddlers were happily playing in the nursery together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They both were sitting on the floor facing each other when I walked in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess they were playing some sort of game where one person growls, then the other one howls in the same pitch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Aww, werewolf harmonizing.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I giggled at them and their game and potty trained both of them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Naomi got it down!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got them ready for bed and put them into their cribs.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxxupraaZLc5fBffSHyo-ZjrDTY6WoBoi4ifuhTUtHBzMOhZ3K1TX8Gvpx-XUueJu0jqzkga80GLvflpdt8sZec6opn3GaHgf0Xr0JdPI4EsQNe7_5Pgs4V7eESjxUIl-6diyyWKqgrTD/s1600/74.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZxxupraaZLc5fBffSHyo-ZjrDTY6WoBoi4ifuhTUtHBzMOhZ3K1TX8Gvpx-XUueJu0jqzkga80GLvflpdt8sZec6opn3GaHgf0Xr0JdPI4EsQNe7_5Pgs4V7eESjxUIl-6diyyWKqgrTD/s1600/74.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soon, everyone was asleep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was soon asleep, too, though... but,</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SJ_YuCx8Oc2UBfwAnwJD49TaUe1xUHKl0_6EAxwFi0VB8FIbx6Gr4JCFe9Z90vZPjF4tYYkYcqGAP9mvjQ6d_94d8JxJ-gddiXSdGBiMZ51_O784tAKuFAdhUDFg73qKryzbqe8XMDHC/s1600/79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SJ_YuCx8Oc2UBfwAnwJD49TaUe1xUHKl0_6EAxwFi0VB8FIbx6Gr4JCFe9Z90vZPjF4tYYkYcqGAP9mvjQ6d_94d8JxJ-gddiXSdGBiMZ51_O784tAKuFAdhUDFg73qKryzbqe8XMDHC/s1600/79.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not for very long.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For a moment, I wished that they weren't werewolves.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every time they need something, they howl and growl instead of regular crying.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSgotrkoMw6U85HQPohTr7YJ_jj-FXTRXbG5thSRvCcZ3Gpdo6J2imYnhbF4yVJHOog5z5rfwsqufHfuod1ltkpbfqe6Q4PUXzdArRyvpyFbq170bT1zMy-RYcL0j8lHrxBCoQg-5VZH6/s1600/80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSgotrkoMw6U85HQPohTr7YJ_jj-FXTRXbG5thSRvCcZ3Gpdo6J2imYnhbF4yVJHOog5z5rfwsqufHfuod1ltkpbfqe6Q4PUXzdArRyvpyFbq170bT1zMy-RYcL0j8lHrxBCoQg-5VZH6/s1600/80.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, as I got them ready for the day and looked into their yellow, glowy eyes and smiled back at their sweet, fanged smiles, I truly realized how blessed I am.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sure, supernatural kids keep you on your toes all the time, but most of the time, they are a joy to have around.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went into my room, with my kids taken care of, and looked into the mirror.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought about how much my life had changed in the past few months.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I then realized how<i> I</i> haven't changed, though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Let's fix that." I said to myself, opening to dresser drawer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It probably took me somewhere around 30 minutes to give myself a makeover, but I really liked my new look.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was certainly ready for fall and winter to come, with my headband that kept my ears warm, my coat that keeps the rain away, and my boots that keeps my feet from freezing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With a new look, I walked into the nursery to be greeted with shouts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Mommy... Pretty!" Bailey said. She probably liked the pink-ish colors I had on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Naomi walked over to me as gave my leg a hug, feeling the fur on my boots.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Soft!" She said, amazed with how it felt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I picked her up and gave her a kiss.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I smiled at her. "Want to learn some new words?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yes, please!" She grinned enthusiastically.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sat down and started teaching her new words, while Bailey amused herself with blocks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Say... Pumpkin!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Punkin."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Close enough." I laughed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, an idea popped into my head.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I heard the jumble of my kids arriving home from school downstairs, and went to check up on them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They all looked very tired, frustrated, and down when I got down there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"What's the matter, guys?" I said, sympathetically, as I sat down next to Nicole.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As if it was on cue, all of them sighed in unison.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"We all love the new house and everything, but..." Paris started to say.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"School has been rough for all of us lately." Jay said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole looked as if she was going to cry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tears started to roll down Nicole's face as she leaned on me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Mr.Finley always yells at me, even when I get the answer right." Nicole said in between sobs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris shook her head in agreement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I gave Nicole a hug, trying to make her feel better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hey, you know what? I just came up with a fun plan, that all of us will enjoy." I said with a cheery tone in my voice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of my kids looked a little less stressed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It's a surprise for tomorrow, though." I said with a big smile on my face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Ooohhh, I love surprises." Nicole said, wiping the tears from her cheeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Good." I smiled.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMfXeCTpI1TErxEr8MSShV-7oodObZElIITkk8n-zZVpL0MKUmY1CWBIgitn8Cx-TbtbybrvmAabZz6wHoXtdGJAkUEVoSRt9TaJS6eKf3jhSvRCvxXsoOC9PwHCxMTqKL8Y2pegTXkO2/s1600/86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMfXeCTpI1TErxEr8MSShV-7oodObZElIITkk8n-zZVpL0MKUmY1CWBIgitn8Cx-TbtbybrvmAabZz6wHoXtdGJAkUEVoSRt9TaJS6eKf3jhSvRCvxXsoOC9PwHCxMTqKL8Y2pegTXkO2/s1600/86.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About an hour later, all of my kids were asleep and I decided to get their surprise all ready.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I couldn't wait to see how it all turned out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stepped outside to leave with warm thoughts in my mind.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2g3YmqC3OlQhw0e49lhh42kB1hdYB-V6lNhbkV6rwdPW1jvzwwJW45u79iLbnjIc5pyXMfd9iRgThmulEzJ4fTU3XZjFTscnHyU4-oBnOUJNaDX2IVfVSbXZ-2FMBTCFzsELVHkhZlrI/s1600/87.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK2g3YmqC3OlQhw0e49lhh42kB1hdYB-V6lNhbkV6rwdPW1jvzwwJW45u79iLbnjIc5pyXMfd9iRgThmulEzJ4fTU3XZjFTscnHyU4-oBnOUJNaDX2IVfVSbXZ-2FMBTCFzsELVHkhZlrI/s1600/87.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I immediately felt the fall night chill on my cheeks.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was <i>freezing </i>outside!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I turned around and went straight back inside to put heavier clothes on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I grabbed a heavy jacket and a panda hat to put on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Let's try this again."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stepped outside for the second time, and didn't feel as cold as I did the first time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Success!</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGzdzhKnnnw9-Rosss4eUwFCFiq46F7XXOlQu-TtUrHZ_Zq-b3Himo2ePB-9WKLyTi6qLfaI8Z8u3WpySOzfH2xeItuXV0kY0AY9iv4ZqImZITLtPD2SIV-8EiWO9-2rrXaGkdXbk3SIz/s1600/88.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGzdzhKnnnw9-Rosss4eUwFCFiq46F7XXOlQu-TtUrHZ_Zq-b3Himo2ePB-9WKLyTi6qLfaI8Z8u3WpySOzfH2xeItuXV0kY0AY9iv4ZqImZITLtPD2SIV-8EiWO9-2rrXaGkdXbk3SIz/s1600/88.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, I did hop into a pink car... just not the same one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My new one had more space to take all of my kids somewhere.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was way more convenient than my old one.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgw3evwt1TFaG6MuOYYB0tp3NSJb8fCd9XkfMnvbuPxjI3tGMRLzhRz_5UlHOUG0iC11zHP_CMYbD9c4w2UNxRHk7ByHC_3Jf5s6X_TKssFui0-RCuVbmYZtWMuRaQK6AUbbWCrIXz8pK/s1600/89.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgw3evwt1TFaG6MuOYYB0tp3NSJb8fCd9XkfMnvbuPxjI3tGMRLzhRz_5UlHOUG0iC11zHP_CMYbD9c4w2UNxRHk7ByHC_3Jf5s6X_TKssFui0-RCuVbmYZtWMuRaQK6AUbbWCrIXz8pK/s1600/89.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I stepped out of my car, it was raining this time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had to pull out my leopard-print umbrella to keep myself somewhat dry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wind made the rain even worse, making it not only fall from above, but hit my face from the side, too. I sighed as I walked into the grocery store, soaked.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WiJOdE8wUfIMNfI_h_Gln8D_ya35J4K-wIuXwN8ThZXB-k2cSHFqmSaEW9jwq4-QmIKdIt5OGnjcr1Vqzo3UWVy9QPy2TmqIwby3UBjST_vf_yFH9OnHo3_IC9UHM_hqFTamXADfXnOF/s1600/91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WiJOdE8wUfIMNfI_h_Gln8D_ya35J4K-wIuXwN8ThZXB-k2cSHFqmSaEW9jwq4-QmIKdIt5OGnjcr1Vqzo3UWVy9QPy2TmqIwby3UBjST_vf_yFH9OnHo3_IC9UHM_hqFTamXADfXnOF/s1600/91.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got home and put everything into the fridge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rain was still <i>pouring </i>outside and I still felt the fall chill, even though I was indoors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I walked over to the coffee maker and made myself a white chocolate cappuccino with caramel and whipped cream on top.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I shivered as I waited for it to be done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After turning the heater on, my drink was hot and ready.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sat down at the bar counter and sipped up my warm, delicious drink.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I looked out of the kitchen window and watched the rain drip down on it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I then felt the caffeinated drink start to kick in. I didn't feel as tired anymore.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crap.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I looked at the clock. "11:24 PM".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sighed as I finished the last sips of my drink, realizing that I would be up for a few more hours, hyped up on caffeine.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnk1az1anAzUJjPDrSiFDXr8Lsi1Ipay8UR0WH3miK6CVkH4LGPqetHS3Kvfcjv8h_skk-f-lxX2ixbQPV6tl-POHgOKH5X5ZTsXOOwkxVMEhuJZdcDHLt_NhspwHNwJph2XH1ydITdQG/s1600/92.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnk1az1anAzUJjPDrSiFDXr8Lsi1Ipay8UR0WH3miK6CVkH4LGPqetHS3Kvfcjv8h_skk-f-lxX2ixbQPV6tl-POHgOKH5X5ZTsXOOwkxVMEhuJZdcDHLt_NhspwHNwJph2XH1ydITdQG/s1600/92.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I decided to use my late night's energy wisely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm pretty sure that I cleaned <i>every</i> single thing that night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I felt like I had a battery energy level that was always full.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suddenly, while cleaning the sink, I felt as if I had been drained of energy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I collapsed on the floor, exhausted.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtKt938Dnk0vSUuuH4qLYQvrwQ2eT2uPr_uA7e_YVFN3JbGjh2YTPmxFQoTIFAavzMYpQyJbIqRpvgCXIZPIveTfBA1vEej5x00G17eCj8lK3IDFbo4hKHj1_LpSiqNLqDVaUOKk4anh8/s1600/96.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtKt938Dnk0vSUuuH4qLYQvrwQ2eT2uPr_uA7e_YVFN3JbGjh2YTPmxFQoTIFAavzMYpQyJbIqRpvgCXIZPIveTfBA1vEej5x00G17eCj8lK3IDFbo4hKHj1_LpSiqNLqDVaUOKk4anh8/s1600/96.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I woke up in my bed the next morning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have no clue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I slipped my slippers on and felt ready to take on the day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With a quick peek in the nursery, I knew that my toddlers were taken care of by Jay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was really glad to have him. If I didn't, I have no idea how I would survive some days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I started walking down the stairs, I realized that my kids were gone and that I could start on the surprise I had planned for them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I felt excited as I grabbed a pumpkin from the fridge and went out onto the front porch.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Jn63swic-gTFjoGnPKe8nz2mXG9WDa6mXlSdCeI7s01px-XzUFjuVsfxq15_K_ruupixGNBOxE4cJXEgXEhAL_OehPzStg3aYmrizRUCJ5tr_FyxX1nSExZ4aSc-tH6YzFmyJDtynjbV/s1600/97.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Jn63swic-gTFjoGnPKe8nz2mXG9WDa6mXlSdCeI7s01px-XzUFjuVsfxq15_K_ruupixGNBOxE4cJXEgXEhAL_OehPzStg3aYmrizRUCJ5tr_FyxX1nSExZ4aSc-tH6YzFmyJDtynjbV/s1600/97.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My big surprise for my kids was a fun, fall activity that everyone could do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pumpkin Carving!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I decided that I would carve mine first, leave it on the front porch, then when my kids get home, I'll tell them to each get a pumpkin from the fridge and make their own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It sounded like a fun surprise to me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started to pull all of the pumpkin guts out of the pumpkin as I thought about what I would make mine look like.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't want to go with something traditional, because that's just boring. And I am <b>not </b>boring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With my pumpkin ready but my brain not, I sat there just thinking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suddenly, I saw someone walking by, holding their cat, heading to the cat park that was near my house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Bingo! That's what I'll do!</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHcpWB046DQgACfX8Hk2vvtkBWT5qlmdUi5hL5FdKgqjR16r6aqsC_jAFCslXNOdyvSmgWPWh2z2F5JKP1u1iB1BvKVe6eAm42lg6yU9TVUknPZA1V535WXWSo_zSedUc1rj6zJS0_hWf/s1600/99.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHcpWB046DQgACfX8Hk2vvtkBWT5qlmdUi5hL5FdKgqjR16r6aqsC_jAFCslXNOdyvSmgWPWh2z2F5JKP1u1iB1BvKVe6eAm42lg6yU9TVUknPZA1V535WXWSo_zSedUc1rj6zJS0_hWf/s1600/99.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was very happy and pleased when I finished it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It looked exactly as I had envisioned it in my head!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was proud of my kitty pumpkin and I couldn't wait to see how my kids' would turn out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I looked behind me when I heard a car honk. It was a school bus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got my pumpkin ready and stood in front of it, making it impossible to see it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My kids all tumbled out of the bus and made their way to the front porch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They all stopped walking. "Uhh..." Jay looked confused.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could see why. I was standing on the front porch with a big grin on my face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I walked out of the way, making my pumpkin visible and shouted, "SURPRISE!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Oh, it's so cute!" Nicole and Paris said in unison.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I made this pumpkin! Now it's your turn. There are pumpkins in the fridge. Each of you go grab one and meet me out here, I'll help you start it out." I motioned them to go inside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"But, Mom, what about our homework?" Jay said, worried.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Forget about homework for a sec and have some fun! Just drop all of your school stuff inside and grab a pumpkin already!" I opened the door for them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They all crowded around the fridge, reaching for their own pumpkin as I cleared some space on the front porch for everyone.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvErVvdSKHS-B3vZKFO7Ju-8Ow7weSmUX7IX7IHBKP6WQSnOGn-P7u9XYRc2IJw0fIhoQIdRrBwcweslte4TcObmdmaYbG1tdhYYEH0_CfnC___KtQPwJHeb7gFC7Vj83C6gworQcvVi7D/s1600/100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvErVvdSKHS-B3vZKFO7Ju-8Ow7weSmUX7IX7IHBKP6WQSnOGn-P7u9XYRc2IJw0fIhoQIdRrBwcweslte4TcObmdmaYbG1tdhYYEH0_CfnC___KtQPwJHeb7gFC7Vj83C6gworQcvVi7D/s1600/100.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I layed down some newspaper and Jay was the first one out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He said his idea was a ghost.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8uNFe2yz7RhiZ50VjTlAOcyIe1g1lil_IdGydTMN-QVbSS1nbFBKs9Eb-kUnd4fyjYnSLGtSKkFt6Z4LpRJN3zK3Ax4MS_CZaPko3Tzkw-c-55kI5ubxB_a7vH-3jZhq1ePRmcbSuoC5/s1600/101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8uNFe2yz7RhiZ50VjTlAOcyIe1g1lil_IdGydTMN-QVbSS1nbFBKs9Eb-kUnd4fyjYnSLGtSKkFt6Z4LpRJN3zK3Ax4MS_CZaPko3Tzkw-c-55kI5ubxB_a7vH-3jZhq1ePRmcbSuoC5/s1600/101.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't even help him at all and his turned out great!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmn-x4NoC1dRKU_UaKBEhyphenhyphenzVlwDYk-ti8IhLLXqFGC0hJIkuae2xNxxEwzPcIxV3Q_d44ZtIT_FFIBE5NRtBRaV8elBlDHEnZotyY8tbHEwgjo00RsUcETq_KHhm3pUHyEgqr4VVNNZ9FO/s1600/102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmn-x4NoC1dRKU_UaKBEhyphenhyphenzVlwDYk-ti8IhLLXqFGC0hJIkuae2xNxxEwzPcIxV3Q_d44ZtIT_FFIBE5NRtBRaV8elBlDHEnZotyY8tbHEwgjo00RsUcETq_KHhm3pUHyEgqr4VVNNZ9FO/s1600/102.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The girls both came out at the same time with pumpkins that were bigger than the size of their heads. I layed down more newspaper for them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris said she wanted to make a silly one and Nicole wanted to make an evil one.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhmQtoHcL3eb1wSMPAlhVye1ZTqbQ63QZ00bP-oHf6Fhy29D4Ywx9Rukyvsr3CM1DCqA_M4aLDNHrCnHkboMCqGEe9CvBndytTbtElfLO-OtaVQwtBxUk_VXCfeodcf_YAH0jpoCcN6zp/s1600/103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXhmQtoHcL3eb1wSMPAlhVye1ZTqbQ63QZ00bP-oHf6Fhy29D4Ywx9Rukyvsr3CM1DCqA_M4aLDNHrCnHkboMCqGEe9CvBndytTbtElfLO-OtaVQwtBxUk_VXCfeodcf_YAH0jpoCcN6zp/s1600/103.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdU2YtmHnlgUKyFFaTuPJFxHxZMH7_mhyphenhyphensVzhwmbgOZN0z5jZlUqQ43uOH901i5OZgQLtG3zmfnHIZHFHW3wxCFdmqUKyJN0yfQVBrfSijuuH8xjYFT6XC6M-9k9RYdQz0ThFkj9dVilaY/s1600/104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdU2YtmHnlgUKyFFaTuPJFxHxZMH7_mhyphenhyphensVzhwmbgOZN0z5jZlUqQ43uOH901i5OZgQLtG3zmfnHIZHFHW3wxCFdmqUKyJN0yfQVBrfSijuuH8xjYFT6XC6M-9k9RYdQz0ThFkj9dVilaY/s1600/104.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both of theirs were amazing! I only helped a little bit, too.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXE-0lT9mY5LZY6MDt4augIsbmNMLEayUjVvetGCDwgHHzVfIF1kzaru6sBQTU6mW9lBjbTAFqyXsQvXkqWnz99-v2QxgOufrG8tP7Zb71Ifr6DBK8ceQGxSKx2OpNI_pthRERRJ97aBNN/s1600/105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXE-0lT9mY5LZY6MDt4augIsbmNMLEayUjVvetGCDwgHHzVfIF1kzaru6sBQTU6mW9lBjbTAFqyXsQvXkqWnz99-v2QxgOufrG8tP7Zb71Ifr6DBK8ceQGxSKx2OpNI_pthRERRJ97aBNN/s1600/105.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We each put our pumpkin in a place on the front porch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Now everyone will be able to see our amazing pumpkins!" Nicole was very excited.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All that afternoon, they went on and on about carving pumpkins and about how much they enjoyed their surprise. I was glad they had so much fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Time went by fast, and before I knew it, all of my kids were happily asleep.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWo_-eTpTA6sE8KBXP9pf0ab2KPIkK3xpoP0NlYyRmsM9wseNn_8eI6oFUm1c6JpsBJcAnWN_eHb0nUNsgOcFcv38jQotlgq_mx4SCTndCv0FS_2vHSzCHjpooXQHL_XKymPOqXMxnI9q/s1600/107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWo_-eTpTA6sE8KBXP9pf0ab2KPIkK3xpoP0NlYyRmsM9wseNn_8eI6oFUm1c6JpsBJcAnWN_eHb0nUNsgOcFcv38jQotlgq_mx4SCTndCv0FS_2vHSzCHjpooXQHL_XKymPOqXMxnI9q/s1600/107.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I figured I had an opportunity to make some progress with my challenge, so I went to this guy's house. Fairy with bright blue hair. Yup. Sounds perfect!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoVOhz_o8wcZchpmTaJawV5voDvihQG0uZ8q-WhxeazvIXt26mwS6oAjQYpDNElHOKEhlpWz7Z3KKwhhj_ValGoTVhVS_zPQGN5Co42NUkacIX_Wa_OtxWg9PWiI3m9sfD8Giuj3-5rnV/s1600/114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoVOhz_o8wcZchpmTaJawV5voDvihQG0uZ8q-WhxeazvIXt26mwS6oAjQYpDNElHOKEhlpWz7Z3KKwhhj_ValGoTVhVS_zPQGN5Co42NUkacIX_Wa_OtxWg9PWiI3m9sfD8Giuj3-5rnV/s1600/114.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing led to the next, and the job was done.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Hopefully it's a fairy!</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuMAPE4m5Z8eYOWxlPPZan5FlMpNJCk8o7dsD_UdrOpARLPxNqQPxaMIDC46n-8YinOaIIND6yI3pRdl0-5zrdSbnSkKMijoor1Nkvgtuwc5IhP2peXxeVTSspjvjy1RsEHYu2tt7zVWa/s1600/117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuMAPE4m5Z8eYOWxlPPZan5FlMpNJCk8o7dsD_UdrOpARLPxNqQPxaMIDC46n-8YinOaIIND6yI3pRdl0-5zrdSbnSkKMijoor1Nkvgtuwc5IhP2peXxeVTSspjvjy1RsEHYu2tt7zVWa/s1600/117.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a very productive day, I was sound asleep in my warm bed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I looked at my clock on my nightstand right before I went to bed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It said "2:46 AM" as I closed my eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I knew I would wake up late.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIu_O_G4ywDQ1iYAkIsx-jRbofFtFeu5is76X4TGWNy26pEkoNKajmDtQX4FMxzLt8OBDKQ6skE8SRyk8tikeYN355-1lu-dvHYNqBAw5y_fqrMGxaPts1nKsfG5sriLt4eOlE-rsLfVyC/s1600/120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIu_O_G4ywDQ1iYAkIsx-jRbofFtFeu5is76X4TGWNy26pEkoNKajmDtQX4FMxzLt8OBDKQ6skE8SRyk8tikeYN355-1lu-dvHYNqBAw5y_fqrMGxaPts1nKsfG5sriLt4eOlE-rsLfVyC/s1600/120.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The screams of my toddlers woke me up with a jolt. I sighed as I rolled out of bed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sleepily walked in to find my kids, and one of their friends, doing everything that needed to be done in the nursery. I told them to all go, leave, and play something because they always take care of everything. I felt like I never did anything to help.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They always took control and helped. I really needed to spend some time with my toddlers, though, or else they might start to think that Jay is their dad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thanked them for their help, but ordered them to have fun while I took care of everything.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6GfRljqoTdxcpoVtFUnJA0yXUpVmf_dAvxZ4oRxCMfzMaexM6gwgR_XCfcNWGmnzNZeGaj8X9PVDquePCG8rq7beLASOQZF8PelfSAOihoMGwuesieJmzUMvvZ13TJXV2gfMLNXCAPDg/s1600/121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6GfRljqoTdxcpoVtFUnJA0yXUpVmf_dAvxZ4oRxCMfzMaexM6gwgR_XCfcNWGmnzNZeGaj8X9PVDquePCG8rq7beLASOQZF8PelfSAOihoMGwuesieJmzUMvvZ13TJXV2gfMLNXCAPDg/s1600/121.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went back to sleep for about 30 minutes, waking up to the sound of growling and scratching.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess I shouldn't leave my toddlers on the floor. They just walk through the door into here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right there, Bailey was tearing up my computer desk.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"BAILEY. NO!" I said, picking her up and putting her on my bed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I.. I.. I sorry, mommy." Tears filled up in her eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It's okay, sweetie, you can't tear up furniture, though. You understand?" I wiped the tears from her cheeks. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I understand." She said, with a guilty look on her face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I lifted her off of the bed and onto the ground. "Now, go and play in the nursery while Mommy sleeps for a little bit longer."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She walked into the nursery. "Night night!"</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahVcLnM2ryGlUMrVeclaB942C5vobw1yn_g_gOST9mExvrdd3DIUMuokE6rVLdlpiUamh6WU6OhUJGZ3vkUqrA-Tzt3ovg0tI9jPXAklfQu6AOW_0Img_lr5XhXv2Ymp-Z6JR-9yyPayz/s1600/124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahVcLnM2ryGlUMrVeclaB942C5vobw1yn_g_gOST9mExvrdd3DIUMuokE6rVLdlpiUamh6WU6OhUJGZ3vkUqrA-Tzt3ovg0tI9jPXAklfQu6AOW_0Img_lr5XhXv2Ymp-Z6JR-9yyPayz/s1600/124.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I eventually did wake up again, but this time, not feeling too hot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I grabbed my stomach and ran to the bathroom.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After that, I ate... and threw up again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's something I've gotten used to now.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DQISxs879wW8UboxWmuSNBV6dOsgJrPJLpRlfM-Us97M7MyijuLi9RjnTR9Ghv7HzlLHBfOXsSD-CbxKuL49dI83hj93amYa_2of4YOWRE8w921sedm6Sn7QM5PLOOHsRMulQeEWQDgT/s1600/126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1DQISxs879wW8UboxWmuSNBV6dOsgJrPJLpRlfM-Us97M7MyijuLi9RjnTR9Ghv7HzlLHBfOXsSD-CbxKuL49dI83hj93amYa_2of4YOWRE8w921sedm6Sn7QM5PLOOHsRMulQeEWQDgT/s1600/126.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After puking twice, I went to offer some fun to my girls, since my other kids had a blast yesterday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hey, girls! Do you want to carve pumpkins, too?" I walked into the nursery, excited.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yes!" They both shouted in unison.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Okay, let's go!" I picked them both up and headed downstairs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I figured that I would let them decide how they wanted their pumpkin made, and I would make it for them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I changed their clothes and mine into warm, heavy clothing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jackets, boots, and even gloves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It sure was chilly outside, though.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPPTnXaDnF7lnImp3clGe_3ZugZibmFtZShDBGbcgPKo4HPd5VEREEMeeoS7tg555Sy9uAQn4F7pAz07UkhyiAK0Rto__BKfi8JVTz7pyAs0SWtqyA6aWF8JZKYleRRb4USvrQBKyx_sO/s1600/132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQPPTnXaDnF7lnImp3clGe_3ZugZibmFtZShDBGbcgPKo4HPd5VEREEMeeoS7tg555Sy9uAQn4F7pAz07UkhyiAK0Rto__BKfi8JVTz7pyAs0SWtqyA6aWF8JZKYleRRb4USvrQBKyx_sO/s1600/132.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started carving a kitty for Bailey, and a silly pumpkin for Naomi when all of my kids came out from the house. They all had determined looks on their faces.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They all walked over to me in a group and I stopped carving to hear what they had to say.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole and Paris both nudged Jay for him to talk first. It made me figure that they wanted something.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hey, Mom." Jay started. "Have you heard about the festival at the park yet?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought for a moment. "No, I haven't. What about it?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"We were all wondering if you could take us there later today." Jay questioned.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris <i>really</i> wanted to go. "PLEEAAASSEE?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Sure! When do you want to go?" I was excited to take them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You know, anytime after school, or whatever." Jay said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought about it for a moment, then said, "You know what. Let's go as soon as I finish these pumpkins. You guys can skip <i>one </i>day of school, right?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of their faces lit up with excitement. "YEAH!" They said in unison.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Naomi and Bailey looked at them in confusion of why they were so excited. Nicole sat down next to them and slowly explained the festival to them while Jay and Paris went to rake some leaves to pass time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I finished Bailey's pumpkin, but something didn't go quite right.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Uh-oh." I said, a little too loud.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bailey knew that I was talking about her pumpkin. She looked at her deformed pumpkin and started to sob.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Wha-What happened?" Tears filled in her eyes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Here we go again.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I tried to come up with some excuse to make everything better, but I couldn't come up with anything.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I uh- I just messed up a little, sweetie, it'll be fine, though, because we have an extra one!" I tried to sound cheerful. It was hard, though, looking into my baby's tear-filled eyes. "And, I'll go get the pumpkin right now."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I grabbed the extra pumpkin from the fridge and came back out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"NO, MOMMY. Not here. Over there!" Bailey demanded, pointing to the other porch, by the garage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just couldn't say 'no' to her. I sighed, picked up the pumpkin, and re-did the kitty face all over again, being <i>way </i>more careful this time around.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglewAt71WEvwMC5PCWieG3fop6xWQFwE475npv8f4btTTsqAQrpBoe3q_dDn8mJ7Zuq-k1Q5g3e-LDxYwOkRhW7-O2J6hEX_4_wzguNBPhw3xdzjvnDzXYsor4PdxAUCzZS6XyJSpRHe9j/s1600/138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglewAt71WEvwMC5PCWieG3fop6xWQFwE475npv8f4btTTsqAQrpBoe3q_dDn8mJ7Zuq-k1Q5g3e-LDxYwOkRhW7-O2J6hEX_4_wzguNBPhw3xdzjvnDzXYsor4PdxAUCzZS6XyJSpRHe9j/s1600/138.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I felt relieved when I finished it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I brought it over to Bailey to show her how good it looked this time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her little eyes widened in awe. "It's perfect, mommy! Thank you!" She gave my leg a hug.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Aww, you're welcome, sweetie."</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzU6c4qZuDJhOJ1sUw_TFrbQkleL0N6OxerfvMWM6wSBlpfmzRVrO8EOMhn8mxQMn6sJQQNV5oL9Vfby5Dq3Tq6xTZOCKZh9Ga8m5_ZPM716YAcSGVhT_69TUU9mzj24clYq4M_NKUWmh0/s1600/139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzU6c4qZuDJhOJ1sUw_TFrbQkleL0N6OxerfvMWM6wSBlpfmzRVrO8EOMhn8mxQMn6sJQQNV5oL9Vfby5Dq3Tq6xTZOCKZh9Ga8m5_ZPM716YAcSGVhT_69TUU9mzj24clYq4M_NKUWmh0/s1600/139.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soon, Naomi fell in love with her pumpkin, too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They both really wanted them to be on the porch, too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since there was no existing space on the porch, I put them by the stairs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They liked them better there than up on the porch.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With both pumpkins now finished, we were off to the festival!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I grabbed a toddler and Jay grabbed to other one as we all piled into the car.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of my kids were super excited to go to the festival.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Can't you drive faster, Mom?" Nicole urged.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Honey, I'll get a speeding ticket if I drive any faster." I said, looking at how fast I was going.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Well, those don't cost <i>too</i> much, do they?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I whistled. "They cost way more than you could imagine."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I slowed down as we arrived at the park, everyone filled with excitement.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of us were speechless. It was so amazing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the haunted house and pie eating contest table to the face painting booth and pumpkin patch, it looked like a blast.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Now I could get used to this." Paris and Nicole ran off with excitement.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jay tried to catch them. "Hey, wait up!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was left with the toddlers. Luckily, they were pretty good at staying where they were told, so I left them by the hay stacks and went to explore.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everything was perfect, until it started to sprinkle.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sprinkle quickly turned into a pour of rain and everyone was soaked.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My kids found me, looking absolutely disappointed. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My heart just broke looking at their faces. They knew we had to go now, though.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No one would've been able to enjoy anything in the pouring rain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all headed back to the car, sadly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was about to step into the car, joining my kids, but I felt a huge kick in my stomach and a stretch in my clothes. I changed into maternity clothes, already excited to have the baby.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJigeu8-ZhD7QQTt-HcufK6ya4uZqqP_2sbiVsURwHTSWwDZI1EBxKjKptmVzD9xihOpx8OKA_ymFkkOkOKxJBMXz3HknsIb1xX6m1dqq54G86Z18itF2q3oKC_mkWB5TAIfzdMvRrGkf/s1600/147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJigeu8-ZhD7QQTt-HcufK6ya4uZqqP_2sbiVsURwHTSWwDZI1EBxKjKptmVzD9xihOpx8OKA_ymFkkOkOKxJBMXz3HknsIb1xX6m1dqq54G86Z18itF2q3oKC_mkWB5TAIfzdMvRrGkf/s1600/147.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We all got home, drenched, tired, and hungry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got one of the kids' juice boxes and sat down, Nicole soon joining me with a bowl of cereal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She sat down with a sigh. I felt like I should do something.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You know, I checked the weather on my phone this morning, and it said it's supposed to be sunny tomorrow. Of course it didn't say there was supposed to be rain today, but I do believe in the sunshine appearing tomorrow." I put a joyous tone into my voice. "I bet if you asked Jay, he would take you and Paris down to the festival tomorrow." I smiled at her.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She had a bit of hope in her eyes. "You really think so?"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Of course."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She agreed to asking him and left to take a bath upstairs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I felt bad that the rain ruined the day, but everything happens for a reason.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9nI4WBZeJsDmnXoTrb5y6vMJRzedleaphjfLB36-v6d5Th9kpPWTwE14SjKZcwz8wfgll7-q-zMioa_3ciWr-ggnmwnadiwrT7RP2yBUtfqXMOIFC_XWNBLHYsbBEM63Jh4k5wyYy7wC/s1600/149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9nI4WBZeJsDmnXoTrb5y6vMJRzedleaphjfLB36-v6d5Th9kpPWTwE14SjKZcwz8wfgll7-q-zMioa_3ciWr-ggnmwnadiwrT7RP2yBUtfqXMOIFC_XWNBLHYsbBEM63Jh4k5wyYy7wC/s1600/149.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jay and I walked into the nursery, to put the toddlers to bed, when the moon was coming up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was an unusual green-ish glow to the room. Curious, I peeked out of the window.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right there in the sky was a <i>huge</i>, full moon. "Woah." I whispered under my breath.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I motioned for Jay to come look at it, too. He had the same reaction as I did. "Woah."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It then clicked in my mind, the connection between werewolves and a full moon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cursed under my breath. I'm pretty sure they were going to go <i>crazy</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To control them as much as we could, Jay and I made sure they were fully asleep before leaving them alone. My stomach hurt a little with fear and worry, but I was sure nothing <i>too </i>bad would happen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As soon as I walked downstairs, my heart stopped.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a <i>zombie</i> walking on the front porch.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A <b>zombie</b>! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Always thinking about my kids, I immediately hoped that the zombie wouldn't ruin any of the pumpkins my kids had made. That would just break their hearts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, I knew I had peashooters out there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why weren't they attacking him?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I looked over at one that looked like it was talking to another one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted to try and get it's attention, but I knew that it wouldn't hear or see me from inside.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had to go outside. With the zombies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ran out the back door and quickly over the the peashooter, avoiding the zombie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I told it to go attack the zombie on the porch, and ran back into safety.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The peashooter looked at the zombie with that 'You Think You Can Beat Me' look on it's face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The zombie walked over to it, confidently, but soon was taken down by it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I breathed a sigh of relief, hoping that more weren't going to come.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nope. I was totally wrong. In that moment, I saw <i>four</i> more zombies crawl out of the ground.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Seriously?!?" I said, way more worried than I was before.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtUNtBBs6BSM5v8Sg8RXYkCnhbcc0JSeiMC4jyYb9MhYF_xvqC5Zq_SiTm5LatTyLL9uouKcTgAPoU0iFDuyk7Mw1Ue15999kwaZr26s1PCngfk0gRj-i_qtO17yGGcGL0Zoe5VcB6ZtQ/s1600/160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtUNtBBs6BSM5v8Sg8RXYkCnhbcc0JSeiMC4jyYb9MhYF_xvqC5Zq_SiTm5LatTyLL9uouKcTgAPoU0iFDuyk7Mw1Ue15999kwaZr26s1PCngfk0gRj-i_qtO17yGGcGL0Zoe5VcB6ZtQ/s1600/160.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, no need to worry, since all of my peashooters each took on one zombie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of them were successful and no more zombies came that night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was very thankful that I had those little guys. They really came in handy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took care of my toddlers, since they had waken up, with the green tint of the full moon still present in the nursery. My girls were howling as I walked in. They were such crazy little girls.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I checked them to make sure they were still as normal as they usually are, and they were.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was glad they hadn't lost their minds or anything.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went to bed early in the morning that day, paranoid about the full moon all night long. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My werewolf girls only howled all through the night, but that was way better than losing their minds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, every zombie that came was defeated. I would say it was a pretty good full moon night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No one was injured, the pumpkins were safe, my kids are safe, and all of my peashooters were still alive. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Right before I went to lie down in my bed, I looked out my window at the moon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">full</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> moon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That thing had <i>tons </i>of power and a lot of control over the town. I just hoped that it never came back. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't know how it would never come back, but I hoped it left and stayed away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I woke up, my head was <i>pounding</i>. Last night was truly crazy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of my kids got a great night's sleep, but that is all that matters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My werewolves had already been taken care of earlier, so I went downstairs to take some pain killer pills.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of my kids were eating breakfast when I came down. Nicole was talking to Jay.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"So can you take us?" Nicole sounded excited. "Please?"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"If it's alright with Mom, I will take you guys and we can go to the festival." Jay looked at me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I smiled as I grabbed the pill bottle out of the cabinet. "Sure. It'd be better for me, too. I have a bad headache today."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yes!" Paris shouted. Jay looked at her with that 'Shut Up' look on his face. He pointed to me, then pointed at his head making explosion movements around it. He was pretty much telling her to not be loud since my head hurt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris looked back at me. She mouthed the word 'Sorry' to me. I mouthed 'It's okay' back to her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You better go get your costumes on, guys. It's a Halloween/Fall Festival, you know." I informed them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Oh, yeah, huh!" Nicole said. "Well, let's go get ready!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With that, they all tumbled up the stairs and searched in their dressers for the perfect costumes to wear. They all came down after about 15 minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I gotta tell you, they were pretty creative with them, too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jay was a Hot Dog, Nicole was a Clown, and Paris was an Explorer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They all looked so cute.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You guys all ready now?" Jay asked them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They all checked their bodies. "Yup!" They both said.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jay smiled. "Let's go!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With that, they were off to the festival, and I was left at home. Pregnant, in pain, and hungry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I tried to relax and enjoy the quietness while it was here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About 3 hours later, they came home with pictures and stories.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLn-BpprVUpFn32xuadzDssD6rNHn1bNUIF8t7uVr6U_-DJKpLobq9vfnowon9zjz8ryWTk-P1zEVtBQYUPVGx_dYcGMQc5uPvPnKYWxoNJkoVYMbC862uZORST5ZI5Zfk2TgF8aTmv2P/s1600/168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLn-BpprVUpFn32xuadzDssD6rNHn1bNUIF8t7uVr6U_-DJKpLobq9vfnowon9zjz8ryWTk-P1zEVtBQYUPVGx_dYcGMQc5uPvPnKYWxoNJkoVYMbC862uZORST5ZI5Zfk2TgF8aTmv2P/s1600/168.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole told me <i>all </i>about the Haunted House.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She said that all 3 of them were brave enough to enter it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She said that Jay was brushed with zombie fingers, and that her and Paris were both touched by ghosts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I actually believed her, with all of the strange activity that had been going on lately.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, Jay told me about the Pie Eating Contest. They all agreed that the blueberry pie was delicious.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jay handed me a picture that the festival workers took at the end of the contest, when he had won.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsOOD8leJ7b0bSrdsE6M8ZYczV5lExDO63qWn7pPcjQKwMSPEK-Wogg7KiiYTJedpNWqxZ4ZtHdDsjbRIljAfMVNFY2-CiXISeMhuGXNA7lpa0XoOaF5678wYoVy7FfMndj5zH0JwLAnD/s1600/172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsOOD8leJ7b0bSrdsE6M8ZYczV5lExDO63qWn7pPcjQKwMSPEK-Wogg7KiiYTJedpNWqxZ4ZtHdDsjbRIljAfMVNFY2-CiXISeMhuGXNA7lpa0XoOaF5678wYoVy7FfMndj5zH0JwLAnD/s1600/172.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took the picture out of his hands and looked closer at his face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started laughing hysterically. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His face was just too funny!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUshrkkAjZlvo0jtipqcKQ9xWS7P9FoqXizvLFHsl-tXjEN1ZaBSqHab6enRMJ6k3HvERlU0iMYJrYOpxPrfXZAYslIrA7hq7ZfWs9qcdTtS2qAsXdhc-thju4SEGRH4FVCSFsUAhK42b/s1600/176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioUshrkkAjZlvo0jtipqcKQ9xWS7P9FoqXizvLFHsl-tXjEN1ZaBSqHab6enRMJ6k3HvERlU0iMYJrYOpxPrfXZAYslIrA7hq7ZfWs9qcdTtS2qAsXdhc-thju4SEGRH4FVCSFsUAhK42b/s1600/176.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris then told me about how they got their faces painted, met some people, entered an apple bobbing contest, and earned a lot of prize tickets.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jay then butted in and talked about how he bought a scarecrow with all of the tickets they earned. According to them, it was sunny and nice the whole time, but it just started to rain as they were leaving.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was glad that their day was perfect.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole then surprised me and told me that the scarecrow that they bought was for me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Aww, that's so sweet of you guys!" I gave them all a group hug. "Okay, now it's pretty late. Get all of your little heads in your beds!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They all tumbled up the stairs with laughter, talking about everything that happened today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"And remember when..." I heard Paris say before they were all in bed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I headed over to the kitchen to take more pain killer pills, since my head still hurt.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I put my girls down into their cribs with a kiss on the forehead, and they were out like a light.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I realized that I was going to have to change the cute, pink nursery into a cute, blue nursery if my baby is a boy. I figured that I could just change some patterns and some colors and I would be good to go.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAniHhuAz_WPl8pJycYoKlMtIQIkDif1aC0iB-OFMWw01_GYu63-zm4iM4AiCuSIjF6Sr2oY6cUcNYOKB2iWQhegYXFs9FoFppR5fIauj6Jbe7UYk5hjADQdNgPN12FpD-fWLB_QidGmk/s1600/178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAniHhuAz_WPl8pJycYoKlMtIQIkDif1aC0iB-OFMWw01_GYu63-zm4iM4AiCuSIjF6Sr2oY6cUcNYOKB2iWQhegYXFs9FoFppR5fIauj6Jbe7UYk5hjADQdNgPN12FpD-fWLB_QidGmk/s1600/178.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sighed in a happy way as I walked into my bedroom. As I was changing into my PJ's , I thought about everything that happened in the past few days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We got a new house, we were robbed, I gave myself a makeover, we all carved pumpkins, we survived our first full moon, and my kids had a great time at the festival.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought it was a successful week that we had. I really loved how my life was currently.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was pregnant, had an awesome house, and had amazing kids.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I slipped on my slippers and thought about what Nicole had said before we moved.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Are we getting a puppy?" It rang back in my head.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I pulled the covers over myself and got comfortable, I thought about the thought of getting a pet. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved animals, and I thought it would be a great idea.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could get a puppy for the kids, and get myself a cat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It would be <i>perfect</i>!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I couldn't wait to actually get into the process of adopting pets. It would have to be sometime in this next week, but it <i>will</i> happen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the thought of puppies and kitties, I fell asleep.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>----------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>First of all, I would like to say a huge apology to all of my readers.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This chapter has been waited for for a <i>long </i>time. I'm very sorry.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I've been <i>super </i>busy lately.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>But, it is made and the blog is made, so I hope you enjoy the rest of the journey here on the blog!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Have any questions or thoughts? Please comment below!</b></span><br />
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Heather Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10216231018458039386noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6217454030654055977.post-21318314710473015022012-12-02T15:46:00.000-08:002012-12-17T08:46:35.287-08:00Chapter 9 - Part 2 - Werewolf Twins = Trouble!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66ZMrQOodTq8NapDTuxC-AUipKE0YhPdiPaHugcqJh2W9uT15y1hunaKIEBiW6x8Oo39YYYoN1jv2BeTaHFN003FJX8wUBBOaHCfSaQhYb92uP5EuuLfbLittsfWjUDdHucZcG0pj-coN/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66ZMrQOodTq8NapDTuxC-AUipKE0YhPdiPaHugcqJh2W9uT15y1hunaKIEBiW6x8Oo39YYYoN1jv2BeTaHFN003FJX8wUBBOaHCfSaQhYb92uP5EuuLfbLittsfWjUDdHucZcG0pj-coN/s1600/1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I walked into the room slowly to find Naomi sitting straight up in her crib.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I looked at her but didn't say a word. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She smiled at me and that's when I saw her fangs and glowy eyes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Whoa." I said under my breath. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It shocked me a little bit.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hey Naomi." I said in a quiet voice, trying to not wake up Bailey. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Mommy!" Naomi said to me, smiling really big. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Her fangs scared me a little bit. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I knew she wouldn't try to hurt me with them, but they were just freaky.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I changed her into her regular clothes and talked to her while I was still holding her. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"So, what happened last night? You are a werewolf now, Naomi." I knew that she couldn't talk much, but maybe I could get something out of her. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">She looked at me confused, then put her fingers in her mouth and felt her fangs. "...Werewolf?"</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> She looked confused. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Yes, honey, werewolf." She still had a confused expression on her face, but suddenly her face light up and you could just see the little light bulb above her head.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> "Yea! Werewolf!" she said, trying to remember. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Big boom, woke up, felt funny, howl."</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFiQ8bW12iCG11tDqb5tiKUpTg_451zE70RWcdOS-RA9K0B9TV5_XlRzxeUklAa4krRsLCyTSvwhQuht_X1zdNFSGE2AoIQBJdJfxzCavAu9KQ3rpjbZoj1mVHqOcK9itzsMXEYp-Npvg/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoFiQ8bW12iCG11tDqb5tiKUpTg_451zE70RWcdOS-RA9K0B9TV5_XlRzxeUklAa4krRsLCyTSvwhQuht_X1zdNFSGE2AoIQBJdJfxzCavAu9KQ3rpjbZoj1mVHqOcK9itzsMXEYp-Npvg/s1600/4.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Okay, Naomi, thank you." I said, still trying to interpret her toddler talk when I set her down on the floor and gave her a bottle.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I went into the corner of the room and sat down into the rocking chair and rocked and rocked while I watched Naomi eat and play. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, so, first of all, there was a big boom. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't feel a big boom at all though last night. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Neither did the other kids, because I'm pretty sure they would've came to me.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The 'big boom', in her world, woke her up and she felt different, funny.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It's true that she howled, because that was what woke <b>me </b>up. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I felt like a crazed mom and this was just a weird dream. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was all so strange.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWK6Fq18OdMw4KgzpbXQY73T6cejEBX3IOJMrVC5QIJg9sB6C4XT0n-mXJzlnagPgppi4ezgTNdeBHO1Hs2E5h0sp63m07VN_qcSxCwdSNKwOZjFXq6o3r49sBmxijRRoa78IoVrcn7wJ/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWK6Fq18OdMw4KgzpbXQY73T6cejEBX3IOJMrVC5QIJg9sB6C4XT0n-mXJzlnagPgppi4ezgTNdeBHO1Hs2E5h0sp63m07VN_qcSxCwdSNKwOZjFXq6o3r49sBmxijRRoa78IoVrcn7wJ/s1600/5.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suddenly she stopped playing with her blocks and stood up. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I watched her closely. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She starting scratching the floor and sniffed around. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was about to yell at her, but...</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then she growled. I had no idea what she was doing, but the growling woke up her sister.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KO_YFoiOtKDWiehfH2MzVzmc5YZ1SmCk_VssSX_e-BZckWpOunbanrfQMhnj1MiRFEsBI8eu26UA-b_DPZS-1GHAKYhjRWcAM8lh5bg3KpnSBKd5tN1ze_m6QiTRjpdtzsThpw4Xfjg4/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KO_YFoiOtKDWiehfH2MzVzmc5YZ1SmCk_VssSX_e-BZckWpOunbanrfQMhnj1MiRFEsBI8eu26UA-b_DPZS-1GHAKYhjRWcAM8lh5bg3KpnSBKd5tN1ze_m6QiTRjpdtzsThpw4Xfjg4/s1600/7.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Bailey was howling and crying as soon as she woke up. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It was time to see if she was a werewolf and felt the same way as her sister.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0Wv4vSV-bTWOUa6E6HWs9bqxHYRm1n61yGRQlXKDV68JMjpayfT5K04bLovyKSsyqqe7BbJXqK1jFA9Qc1c_6noaDjeSLEAj3lMSmqIXg_akyRi4LmdXdCaEaur53zc8aTqVc42V1Run/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR0Wv4vSV-bTWOUa6E6HWs9bqxHYRm1n61yGRQlXKDV68JMjpayfT5K04bLovyKSsyqqe7BbJXqK1jFA9Qc1c_6noaDjeSLEAj3lMSmqIXg_akyRi4LmdXdCaEaur53zc8aTqVc42V1Run/s1600/8.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went over to her crib and said "Good Morning, Bailey." </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even though it was pretty late at night since we were up late with birthdays last night.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> She smiled at me and that's when her tiny werewolf fangs and glowy eyes stood out at me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I asked her the same questions I asked Naomi. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I told her what Naomi said and she agreed with it, too.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Wow. You girls are right." I said to them as I changed Bailey's clothes.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "So, I guess that means I have werewolf twin girls now!" I said to both of them with a smile as they laughed and howled as a reply.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRH_Z4_3hHtWsDAy98JHMI6oTvTFFm5I35Jd9Qz9qO_m9egEZ297K2j3D4BnftoWX4QDRtHAyeJfOScOhjVucC99S4Yb7SC7Dit6CQeLKXR3qga7BKyP8ulgr8ALIffKrq-Ltb9RL5sU68/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRH_Z4_3hHtWsDAy98JHMI6oTvTFFm5I35Jd9Qz9qO_m9egEZ297K2j3D4BnftoWX4QDRtHAyeJfOScOhjVucC99S4Yb7SC7Dit6CQeLKXR3qga7BKyP8ulgr8ALIffKrq-Ltb9RL5sU68/s1600/9.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I gave her a bottle and set her down. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I guess I have to just wait and see what they do, now." I said to myself, a little worried.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I had never had any experience with werewolves, let alone supernaturals. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Just have to go one step at a time, huh?" </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I sighed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I looked out of the window and saw the twins doing their homework outside.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I made a mental note to ask them how their first day of school was.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I also wondered why they were doing their homework out in the dark.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wnXHMBocIV4eiKboG-CM6ou3tOEllJVJ_uKUR7gdy70JUfuIjZbxCfha1F4w3LdPGUPOxZ2mCJNjuAy_ayiNDa38x0aoDvUJJIXV9OBiNYaA95gwpGZ7ghX8mWQlxqkEoUUklztabCwG/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8wnXHMBocIV4eiKboG-CM6ou3tOEllJVJ_uKUR7gdy70JUfuIjZbxCfha1F4w3LdPGUPOxZ2mCJNjuAy_ayiNDa38x0aoDvUJJIXV9OBiNYaA95gwpGZ7ghX8mWQlxqkEoUUklztabCwG/s1600/11.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But when I looked a little further over, I saw Ariana playing catch with one of my peashooters.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I laughed and ran downstairs to go and say hi to her.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJToGQWS8AHXjCCoA1N_2LAnGKpeqAvZ5A3Gh1LDR4iZjy7uM0Wz6BcZ0skQS-K8ikHSvnJv5H_Vms1eDgNllNYwLg6lAgnU27DbAd58iArZkF8Ew7zPMgWVTbIc49WMoaRZuh9Ml5j8Mx/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJToGQWS8AHXjCCoA1N_2LAnGKpeqAvZ5A3Gh1LDR4iZjy7uM0Wz6BcZ0skQS-K8ikHSvnJv5H_Vms1eDgNllNYwLg6lAgnU27DbAd58iArZkF8Ew7zPMgWVTbIc49WMoaRZuh9Ml5j8Mx/s1600/12.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But right before I left, Bailey stood up and howled at the moon since it just came out.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I guess werewolves have a natural instinct to howl at the moon.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdxbOYXy3ip2zdZoEg4j_V3g-IZESQwTFa39QZ0u_qhyAUop10i5XGFSYprMgp8pJzCP5NKiiaZtEXSvV5dX7tPUVaF3tTxrOJ9IHr5TbTtV1e4_CTBvIn3fvSaSlHgzkp07RUJuDA1ZL/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdxbOYXy3ip2zdZoEg4j_V3g-IZESQwTFa39QZ0u_qhyAUop10i5XGFSYprMgp8pJzCP5NKiiaZtEXSvV5dX7tPUVaF3tTxrOJ9IHr5TbTtV1e4_CTBvIn3fvSaSlHgzkp07RUJuDA1ZL/s1600/13.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I forgot that werewolves do that, but hoped they wouldn't both do it every night.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKm4d5ffzOtk1hs7PcXDloGKhBzuXoXgDgPZ75BMc-I_FXssSVb8qTsaP5FMS9bWViH_UBrusDdNWLHHHiWUmcuSH4HhjoAljBmlQVt_B_EfR0XVJulHJdJqaCFtH7fW_zBfYECWye7w4/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKm4d5ffzOtk1hs7PcXDloGKhBzuXoXgDgPZ75BMc-I_FXssSVb8qTsaP5FMS9bWViH_UBrusDdNWLHHHiWUmcuSH4HhjoAljBmlQVt_B_EfR0XVJulHJdJqaCFtH7fW_zBfYECWye7w4/s1600/14.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" style="display: inline; line-height: 18px; outline: none; width: auto;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their small, high-pitched little howls were probably the cutest thing that I had ever heard and actually hoped that they did it every night, just not all night long.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ran downstairs and found Ariana talking to Paris. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris couldn't stop laughing and I had no clue why.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Ariana noticed I was downstairs and I said to her with a big smile, "Hey, girl!" </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hi!" she said with a big smile and a hug. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I love it when you come over and all, but.. why are you here?" I giggled.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Just thought I'd stop by! Oh and by the way, Danielle couldn't come because she was out with Chase all night." </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Ariana said, a little disapointed. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Oh, no it's fine. Seriously." I said.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We chatted for a while, but soon, I heard a scratching noise that sounded like it was coming from upstairs.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Ariana came with me upstairs to check what it was.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvs6JlfMzGt8SMfNUBkd9koAbQ_Miu-ZnTRwoWQO19jDv34FbRUxqMptGz4dDZO295J72sYXX-DUtZcHaoLiC86rs8LcNdYI49l-8gSLzecsYxd5tq6vNYjO29o-Km7jJ871SjlsGl0RwW/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvs6JlfMzGt8SMfNUBkd9koAbQ_Miu-ZnTRwoWQO19jDv34FbRUxqMptGz4dDZO295J72sYXX-DUtZcHaoLiC86rs8LcNdYI49l-8gSLzecsYxd5tq6vNYjO29o-Km7jJ871SjlsGl0RwW/s1600/16.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, it was my werewolf girls scratching up the furniture on the outside balcony. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just great.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDzm7XUCy9ycOQY934o-XQZU4h9TWhNr5nnQi0AHs9QPHVrE01pieJBn1Kk75vNb_9BDKCs1ODXoGpPqw5-zLzF9Gsl1_8dHh4d3aZqJwSiMIkTyrXj40MpC-44wdYcIMZnSqZLDDnMHE/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDzm7XUCy9ycOQY934o-XQZU4h9TWhNr5nnQi0AHs9QPHVrE01pieJBn1Kk75vNb_9BDKCs1ODXoGpPqw5-zLzF9Gsl1_8dHh4d3aZqJwSiMIkTyrXj40MpC-44wdYcIMZnSqZLDDnMHE/s1600/18.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We went back downstairs because I didn't know what to do about my little werewolves.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I asked Ariana for advice.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> She said that I should just take it easy and try to keep everything under control. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We both yawned and decided that it was getting late.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thanked her for helping me, gave her a hug, and she was gone.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I loved it when she came over, but hopefully I will be able to chat with Danielle soon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I headed upstairs, with all of my other kids in bed, to take care of my toddlers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> They were little troublemakers on the inside, but adorable werewolves on the outside.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6btBPARXhFdinzGY4tvaIU85BUThqelav38by6M7lzwDF6kIRYlXyKGuDEhSTv9FgvdshK1rd5Pi1ozOhCIfeGHDMJqvaPnXu9-_5tqVz6L3LHGcT6lt7H2wrh7Id6xJhaFEcxmRjIlyB/s1600/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6btBPARXhFdinzGY4tvaIU85BUThqelav38by6M7lzwDF6kIRYlXyKGuDEhSTv9FgvdshK1rd5Pi1ozOhCIfeGHDMJqvaPnXu9-_5tqVz6L3LHGcT6lt7H2wrh7Id6xJhaFEcxmRjIlyB/s1600/20.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got them ready for bed, and while they were both in their cribs, I gave them a lecture about being a werewolf and set down some rules. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Okay, you girls are both werewolves now. I'm still not quite sure how it happened, but-" I looked at both of them. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They were both out.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sighed as I went into my room and layed in bed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Oh, forget it.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Thank you for reading Chapter 9 - Part 2!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Did you like it?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Do you have any questions or thoughts?</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Please comment below and let me know!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I love any kind of feedback. <3</b></span></span></div>
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Heather Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10216231018458039386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6217454030654055977.post-47140252724401015002012-12-02T13:35:00.000-08:002013-06-17T15:18:44.251-07:00Chapter 9: Part 1 ~ Birthdays and Confusion! (Baby #4 and #5)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4tcqludeOb745TmbSuBgMpT_BHoIe1UpTYFElGjuhWPC0VCX7t3AgcxSUoowxuTZgwyCr276GfCUeFFyiGoAasgsGmvTeVXHZYdkXQUJlNSNqUzQ6yqsuRHYUgxV80HOmX1eCvF_WlyY/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4tcqludeOb745TmbSuBgMpT_BHoIe1UpTYFElGjuhWPC0VCX7t3AgcxSUoowxuTZgwyCr276GfCUeFFyiGoAasgsGmvTeVXHZYdkXQUJlNSNqUzQ6yqsuRHYUgxV80HOmX1eCvF_WlyY/s1600/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I changed into my PJ's because, well... who doesn't love their PJ's?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just wanted to be comfortable.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I sat down and taught Nicole how to talk.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris was next. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really needed to get all of their skills down with a baby on the way.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0FshK4-LmUdpxZHY8peCVXHdp_HFzXQffoKMtYT18rBHHMFDDm0nQLin_8BvwQwJeFxQ15JvLqTFX-B8yoHwo1yXCu_EkKFmqFedT-rn3G54UZeUMA9JNOAJxJF5Z3EbABTS1dlFoaNp/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0FshK4-LmUdpxZHY8peCVXHdp_HFzXQffoKMtYT18rBHHMFDDm0nQLin_8BvwQwJeFxQ15JvLqTFX-B8yoHwo1yXCu_EkKFmqFedT-rn3G54UZeUMA9JNOAJxJF5Z3EbABTS1dlFoaNp/s1600/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The day went on like that for a long time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually, everyone was sleeping.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesP5UQxfKove2Syxy_FoFkows6LLGE0hoXIYgQg9h0CieAgu8S49HkfRmTCPHnYixIovybnn1NQUXGaxspqqBAbPAnDfs4CDYgolfXz4yfqdibicD4mxXOcD9AQrOIbU7sI-0cc3l2iTI/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesP5UQxfKove2Syxy_FoFkows6LLGE0hoXIYgQg9h0CieAgu8S49HkfRmTCPHnYixIovybnn1NQUXGaxspqqBAbPAnDfs4CDYgolfXz4yfqdibicD4mxXOcD9AQrOIbU7sI-0cc3l2iTI/s1600/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I woke up and the first thing I noticed was how big my belly was.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I guess supernatural babies grow faster.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I headed downstairs to have breakfast.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made it down just in time to see Jay before he left for school. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Have a great day at school, Jay!" I shouted to him as the bus horn honked and he headed out the door. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Thanks!" He said back.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My toddlers were soon taken care of, so I just painted until my baby came.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZr0P25YhNRb4eXpwBwieUTHe-7IE9S0S1i04UXnJ-anWZ-DOn8dM87AdgCIIJszoziLclc9jZBkGTS5zXCfTZDNa_9H4vlUTMQLMLfDWr0JnQACCVIyEWv14PNdO-MvvzfQ0QWUmk3Ef/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZr0P25YhNRb4eXpwBwieUTHe-7IE9S0S1i04UXnJ-anWZ-DOn8dM87AdgCIIJszoziLclc9jZBkGTS5zXCfTZDNa_9H4vlUTMQLMLfDWr0JnQACCVIyEWv14PNdO-MvvzfQ0QWUmk3Ef/s1600/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After about an hour, I started to feel labor pains.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It hurt <b>way</b> more than it did last time.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made my way into the nursery and prepared for my baby.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 hours later, I welcomed Naomi Bear and Bailey Bear into the family.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Neither of them were werewolves, which made me a little disappointed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>They're another Bear, and all Bears are loved for who they are.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since I wasn't pregnant anymore and had new babies, it was time for birthdays. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ordered the cakes from a local bakery.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Are you sure you want 5 birthday cakes?" The lady at the bakery asked.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I laughed as I replied, "Yes, positive."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> She sounded a little confused but said, "Alright then... the cakes will be there in 20 minutes."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jay kept his mohawk but it swooped up a little. I couldn't believe Jay was already a teenager. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It seemed like he just turned into a toddler yesterday. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Wow, the other side of the boys' bedroom, huh?" Jay said to me with a smile and a laugh.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Congratulations!" I said to him, laughing too. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">He definitely had a great sense of humor.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole's hair grew out and It grew out LONG. I braided it for her and she loved it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I love the golden-blonde hair that my twins have. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I can't wait for school tomorrow, Mommy! It'll be so fun!" Nicole said with a big smile on her face.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It sure will, baby girl." I said, giving her a hug.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Paris copied her twin, putting her hair into a side ponytail swirl style and slipping on the same dress that had the colors switched. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My twins were both beautiful little girls.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You and Nicole, both go get your PJ's on and go to bed in the girls' bedroom!" I told them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> They both squealed with excitement of the room switch and hurried up the stairs so fast that they fell over each other at the top.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Nicole!" Paris shouted with a laugh. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Whoops!" Nicole said, and they both laughed their ways to their bedroom. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Goodnight goofballs!" I shouted to them. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Goodnight!" They said in unison.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Bailey was definitely a girly-girl. She insisted on wearing pink and bows</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> She was adorable with her daddy's black hair. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It was really a shame that they weren't werewolves, they'd be the </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">perfect</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> little werewolves.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I gave her a kiss on the forehead, but she didn't say anything. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">She just smiled and batted her eyes at me. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">She was the cutest toddler I've ever seen, even if she was a little shy.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> "Goodnight." I said to her.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Naomi was very pretty. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She wasn't as girly as Bailey was, but she was a very beautiful little girl and I loved her to death.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> From her little pointed ears that showed out of her red hair, to her dark jeans and dark converse. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Mommy!" Naomi said with a huge smile. "I love you!" </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Love you, too, Naomi."</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone went to bed really late that night.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> They all had school the next day, too. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It<i>'s okay if they're late, I guess. </i></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><i>Hopefully they all wake up in time.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I wanted them all to get a good nights sleep.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Exhausted, I crawled into bed and tried to ignore all of the sunlight that was shining into my bedroom.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWMiMI6uzXsgn0XN6ssNZRFXIjJgL4JiSC0j_cN3HeeIy7V39OQ5L8ipgo24mhdGfyALCuoGipHXyQvOAMrIAziwHuRMXbhjPFb4zHo_JCdS_i03jJIQ6UcF_zJxQZhqRKChUWteTbDTZ/s1600/28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLWMiMI6uzXsgn0XN6ssNZRFXIjJgL4JiSC0j_cN3HeeIy7V39OQ5L8ipgo24mhdGfyALCuoGipHXyQvOAMrIAziwHuRMXbhjPFb4zHo_JCdS_i03jJIQ6UcF_zJxQZhqRKChUWteTbDTZ/s1600/28.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Sleeping for only a few hours, I woke up to an empty house. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Just me and my toddlers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> All of my kids had left for school and I was a little bit disappointed that I wasn't able to say goodbye to my girls on their first day of school and Jay on his first day of High School.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I was happier that I got some sleep, though.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">But just as I started to make the bed, I heard a growl in the nursery. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I knew that my toddlers were awake and that they were probably bored. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I assumed that they were just growling at each other for fun, but then I heard a howl.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b>Thank you for reading Chapter 9 - Part 1!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b>Do you have any questions or thoughts?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b>What do you think will happen?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b>Please let me know in the comments below!</b></span></span></div>
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Heather Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10216231018458039386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6217454030654055977.post-33111513029424166302012-12-01T21:32:00.000-08:002012-12-01T21:34:21.097-08:00Chapter 8 - Zombies and Werewolves?<div style="text-align: center;">
First of all, I would like to say thank you to Danielle and Ariana for letting me use their sims!</div>
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Read Danielle's 100 Baby Challenge <a href="http://danielle100babies.blogspot.com/">here.</a></div>
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Read Ariana's 100 Baby Challenge <a href="http://www.facebook.com/TheLittle100BabyChallenge?fref=ts">here.</a></div>
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Enjoy Chapter 8!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxzSrLdaeVoZ97MQgSj73dmYsBi2PaApzHHzzAs-4lFg-4FSQ6ONWlGJ1p7HacZxLjFiDjDKPYCbaZ-0HPxwsvt2flDZGS15yrZra_djDdVAoHKGTTNG2RZwyK3Ez1O9qRZQCBam8tfKr/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxzSrLdaeVoZ97MQgSj73dmYsBi2PaApzHHzzAs-4lFg-4FSQ6ONWlGJ1p7HacZxLjFiDjDKPYCbaZ-0HPxwsvt2flDZGS15yrZra_djDdVAoHKGTTNG2RZwyK3Ez1O9qRZQCBam8tfKr/s1600/2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I woke up, I peeked into Jay's room and found out that he was already up.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next stop, nursery.</span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Here you go!" I said to Nicole as I set her on the floor and handed her her bottle.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> She just laughed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I remembered that neither of them knew how to talk. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"I really have to catch up on my lessons."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I made a mental note.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My twins and I were quickly taken care of.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73zMhEwITVcQTs2Z2zhSxfNgxziV2QeWfMcn0ZpCos_Y73n8IcSuIxw66w2wRkmlOLuN1k_iZ6nlLR7q0IahD-rkIk2CJFuJNJJ9wqVOzbjUu-Cm3YdUS7lTWIdL68_GRs2d98JZ1ZyNp/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73zMhEwITVcQTs2Z2zhSxfNgxziV2QeWfMcn0ZpCos_Y73n8IcSuIxw66w2wRkmlOLuN1k_iZ6nlLR7q0IahD-rkIk2CJFuJNJJ9wqVOzbjUu-Cm3YdUS7lTWIdL68_GRs2d98JZ1ZyNp/s1600/8.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After eating cake, I got a call from Devin. It was a party invite.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Sure, see you tomorrow!" I replied as I hung up the phone.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgombTm_Y99lmHp2l768622mT9YUvMoYLifsuXp__VyjfSPKpfHkdpDMbr-FVoHEbYsE56sJ2EZ8WoCmotaiZnskEbvQ7lOSPoIWiXKAC00pDDd_9jCwBYty_tyw-MEobSh-ZdSc9Gb0e4c/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgombTm_Y99lmHp2l768622mT9YUvMoYLifsuXp__VyjfSPKpfHkdpDMbr-FVoHEbYsE56sJ2EZ8WoCmotaiZnskEbvQ7lOSPoIWiXKAC00pDDd_9jCwBYty_tyw-MEobSh-ZdSc9Gb0e4c/s1600/10.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looking for fun, I remembered that I had a photo booth upstairs that I hadn't used before.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hopped in and had fun taking silly photos.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWH3OXkQqOtnaeOJksuhHe1r2SYRSRCPJsI0QFsW-BgMlnapIn5Q9Q-6C32rTStX9hETBAek-DN1x-ScOFVMPaHPDYonUZuI1bLRlMkQ1bve34IJe-Gk053XG0qGCx4jQ7BDxrvNN18TJs/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWH3OXkQqOtnaeOJksuhHe1r2SYRSRCPJsI0QFsW-BgMlnapIn5Q9Q-6C32rTStX9hETBAek-DN1x-ScOFVMPaHPDYonUZuI1bLRlMkQ1bve34IJe-Gk053XG0qGCx4jQ7BDxrvNN18TJs/s1600/12.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Not bad.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3IaI2tOzqqbqR-4U8GxrLkueZijSXlaQnvlG7tmijDPQUpEGxldKryUqVlF91OO2R_XV4JIhEENJ834mQlIzLQjrR3f8_1StG31Gmp-rsZNUiYq9Er7d2Yi5qS0Bk0WKBvzonAKpLKNN/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3IaI2tOzqqbqR-4U8GxrLkueZijSXlaQnvlG7tmijDPQUpEGxldKryUqVlF91OO2R_XV4JIhEENJ834mQlIzLQjrR3f8_1StG31Gmp-rsZNUiYq9Er7d2Yi5qS0Bk0WKBvzonAKpLKNN/s1600/15.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I heard a door open downstairs. I looked at the clock and reasoned that it was Jay.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I went downstairs to talk to him. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"How was school, buddy?" I said, enthusiastically. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Pretty good." he said, "I heard these rumors that everyone was talking about. They said that there were gonna be all these strange people popping up out of no where, like zombies, fairies, and even werewolves!" </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Are you sure, Jay, because-" I started to say, right as my phone rang.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnxQBQoQ95wF0mspg3TXFoLD99_G2QEeDetjGaydclEtBDPvqHtMcG-GdrYaD7fZNMZPWynnh3UrFivsFNYMSCa9iFVpY02P5uho-wBkS1boj43ksqb5hEQSoKbhykCnnfKb9YMFu0Kq1/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnxQBQoQ95wF0mspg3TXFoLD99_G2QEeDetjGaydclEtBDPvqHtMcG-GdrYaD7fZNMZPWynnh3UrFivsFNYMSCa9iFVpY02P5uho-wBkS1boj43ksqb5hEQSoKbhykCnnfKb9YMFu0Kq1/s1600/18.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Yes, Mom, I'm sure!" he said. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Hang on, Jay, I'll talk to you later. I have to answer this..." I said as I pulled my phone out of my pocket.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hey, is this Payton?" I heard an unfamiliar voice say. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yup, it's Payton! Who are you, though?" I said, really confused. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Oh! Sorry! I'm Danielle... Danielle Smores! Ariana Little and I just moved here and heard that you were doing a 100 baby challenge!" Danielle said. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"We are doing the challenge, too!" I heard a different voice say. It must have been Ariana. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Oh, that's awesome!" I said, really excited that there were other people doing the same thing as me! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Would you want to come over to our house right now?" Danielle said. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I'd love to!" I said joyfully, "Let me just put my kids to bed and I'll be over ASAP!" </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Okay, can't wait!" They both said.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I hung up the phone and headed upstairs to take care of my toddlers. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I was trying to hurry so that I could get to Danielle and Ariana's house as soon as I could.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OFYe4uNlVN_ORel6_jRR6uxY3I9fEpyEQtKeDJcDdmRoM0NiTFh7mRDLJWiIJMajO21cAvqtHx-Gy38gaGxPtvLMFNwli2gVsKCO6LcM5XplF21izZl9u0wfDkv_EBbbdMztox06NThl/s1600/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OFYe4uNlVN_ORel6_jRR6uxY3I9fEpyEQtKeDJcDdmRoM0NiTFh7mRDLJWiIJMajO21cAvqtHx-Gy38gaGxPtvLMFNwli2gVsKCO6LcM5XplF21izZl9u0wfDkv_EBbbdMztox06NThl/s1600/21.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I walked downstairs to leave, I saw Jay playing video games.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Hey, Mom, what's for dinner?" he asked. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"What do you want?" I asked, trying to hurry, realizing that I had to feed him and not just my toddlers, too.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "..." </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Jay?" I said.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "..." </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was trying to go fast and he wasn't helping.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I finally just yelled, "JAY!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "What, mom?" he asked. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Dude, what do you want for dinner?" I said as I caught his attention away from video games.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> "Uhh.. hot dogs." he said, finally making a decision. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Got it!" I said, hurrying to the grill to cook some hot dogs.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctMycQ-eNnGldgmVqaqCM7BVvQ4A_6t94gb8OGfFzbY25vumMAGFltQhJ2-BSCNyPH5Yu0A6yhM8GrDW2qsLkz6zzZ8rAGi48WQHC-VZB5KB0u4T7xfBX0iPc2MD4dErfczFh5gycIeg5/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctMycQ-eNnGldgmVqaqCM7BVvQ4A_6t94gb8OGfFzbY25vumMAGFltQhJ2-BSCNyPH5Yu0A6yhM8GrDW2qsLkz6zzZ8rAGi48WQHC-VZB5KB0u4T7xfBX0iPc2MD4dErfczFh5gycIeg5/s1600/22.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I quickly grilled the hot dogs and just left them on a plate outside. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made sure to poke my head inside and tell him that they were out there, to stop playing video games and actually eat them, and to go to bed soon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "K." he said, his brain being sucked out from video games. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I just shook my head. "Normal guy response.." I thought to myself, laughing a little.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLEdhh9SuQv20HaXUYUBejEenxxjlT23PbiSMNPhUV3niOTRd2CVmGqA70J1oCycIHzzBjdcSONHDd2JWCYMSfk2Au7KQ2P8iDQsBUeisu6Sf2kQFWJci-qLnvoHDTnbNXUckUMBrHsKe/s1600/26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLEdhh9SuQv20HaXUYUBejEenxxjlT23PbiSMNPhUV3niOTRd2CVmGqA70J1oCycIHzzBjdcSONHDd2JWCYMSfk2Au7KQ2P8iDQsBUeisu6Sf2kQFWJci-qLnvoHDTnbNXUckUMBrHsKe/s1600/26.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I arrived at their house super excited.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I rang the doorbell and a girl with a very bright-colored hair came out and introduced herself. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hi, I'm Ariana!" she said. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"It's awesome to meet another challenge mom!" I said, excited. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"I'm Payton Bear!" </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I said with a big smile, trying to be as friendly and calm as possible since I am excitable.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> She invited me inside.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxC9T4-JkynWghzWgMUZQWcfclna8QrfDUvzjjiPxN1PJZRyD9M5NjEuq-EyS2Pyae9deTabvraqjJeUIXgy-ftxwqXHIoSeTwNcDd6QU6JUDvTNWKkMOeKpbYXlw1XkiU7iQPnKtw5FY/s1600/27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxC9T4-JkynWghzWgMUZQWcfclna8QrfDUvzjjiPxN1PJZRyD9M5NjEuq-EyS2Pyae9deTabvraqjJeUIXgy-ftxwqXHIoSeTwNcDd6QU6JUDvTNWKkMOeKpbYXlw1XkiU7iQPnKtw5FY/s1600/27.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"So how long have you been a challenge mom?" she asked me. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Uhh..." I said, "Probably a month or so..." </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">She replied back nicely, saying "Oh, how cool! So you're new to this, huh?" </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Yup, I'm a newbie!" I admitted. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">She told me that she had been a challenge mom for a very LONG time, she couldn't even remember how long!</span></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhYIQqeqCJjIL3l4fEoXTT33hlOpMiOffPtAg4zZzzF-g41eCTeSaRoRzIb_PEQGL-UkhWeLjmSc_ujIyfgfhuVeu5K4jk4gSLOev8YPAygxK9XNSu4gG21M2n7GsCgv1dlUupkKGLkXb/s1600/28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPhYIQqeqCJjIL3l4fEoXTT33hlOpMiOffPtAg4zZzzF-g41eCTeSaRoRzIb_PEQGL-UkhWeLjmSc_ujIyfgfhuVeu5K4jk4gSLOev8YPAygxK9XNSu4gG21M2n7GsCgv1dlUupkKGLkXb/s1600/28.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"How many kids do you have?" she asked me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> "I only have 3 kids, one child and two, twin toddlers. My child is a boy and his name is Jay, and my twin toddlers are both girls, Paris and Nicole." I said, proud of myself for actually being able to say that I had kids and I was on my way to have 97 more. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">The realization of the challenge really hit me when she told me how many kids that she had and that </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> "Danielle has 38 kids, but I only have 13." She said with a sigh.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> "WOW, 38 KIDS?!?" I said, amazed.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> "Yeah." She replied with a sigh again. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Hey, don't feel bad! I've had kid issues, too, girlfriend! You'll get to 100 kids one day. I'll get to 100 kids someday, too. We will all get to 100 kids someday. And if we help each other out, we can do it. Promise." I said, trying to be encouraging and cheer her up.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> "Aww, you're right, Payton!" she said with a smile. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I smiled back, happy to see that I just made a best friend.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwi7pdEi_b71b46SyIItBWYUiopaJKjR61YgLcBqJmKyaEiBPg_hPjfntPIOLdyhcbRC1OzBcFlbW-KCY-74W0D2owotSIiLDVlQmVEjlfexYff8Nm-PtzpTvgCDX7dzdWKIqe1A1Tg0_D/s1600/30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwi7pdEi_b71b46SyIItBWYUiopaJKjR61YgLcBqJmKyaEiBPg_hPjfntPIOLdyhcbRC1OzBcFlbW-KCY-74W0D2owotSIiLDVlQmVEjlfexYff8Nm-PtzpTvgCDX7dzdWKIqe1A1Tg0_D/s1600/30.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We talked and talked about all of the inside jokes of being a challenge mom. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"And how the fridge NEVER runs out of cake?!?" Ariana said, laughing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"OMG! I thought that was just my fridge!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> We both laughed and laughed until we cried and our stomachs hurt.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hey, where is Danielle, anyways?" I asked, looking around the room. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She looked around the room, too, and then said, "Hmm... I don't know! ... DANIELLE?" </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ariana checked all of the rooms while I followed her.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxATWBGMUVEo7wnBy-QfQREjHdclujkkguK7ZHdN_-gS5dNdaf_QIlUcTGUiWzg7_p43VfC1o3tXKcK7Ts149Z5GpnUh7XaPifFlz7BnTe4IXj-82eMUbq37z_yT8C9b_9YFgb9892M4ku/s1600/31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxATWBGMUVEo7wnBy-QfQREjHdclujkkguK7ZHdN_-gS5dNdaf_QIlUcTGUiWzg7_p43VfC1o3tXKcK7Ts149Z5GpnUh7XaPifFlz7BnTe4IXj-82eMUbq37z_yT8C9b_9YFgb9892M4ku/s1600/31.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We walked into the bedroom and finally found Danielle. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ariana just laughed. Confused, I asked her with a laugh, "Why is that funny?" </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ariana calmed herself down to explain how Danielle had gone to a party yesterday and stayed overnight.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> She explained how when she went to pick Danielle up that there were just drinks and people EVERYWHERE on the floor. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We left the bedroom and went out into the hall so that our laughter wouldn't bother her.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRPnnkM9oVPSwAPvUDDXJZIMQklZF1C7Dmzrh9re3C2kjZp6XvQ3UZrZ-1YND_7JINp9FvI3aWp9PaMivZlIFtqJ0C8zX-iLAqqlhkURuG9IVp2hm1CnXsZM-xGZBHWDVUSH503i9SadQ/s1600/32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSRPnnkM9oVPSwAPvUDDXJZIMQklZF1C7Dmzrh9re3C2kjZp6XvQ3UZrZ-1YND_7JINp9FvI3aWp9PaMivZlIFtqJ0C8zX-iLAqqlhkURuG9IVp2hm1CnXsZM-xGZBHWDVUSH503i9SadQ/s1600/32.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Well, maybe you can meet Danielle next time." She said with a final laugh.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"For sure!" I said with a smile. "I have to go home now, though. See you later, girl!" </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Bye!" she said as i gave her a hug and left. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I was glad that I now had best friends that understood me and that I could talk to when I needed it.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next morning, I woke up to the sound of Nicole crying. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I came in and saw her making this face. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Aww, my poor Nicoley Oley!" I said to her as I picked her up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 bottles and a quick search later, I had 2 taken-care-of kids and I figured out that Jay had already left for school.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remembered the mental note I had made yesterday about the toddler lessons.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I picked up Nicole and started teaching her how to walk.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1k_69m3-7KiWJu56A7qELyKsACQf-DxGO2ZvZYHoWbYX4KGvTRJE3nMKd8bynQ4bDSd97hm3I-dGHL5dXXOKIe4ZbErahFXBi_Qpde59Km_LC5WvDZtpBGgQNqo8KkR_zKauL9qLJOXu/s1600/50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1k_69m3-7KiWJu56A7qELyKsACQf-DxGO2ZvZYHoWbYX4KGvTRJE3nMKd8bynQ4bDSd97hm3I-dGHL5dXXOKIe4ZbErahFXBi_Qpde59Km_LC5WvDZtpBGgQNqo8KkR_zKauL9qLJOXu/s1600/50.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before I knew it, I heard a car honk outside. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I looked out the window to find Jay with a friend.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I also saw these strange plants outside.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i> What the heck are those things? Maybe if I just leave them alone, they'll go away. They might just be weeds, after all.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since the sun had went down, I put my toddlers in their cribs.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNn3JcsTv0UBYwCaJkYL15vD7eAy5JDr-F9YGyxxgZKgMUEV9WfYAl3d2FhPQGwG2NlDiK7ex5GCAo_63S_JNiCVLJF0jHGRA4UxiG_-V3S6XbKN3XFBpl0Mdl8Dil62dMv6b6s4KLz3YV/s1600/57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNn3JcsTv0UBYwCaJkYL15vD7eAy5JDr-F9YGyxxgZKgMUEV9WfYAl3d2FhPQGwG2NlDiK7ex5GCAo_63S_JNiCVLJF0jHGRA4UxiG_-V3S6XbKN3XFBpl0Mdl8Dil62dMv6b6s4KLz3YV/s1600/57.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I went downstairs and saw Jay sitting on the couch watching TV. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I walked over there and sat down next to him. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"So, how was school?" I said, like I always start the after-school conversations.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It was... strange." Jay said in a weird tone. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Why was it 'strange'?" I asked, confused on how school would be strange. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He told me a really interesting story.</span></span></div>
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<span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" style="display: inline; line-height: 18px; outline: none; width: auto;" tabindex="0"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Mom, I swear." he said, really serious. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" style="display: inline; line-height: 18px; outline: none; width: auto;" tabindex="0">"Are you sure? Because that sounds like it was FOR SURE fake." </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">I said.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Seriously, Mom, there was really, TRULY this zombie walking right there on the sidewalk on the way home from school on the bus. Everyone flipped out and someone shouted, "My dad turned into a zombie last night, too!" Then someone else shouted, "NO WAY! MINE TOO!" he said, wanting me to believe him. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Alright then..." I said, trusting him that he was telling me the truth. "That's pretty scary!" I said, being hit by the realization. </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 18px;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wonder what other creatures there are out there.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I realized that it was time to go to Devin's party. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I told Jay to go to bed soon, told him goodbye and goodnight, and headed out with Jay's zombie story still in my head. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know, what if there are other creatures like werewolves and fairies out there?</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thinking like a 100 baby challenge mom, I instantly thought of how awesome it would be to have supernatural kids.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Maybe I should break up with Devin to date a supernatural guy.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remembered that the dress code for the party was "Formal Wear", so I changed into my dress and headed into the bathroom just as I heard Devin wash his hands.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8AFfiyavheVmCUeA6_iF1e5AZVh-0OROCZLjGIzYepWkD7UijiVb1Is0jMi_8vASszav0oesG_6H9KLc5nKlCCp4mMHYTL5JvyzJAxKmrL4LQpm5xNZCuOKzGnK8vOuOMau7MDFXQTZK/s1600/62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8AFfiyavheVmCUeA6_iF1e5AZVh-0OROCZLjGIzYepWkD7UijiVb1Is0jMi_8vASszav0oesG_6H9KLc5nKlCCp4mMHYTL5JvyzJAxKmrL4LQpm5xNZCuOKzGnK8vOuOMau7MDFXQTZK/s1600/62.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You know, Devin-" I started to say. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"You're breaking up with me." Devin said, interrupting me. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was shocked that he picked up so fast, but kind of glad at the same time. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Exactly!" I said, with a smile on my face that was WAY too big to the point of me not being polite anymore. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Okay. Well, see you later, then! I guess." he said. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Kay, bye!" I said as I headed out.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As soon as I got home, I sunk down into bed and fell asleep really fast, dreaming about fairy babies.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I woke up (feeling really good), took care of my girls, went to the bathroom, and showered. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I came back they were both playing at the block table together.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Aww, you girls are so cute!" I said to them as they both looked at each other and smiled and laughed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Now, who wants to learn today?" I said, prepared to teach them something. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicole got up and walked towards me while Paris refused to leave the block table.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Well, it looks like it's Nicole today!" I said and Nicole smiled and Paris continued playing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I was making myself pancakes for breakfast when Jay left for school.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Bye, Jay!" I shouted to him as he went outside to get into the bus, "Stay away from the zombies!"</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> He laughed and shouted back, "I will!"</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">After my delicious pancakes, I decided to head out on the town to find a supernatural baby daddy.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">After driving past a few houses, one in particular caught my eye.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">It was spooky looking and a little beat up.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I thought that I had good chances with it, so I rang the doorbell and was relieved when a </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">a furry man with ripped clothes, glowy eyes, and fangs came out. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">YAY!</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hey, my name is Payton!" I said, trying to make a good impression. "Are you new here?"</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yup! My name is Ozzy. Ozzy Jones. I actually just got settled in and was about to meet some new neighbors! I guess they came to me, though! Come on in!" he said, very nicely.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He was a very sweet guy, but I really had to go home and take care of my kids. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He understood and we said our goodbyes, and then I was off to home. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I was really glad that I had found a werewolf boyfriend. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Hopefully I'll have a werewolf baby!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I woke up, I had an even better feeling this morning than I did yesterday. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had pretty high hopes because of it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The rest of my morning was just the usual routine.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCFlSWBOmZWBTw3venzRb39qyZyHaESdMu4XpoperW05WgRPfN9NdjM5KYzha3rvgF94kgGJWHGFaGINhu4XMmbW8LfuFp8RrM7m-BhPZsIjRSz5eSLGW3lQ2TcYr8_No0uSzT2eBS4O7/s1600/98.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCFlSWBOmZWBTw3venzRb39qyZyHaESdMu4XpoperW05WgRPfN9NdjM5KYzha3rvgF94kgGJWHGFaGINhu4XMmbW8LfuFp8RrM7m-BhPZsIjRSz5eSLGW3lQ2TcYr8_No0uSzT2eBS4O7/s1600/98.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After breakfast, I heard the doorbell ring.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was Ozzy!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"What are you doing here?" I said to him with a smile, glad he came.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Just wanted to stop by," Ozzy said as he grabbed my hands and swayed our arms together.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing led to the next...</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">After that, we just went on our own separate ways.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His way was home and mine was to the nursery.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I taught Paris how to talk.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0kiAcxWpmsQN8S9r_ZPhSRtKPuVe7EfTW9SzKjsNSPS7tvyWMe3HSoJ6NTAlhJsvkrGswoWy9sZlvvLOjXuJbPnQw2LjeZTNRYCJOPYwFM9zD8uURI0v6jpnSIydAOs1IfJo0YOErBuD/s1600/106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr0kiAcxWpmsQN8S9r_ZPhSRtKPuVe7EfTW9SzKjsNSPS7tvyWMe3HSoJ6NTAlhJsvkrGswoWy9sZlvvLOjXuJbPnQw2LjeZTNRYCJOPYwFM9zD8uURI0v6jpnSIydAOs1IfJo0YOErBuD/s1600/106.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Losing track of time, I heard Jay come in. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He yawned really loud to let me know that he was there. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hey, Jay." I said to him, as I got up off of the floor and headed over to talk to him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Any zombies today?" I said with a giggle. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He laughed and said, "No, not today. I'm glad it's the weekend, though." </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stopped for a second, then said, "Woah, woah, woah, wait. It's the weekend already?" </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yeah. Crazy isn't it?" Jay said. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It sure is..." I replied, shocked with how fast time flies by.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Well, you should go to bed soon." I said to him, yawning myself. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Alright." he said. I gave him a hug. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I love you, Jay." I said with lots of love.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> "Love you, too, Mom." Jay said. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was glad to have loving kids like Jay. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's what every mom needs.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The next morning, I was in the nursery, teaching the girls their skills, when I didn't feel too hot.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ran into the bathroom and threw up all of my breakfast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This continued 3 times after the first.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oh, the joys of pregnancy.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After getting up to go back into the nursery, I felt a kick in my stomach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was pregnant!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Thank you so much for reading Chapter 8! Make sure to check out Danielle and Ariana's Baby Challenges! They're my favorite stories!</b></span></div>
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Heather Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10216231018458039386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6217454030654055977.post-22843585668341205322012-11-29T16:51:00.000-08:002012-11-29T16:51:25.427-08:00Chapter 7 - Time For School!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59S_80c94dode8wbfX2oGNNaRrmMZuo7c2gYtY_HCIiNdHJSNqHFJAoUH_dxGGtagiAz7sZhVKUE_i_zisWdueEfetrN8ow9uS0ALafVpP1ZHmrmJ0hRgWCyHv2oJ76YdjkLidgAtmb0U/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59S_80c94dode8wbfX2oGNNaRrmMZuo7c2gYtY_HCIiNdHJSNqHFJAoUH_dxGGtagiAz7sZhVKUE_i_zisWdueEfetrN8ow9uS0ALafVpP1ZHmrmJ0hRgWCyHv2oJ76YdjkLidgAtmb0U/s1600/1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I needed to get everyone to bed, it was really late. I started off with Paris. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Nicole wasn't too happy, though, that her sister got to go first.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Soon, everyone, including Jay, was sleeping.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">By the time I got to bed, it was so late that the morning sun was peeking through the windows</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>I really have to try and get to bed earlier. I'll never learn, will I?</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Paris woke up after only 30 fast minutes of sleep, for me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I sighed as I headed into the nursery to start the next day.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Oh, the life of a challenge mom.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I felt so bad for her. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"I really have to get better at this 'mommy' thing, don't I Paris?" I said to her, apologizing.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> "Kind of." Paris said quietly.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I just laughed as I handed her a bottle.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">In no time, Nicole was up, too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">When I picked her up to take care of her, she would <b>not </b>stop fussing and crying.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I tried everything. Lullabies, teddy bears, crackers. Nothing worked.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I left her with a warm bottle of milk on the floor and figured that she would drink it sooner or later.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After I had a nice shower, I checked back up on the girls.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Everything was back to normal.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I sighed in relief as I picked up the empty bottle by Nicole's crib.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYTUSF4WyWl3xluCS3FpJrITJFd0Nrr5-Gi17Ms7MYT5OCUuNF_eGl8XEVyq1c9S4T1Mm-2jxh7rwaVLwvWOBQFliWBd1KjuwWdyz7kqLWK1t-6Yc8ACo5oiCRN-hvzXgx5Dh6o0nqtpk/s1600/24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYTUSF4WyWl3xluCS3FpJrITJFd0Nrr5-Gi17Ms7MYT5OCUuNF_eGl8XEVyq1c9S4T1Mm-2jxh7rwaVLwvWOBQFliWBd1KjuwWdyz7kqLWK1t-6Yc8ACo5oiCRN-hvzXgx5Dh6o0nqtpk/s1600/24.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">As I made my way downstairs, I saw Jay finishing up his breakfast.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> "Really, Jay?", I said to him, "Cake for breakfast?" </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Yeah, mom! It's delicious!" he happily replied with his mouth stuffed with cake and his lips blue from the frosting.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> "Okay, then." I said, realizing that I always eat cake for breakfast, too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>I guess my kids take after me.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I giggled as I washed his dirty dishes.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioONXgu0ZK4baYIyosgSkR_FJHMN4ohOvVrT0UyrW6QH2Z6qOclU8gv1NwuGizLDaNj0cWBB0GztjIWtFBrDqDy6cazOeMBES1ZWJgvlfZ8tk49jagvM8urBpgKQRF2favGczqoh3EVA5l/s1600/27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioONXgu0ZK4baYIyosgSkR_FJHMN4ohOvVrT0UyrW6QH2Z6qOclU8gv1NwuGizLDaNj0cWBB0GztjIWtFBrDqDy6cazOeMBES1ZWJgvlfZ8tk49jagvM8urBpgKQRF2favGczqoh3EVA5l/s1600/27.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Jay was such a typical boy. He played video games almost all day. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He always got really into it, too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">You would always hear him yelling at the T.V. or shouting in excitement.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6ODEFEu_ZmJVFV0LfpR6BBXc_i33QcCxoUrrPJjpXWC3LBpvOH50FYEJbQHao-WF5wIREDEP7D9cYANueOkuIp_jWWM4IQgygiKBYD0OwmLH3uK8PF8MRmgF8HNTz8nvKluqwkasG49k/s1600/31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh6ODEFEu_ZmJVFV0LfpR6BBXc_i33QcCxoUrrPJjpXWC3LBpvOH50FYEJbQHao-WF5wIREDEP7D9cYANueOkuIp_jWWM4IQgygiKBYD0OwmLH3uK8PF8MRmgF8HNTz8nvKluqwkasG49k/s1600/31.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I gathered all of the birthday cakes from last night and put them all away in the fridge. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Three cakes will hold us up for a long time." I said out loud. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"THERE'S THREE CAKES IN THE FRIDGE?!?" I heard Jay yell to me. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I also heard the video game noises stop. He must have paused it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Yeah, why?" I replied. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"THAT'S SO AWESOME!" Jay yelled back.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> The video game noises continued once again and I just laughed to myself. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>I'm gonna miss Jay when he moves out.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQPfRAwTWZHsGA7dtv7WOD1PfhKscwewxSyFQ0QMfnv8sXLoWyV_BKW95UK0msTR-0f9Sfuvc0IRfIs4aKf4xcno-w7_eRZtoPKXzldVWUO4dteF4x74aFRMI89KBym2wZibgdZdyzDvC/s1600/34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQPfRAwTWZHsGA7dtv7WOD1PfhKscwewxSyFQ0QMfnv8sXLoWyV_BKW95UK0msTR-0f9Sfuvc0IRfIs4aKf4xcno-w7_eRZtoPKXzldVWUO4dteF4x74aFRMI89KBym2wZibgdZdyzDvC/s1600/34.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After I ate some bacon, I was in then nursery teaching walking and talking lessons to my girls.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Nicole was doing pretty well, but Paris had some troubles with walking.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After a while, though, they both got the hang of both skills.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHhUTpfGKbjgBO_ZLX7cFaeKOgvbLJCxnKY7EunVJewbOsApYa8ZtOCnCUWvHXLN2D_Myj0s4U_MhYIuC7_v6y1CGSqQ48LEJxemls6imobV2YXn9t2B-2cBSveCUTo77JUuRT1dob4_R/s1600/38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHhUTpfGKbjgBO_ZLX7cFaeKOgvbLJCxnKY7EunVJewbOsApYa8ZtOCnCUWvHXLN2D_Myj0s4U_MhYIuC7_v6y1CGSqQ48LEJxemls6imobV2YXn9t2B-2cBSveCUTo77JUuRT1dob4_R/s1600/38.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I suddenly heard Jay screaming and laughing while I heard trampoline jumping noises. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He saw me watching him and waved to me. I happily waved back.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He was having a lot of fun doing a bunch of 'kid' activities , now.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He was out there for hours jumping on the trampoline, sliding down the slide, and springing on the spring riders.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I was glad that he was having a lot of fun.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Hmfk5EaNsQtdqGu6faYjuvC_sgXceZA5jrPhmCr_ZGAC0jasrChhZt0Z1vHjclKD15BunTGVdcjkl9cbNlYBbIxGMbRCeJzsVDgzB5OugPI5cgY59bOvtKMVxyYqOvrcNwApPGw0y6SV/s1600/40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Hmfk5EaNsQtdqGu6faYjuvC_sgXceZA5jrPhmCr_ZGAC0jasrChhZt0Z1vHjclKD15BunTGVdcjkl9cbNlYBbIxGMbRCeJzsVDgzB5OugPI5cgY59bOvtKMVxyYqOvrcNwApPGw0y6SV/s1600/40.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">As the sun set further and further, I realized how late it really was.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">2 lullaby songs later and both of my girls were fast asleep.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I then stood by the nursery window, trying to get Jay's attention. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He finally looked over to me and I tried to use hand signals to tell him to go to sleep soon. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He nodded his head and mouthed "Okay."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I watched him slide down the jungle gym pole and head inside.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I was off to a new daddy's house to continue my challenge.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eqK2SqPiWJWEyyNpP9eyyV8DoSnAXKchVtm9K-IDFlKOly20scP8viXYxjnW7VoMwRHs0W0zaPh8lHSPqPxfPXXJJHJnvWjhY_xZQRn303uowYTkCAFbZ65PXuF6xp4pPuUfWBlYIROE/s1600/50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eqK2SqPiWJWEyyNpP9eyyV8DoSnAXKchVtm9K-IDFlKOly20scP8viXYxjnW7VoMwRHs0W0zaPh8lHSPqPxfPXXJJHJnvWjhY_xZQRn303uowYTkCAFbZ65PXuF6xp4pPuUfWBlYIROE/s1600/50.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I ran into a handsome man named Devin Pine.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">His eyes were a bright, crystal blue. It was really easy to get lost in them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He fit under all 3 categories of cute, male, and single.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Right now I have to get home to my kids. It's pretty late and Jay has his first day of school tomorrow. I have to make sure he is in bed." I told him. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Oh, okay. Tell Jay that I send him good luck on his first day of school!" He said.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Aww, okay! I will!" I said, thinking of how sweet he was to say that.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFJHRsoehtNb4FgX1YaC3Pj6iP3EmBVWEhF38SP9NPkZjiyQYLONZ4zIn_da8BXwlbpPGMT2F7LLFGnH9ziUoPqb23_UgpfEWxACZ9rYXBcKpNKE9qph9_Edx2vEHP5KCNJmu0t-g2lfS/s1600/59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFJHRsoehtNb4FgX1YaC3Pj6iP3EmBVWEhF38SP9NPkZjiyQYLONZ4zIn_da8BXwlbpPGMT2F7LLFGnH9ziUoPqb23_UgpfEWxACZ9rYXBcKpNKE9qph9_Edx2vEHP5KCNJmu0t-g2lfS/s1600/59.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">The next morning, Jay's room was my first stop of the day.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"How's my little student?" I said with a big smile on my face as I entered the room.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"He's okay..." Jay mumbled. He looked kind of sick.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Just 'okay'?" I was worried about him. "Aren't you excited to go to school?"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"I guess." He didn't look like he was telling the truth. "I'm just so scared. There are </span></span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">high-school </b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">students that are in the same school as me. Doesn't that sound scary to you, too?"</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Well, I've already been through school, Jay. Trust me, you'll be fine. As long as you act the way that you normally do and be the same ol' Jay that you always are, everyone will love you. Promise."</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I leaned down and gave him a hug. I was glad that he felt better.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I heard a scream and a cry coming from the nursery.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"I gotta go. Get ready for school, Jay! You'll do great! Love you!" I said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Love you, too, mom!" He replied as he made his bed.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I quickly took care of my twins, going through the regular, repeating routine.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9WRx7-QCrAT0UqqK7do_QL87tnkWVxBSqnp_LORD5RtonCxiH2N8Co5csnbBrdTkA2p4UJYhBx6Gx0YtsZsi4fP2mqcGdWS5wSwZ-9-9L0f_V6Nguvyet9Fjj52pXryKJy7qYNrGKTDn/s1600/68.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9WRx7-QCrAT0UqqK7do_QL87tnkWVxBSqnp_LORD5RtonCxiH2N8Co5csnbBrdTkA2p4UJYhBx6Gx0YtsZsi4fP2mqcGdWS5wSwZ-9-9L0f_V6Nguvyet9Fjj52pXryKJy7qYNrGKTDn/s1600/68.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Soon after I heard a bus honk outside, I heard Jay yell "Bye, mom!" up the stairs.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Bye, sweetie!" I yelled back.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">When the bus left, reality hit me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I was left with just my twins at home. Jay wasn't here.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Jay has always been here, but now he's growing up and moving on.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I laid into my bed, exhausted and in no time, fell asleep.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPJQzdddaEWP7P2ChY5zfqgrb1K2c2I915opbk7gMKQRGL2qf9c4IgfZTd4DifzTe_DjeB4jT_KiDt9IjcThyaSnDvsJfUPLTzvVe0HnLSPWjvv1CjQDyJtK_PBr_1X7C4JQaNbG7H8Uv/s1600/80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsPJQzdddaEWP7P2ChY5zfqgrb1K2c2I915opbk7gMKQRGL2qf9c4IgfZTd4DifzTe_DjeB4jT_KiDt9IjcThyaSnDvsJfUPLTzvVe0HnLSPWjvv1CjQDyJtK_PBr_1X7C4JQaNbG7H8Uv/s1600/80.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I woke up to the sound of a bus horn and a door slam.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I looked at my alarm clock on the nightstand.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It read 3:00.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Jay was already home from school.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Better go ask him how his first day of school was.</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmwP8U1XhsxM1xRRnP33GsEh3mrAM0g-2ihFUX6ztHOjuV8W38Ye8VWr-OcDp1LTVkgZFH2QvSVNJXTNDmtcjiCSCz9YAXZ3KpzAD5uyUFN_hoIxncvN6_Jm2rxZk48facYAtAIimPXdR/s1600/82.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmwP8U1XhsxM1xRRnP33GsEh3mrAM0g-2ihFUX6ztHOjuV8W38Ye8VWr-OcDp1LTVkgZFH2QvSVNJXTNDmtcjiCSCz9YAXZ3KpzAD5uyUFN_hoIxncvN6_Jm2rxZk48facYAtAIimPXdR/s1600/82.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I poked my head downstairs to find Jay raiding the fridge for something to eat. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Hey, Jay! How was school?" I asked him. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"It was fun! But, I'm really hungry." He said as he dug through the fridge.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> "There's some bacon in there...some cake..." I said, trying to help him. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"I'll go with bacon." He said. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Alright, well, I'll be in the nursery!" I told him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> "Kay!" He said as he headed to the table with a plate of bacon.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> "Oh, and don't forget to do your homework!" I shouted to him. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"I won't forget!" He said, reassuring me.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbnSfz7ysJtsoU-qLLd36WmIOSZGSxLs1E_lxHa2tnxBuQbOoFMvJmgW6plmNF23iPTBts7Ni5kbkAaXusfAAnoyZ0i8XvD-eqvzbpDMja_3Mnt4T5E1v3y1vPsFI0pfqQrRstv22ljZf/s1600/102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdbnSfz7ysJtsoU-qLLd36WmIOSZGSxLs1E_lxHa2tnxBuQbOoFMvJmgW6plmNF23iPTBts7Ni5kbkAaXusfAAnoyZ0i8XvD-eqvzbpDMja_3Mnt4T5E1v3y1vPsFI0pfqQrRstv22ljZf/s1600/102.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Soon, <b>everyone </b>in the house was sound asleep. </div>
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I actually felt relaxed for some reason. It was kind of strange.</div>
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I reasoned in my head that something was wrong, but I just didn't know about it.</div>
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There was no way that <b>nothing </b>could be wrong in my family.</div>
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<b>Thank you so very much for reading Chapter 7! I realize that it really isn't my best, but the story had to go on. The next few chapters will be really good, promise!</b></div>
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<b>Have any questions, thoughts, or baby names? Did you like it?</b></div>
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<b>Please comment below!</b></div>
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<b>It makes my day. <3</b></div>
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Heather Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10216231018458039386noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6217454030654055977.post-88003032022236630602012-11-27T16:41:00.001-08:002012-11-27T16:41:09.062-08:00Chapter 6 - It's Twins!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqIPt-d4vfgmJQOYODYxyAKoOcArvmDstOKBn6z30qcq9ToZax-glfc2mFw5ceukPTLdk-nU69Jj5IWFQUHRD0oniPhr7r-g0xi2N__q2B18311qJm0GmeXO1OHiZN1O4j28OWsnSGPIM/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqIPt-d4vfgmJQOYODYxyAKoOcArvmDstOKBn6z30qcq9ToZax-glfc2mFw5ceukPTLdk-nU69Jj5IWFQUHRD0oniPhr7r-g0xi2N__q2B18311qJm0GmeXO1OHiZN1O4j28OWsnSGPIM/s1600/2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After the relief of finding out that I was finally pregnant again, I went downstairs to take care of Jay.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I picked him up and tickled him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"You're gonna be a big brother soon!" I told him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Brother?" Jay said, confused.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"You'll understand in a few days, Jay." I explained to him with a smile.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvxnYzETDhWe9EUiQtWIjnvDmvdDBHvCrWdiWMVEd_F4dZ7PTWsF5NiyucmnBprPcv6__xOesjlirZmFpKtgPUfnrWwNImSW6nCREUaPSz36oRWiEhTew8kDJh549VhBuwVCN3hriwh4D/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBvxnYzETDhWe9EUiQtWIjnvDmvdDBHvCrWdiWMVEd_F4dZ7PTWsF5NiyucmnBprPcv6__xOesjlirZmFpKtgPUfnrWwNImSW6nCREUaPSz36oRWiEhTew8kDJh549VhBuwVCN3hriwh4D/s1600/5.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I changed him into his PJ's, gave him a bottle, and put him in his crib.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjYUply87up1iAgnZmqWm9WPP0m9vDuMpbiaOIhW0vxjBv_NtcYb_-_QjheapurVx2cupXWnS9G8aPMa5dacj7Ppm-_umIB-80rV8wrVYOcsmjoAyzPTqezHcuXvPZOkv5paGWB0XrbtK/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjYUply87up1iAgnZmqWm9WPP0m9vDuMpbiaOIhW0vxjBv_NtcYb_-_QjheapurVx2cupXWnS9G8aPMa5dacj7Ppm-_umIB-80rV8wrVYOcsmjoAyzPTqezHcuXvPZOkv5paGWB0XrbtK/s1600/7.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Then, did some cleaning. Potty messes were usual to me, now.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">With many happy feelings, I sank into my bed, dreaming of babies.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVPR9eBO5a30X7eESChE-F18w5ofjWmcmRukOiovYR82AWOBUB7xdR7_RoWA3w9QHudJSt79jvaNRAcOM-ndQZ_l3npu3zQinLwLA93SaxB4sLV4Ci_xZtsb_95EtbH-EKaJD2t6fDx46/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVPR9eBO5a30X7eESChE-F18w5ofjWmcmRukOiovYR82AWOBUB7xdR7_RoWA3w9QHudJSt79jvaNRAcOM-ndQZ_l3npu3zQinLwLA93SaxB4sLV4Ci_xZtsb_95EtbH-EKaJD2t6fDx46/s1600/10.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I woke up after hearing weird noises in the nursery. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I went in to find someone in my house! I started to panic.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Why was there someone in my house? And why was he in the nursery? </i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Dude, what are you doing in my house? GET OUT OF HERE!" I yelled at him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Fine then!" he yelled back. He left with a snobby look on his face.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJNoZARSXJua-wHNoKaRS4b4fpuu4GNcgV_6q-1XLuZkWSl32Ldbx1y6AoDWCb1hk93s5L5iepWTyWFtN2IEVwJT6kPKZTyO6vD8vGktDyTq7wnrdQjdIKviR0lLxpRFmUc5kt3PY-kgx/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJNoZARSXJua-wHNoKaRS4b4fpuu4GNcgV_6q-1XLuZkWSl32Ldbx1y6AoDWCb1hk93s5L5iepWTyWFtN2IEVwJT6kPKZTyO6vD8vGktDyTq7wnrdQjdIKviR0lLxpRFmUc5kt3PY-kgx/s1600/14.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I eventually woke up, somehow on the other side of the bed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I was already anxious to go through labor.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> It was hard enough waiting all this time.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOiU6YoPQdoLWjHYorzd5quhpmrYHK0qz8Fy17YI7lUpT6vIR3Fq7GB6yAysm0NzUPwVcCuL6cL_C3yLjqRtWoEUD6eMZhM58oOMFEbWl6-NZ1qwPcKZ3tNAir9ey3muEJHajimKLbJIOW/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOiU6YoPQdoLWjHYorzd5quhpmrYHK0qz8Fy17YI7lUpT6vIR3Fq7GB6yAysm0NzUPwVcCuL6cL_C3yLjqRtWoEUD6eMZhM58oOMFEbWl6-NZ1qwPcKZ3tNAir9ey3muEJHajimKLbJIOW/s1600/16.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I went into the nursery to check on Jay. He was already awake.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> "Good Morning, Jay!" I said to him as I lifted him out of the crib. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He just sleepily smiled and waved to me.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXare1pcZOXSM6c0PCw0EYGFRSAqQs7ZJhjpDL_J7q0WfYrQ7kBgjTwcx9MdH-Ctvd-w8ZXhq2JBdGxrFt8qYPLU5OUoK_n_I14T3NFGUJRPGjcWLi7o7bWXJv9fxT9wvLK71U7hy1OZ1v/s1600/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXare1pcZOXSM6c0PCw0EYGFRSAqQs7ZJhjpDL_J7q0WfYrQ7kBgjTwcx9MdH-Ctvd-w8ZXhq2JBdGxrFt8qYPLU5OUoK_n_I14T3NFGUJRPGjcWLi7o7bWXJv9fxT9wvLK71U7hy1OZ1v/s1600/20.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After giving Jay a bottle, I went downstairs to eat some breakfast.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I found a mess on the counter.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>That's weird, I never made any ice cream.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I figured it was the strange man that was in the house earlier.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It looked like the ice cream machine had exploded.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It amused me, though, how <i>colorful </i>of a mess it was.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2dAY0Tj_rjm_hU-GK9qHe4lpQp_FOExgEY3tIuZNZ6IG0yhrHwFwOAmAMnr7gFLnkxxOcb6b9R1UiMojJ-j9lgBSsBYSNc8EvaShadQDh0BZTdII41yT6l8qpUrO_PWueNHwJ-b01KqM/s1600/23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2dAY0Tj_rjm_hU-GK9qHe4lpQp_FOExgEY3tIuZNZ6IG0yhrHwFwOAmAMnr7gFLnkxxOcb6b9R1UiMojJ-j9lgBSsBYSNc8EvaShadQDh0BZTdII41yT6l8qpUrO_PWueNHwJ-b01KqM/s1600/23.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After cleaning up <i>that</i> mess, I </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">had some leftover bacon for breakfast.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> <i>I </i></span></span><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>seriously </i></span></span></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>have to stop leaving dishes on the table.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I scolded myself in my head.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13TG4GLVORR1RRLfUj-VJ4Z3mzec_LPpp7QDKft-eGIu8pgLzWKYINoomWbT8kp4tLTU9R05RPnY2Lq44ggPoa6fOoYczoL5u7p8F_XMfXEzhI3oiT0MrikcWRqK0jkx4lz7P1RZkV4J6/s1600/28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13TG4GLVORR1RRLfUj-VJ4Z3mzec_LPpp7QDKft-eGIu8pgLzWKYINoomWbT8kp4tLTU9R05RPnY2Lq44ggPoa6fOoYczoL5u7p8F_XMfXEzhI3oiT0MrikcWRqK0jkx4lz7P1RZkV4J6/s1600/28.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Since all of the dishes were now clean, I headed upstairs to finish some paintings.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I wasn't too impressed with how my unfinished one turned out, but I had high hopes for my other ones.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWJo3RWVi3dogglGmcOqUUVgQ3rn69vYw_kbr97syhcMZMIYJXVszJyH8mDytzoPze-HWobGdlCglMSZUAvoG2l74nvkZWe1pCPo3SIZSko-URiP3Jt7_l4P2LFtj7i5mDbmloMNg-rTs/s1600/33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWJo3RWVi3dogglGmcOqUUVgQ3rn69vYw_kbr97syhcMZMIYJXVszJyH8mDytzoPze-HWobGdlCglMSZUAvoG2l74nvkZWe1pCPo3SIZSko-URiP3Jt7_l4P2LFtj7i5mDbmloMNg-rTs/s1600/33.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">The next one I painted was pretty... <i>cute</i>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I thought that this painting would look great in the boy's child/teen room. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I headed in there to hang it up.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoStN2pcaS-52VJaw7pmZJRYIk-gYhoeNOBrb1qc5VBcNCE37FeqJELTSN0IgmTDbH6hfTj0h0ZiXSvw8foXPzlHBIgVY8v3ExXZcVwGYoVzus21beElpsGS5UEvjJti3cEK3tRjxhuaW/s1600/35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoStN2pcaS-52VJaw7pmZJRYIk-gYhoeNOBrb1qc5VBcNCE37FeqJELTSN0IgmTDbH6hfTj0h0ZiXSvw8foXPzlHBIgVY8v3ExXZcVwGYoVzus21beElpsGS5UEvjJti3cEK3tRjxhuaW/s1600/35.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I thought it fit in there pretty nicely.</span></div>
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I decided to paint another painting, but this time, for the girls' room.</div>
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I really liked it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tIWsDzaX-TwRTAZD_o-_3a_B65ESJ5oP4RlF8-c_YP0-qUW7_hpouDsLaWiRltGqwJErKs3w4vDrDYMa30EwW90Xv3taoNocYWmJKPc3j8ZWuvPk3ebcAqgcciiTz1ULtYVbBVXVQyqJ/s1600/42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tIWsDzaX-TwRTAZD_o-_3a_B65ESJ5oP4RlF8-c_YP0-qUW7_hpouDsLaWiRltGqwJErKs3w4vDrDYMa30EwW90Xv3taoNocYWmJKPc3j8ZWuvPk3ebcAqgcciiTz1ULtYVbBVXVQyqJ/s1600/42.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I went into the nursery and picked up Jay.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I tickled him and took care of him, but still, I wanted to tell him about being a brother.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I didn't want to, once again, confuse him about it and not explain it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I figured it would take too much time than it was worth.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">With a kiss on the forehead, Jay was out like a light.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Minutes later, I was, too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I woke up feeling confident. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I felt like today was the day that my next child will be born.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I then popped my head into the nursery.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> Jay was still asleep which meant that I could get myself ready first!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZ58RcuEQlQPUguXj82Ut63Slrxw0F1rhvQ5L9jtX69U0phXMeATqFdvuOLdx72Y86qdmXBHjTX1QfMT-F8d43he43BKhXZV7JvrX1khPuew88dO7kuL_blSuLDJIoCmkxI4_tmmeHjK2/s1600/53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZ58RcuEQlQPUguXj82Ut63Slrxw0F1rhvQ5L9jtX69U0phXMeATqFdvuOLdx72Y86qdmXBHjTX1QfMT-F8d43he43BKhXZV7JvrX1khPuew88dO7kuL_blSuLDJIoCmkxI4_tmmeHjK2/s1600/53.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After showering and eating, Jay was soon taken care of, too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Three powerful kicks in a row signaled to me that it was time to meet my new baby.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">This time around, I was hoping for a girl!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I realized, though, that Jay was still in the room.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I didn't want him to be traumatized or anything, so I told him to take a toy out into the hall.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Of course, being the good kid he is, he walked out with a teddy bear in hand.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Labor had taken <b>way </b>longer than I thought it would've.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">When it was all over, I welcomed twin girls into the world. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I was glad I was blessed with a girl, but I wasn't so sure if I could handle two.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNiar5OAUwn855t_G3pCyMJ0QC2wg2Hamcq94fITbLJQ-YrQOVD1CZYJPICSM8G_ImoM2g-s56aobzw2DN1BhNQrdOj1iJydaIgjKDgN35_B_O1pys62hMpwjuR-SiOeYELQTbuJ1Ym6L/s1600/72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNiar5OAUwn855t_G3pCyMJ0QC2wg2Hamcq94fITbLJQ-YrQOVD1CZYJPICSM8G_ImoM2g-s56aobzw2DN1BhNQrdOj1iJydaIgjKDgN35_B_O1pys62hMpwjuR-SiOeYELQTbuJ1Ym6L/s1600/72.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">This is my lovely Nicole Bear.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">And this is my beautiful, blue Paris Bear.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I changed the nursery a little bit, so that it was now pink and purple for my twin girls.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After I placed 3 birthday cakes on the tables, it was time to age up my kids!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Nicole Bear! She doesn't have a lot of hair but, I <b>love</b> the bow.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Jay Bear! He insisted on keeping his fohawk. The color of his shirt brings out the color of his eyes!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I was so glad to be blessed with my 3 beautiful kids, and I couldn't wait to have 97 more.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b>Thank you so much for reading Chapter 6! Have any questions or thoughts? Please comment down below! It makes my day. <3</b></span></div>
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Heather Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10216231018458039386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6217454030654055977.post-64859718724731922062012-11-27T15:53:00.002-08:002012-11-27T15:55:06.039-08:00Chapter 5 - Finally Pregnant Again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoePsmUU0NCeV7vrkdmkEdiS6PmtDVjx-cUEnlPcnxy7YJhrd2e5FDyEstkj4-fG59uUVLNlchxOefUAzEgvy1oIAyhytiLnBCP5zVELylxN9BzF01QF1BCCd9W9MKOk6PwpodacbrUc1g/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoePsmUU0NCeV7vrkdmkEdiS6PmtDVjx-cUEnlPcnxy7YJhrd2e5FDyEstkj4-fG59uUVLNlchxOefUAzEgvy1oIAyhytiLnBCP5zVELylxN9BzF01QF1BCCd9W9MKOk6PwpodacbrUc1g/s1600/1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I woke up the next day, really anxious to be pregnant again.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Jay was still sleeping, so I had time to get myself ready for the day. </span></div>
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I threw away some bad food, ate cake for breakfast, and showered to get ready.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Since I was ready, I checked up on Jay. He was awake and ready to take on the day.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYA26wvQOLT-8zA4n_N2C8kOo8dw_tVYTYnSSkLN_goFfw2UkqAu4OrzGpvaibYQM0I4TVBGjGd6DzFL5aVZ0vVGTAgBH91zoJrse-WBoqgMr9NDfHbEInnQTZRMTFzfdyzOHDjfzhbgZ/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYA26wvQOLT-8zA4n_N2C8kOo8dw_tVYTYnSSkLN_goFfw2UkqAu4OrzGpvaibYQM0I4TVBGjGd6DzFL5aVZ0vVGTAgBH91zoJrse-WBoqgMr9NDfHbEInnQTZRMTFzfdyzOHDjfzhbgZ/s1600/11.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">My challenge <b>had</b> to continue, soon, so I invited Kevin over.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">But, he had something against me again. This was all a waste of my time. "You've got some issues and I'm not sticking around to deal with them." he told me. "Fine then! Leave!" I said. He walked away and got in his car as I stood there and just watched him leave. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>I have to break up with him. It's just a waste of my time.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I went back inside and upstairs to check on Jay. He was playing with blocks. I decided to teach him how to walk.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He took a few steps towards me but, fell into my arms on the last one. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"That was a great start!" I told him, trying to be encouraging.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After a while, he finally got the hang of it. I tossed him in the air to celebrate. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Good job, Jay! I'm proud of you!" I told him. He just giggled.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1p_ax58FNBDNn_tAbH223A3lbhA3WPBo1h6wDhay-e1SUakFMqp5cc1o-osH1Ou7VJczGjti1dRD3Pw9hh9ji5QQOY2HwivOFcDVskxqa8yRUWjjyNTBk-4lyZjUt4ba7-thY1gCU8Lzm/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1p_ax58FNBDNn_tAbH223A3lbhA3WPBo1h6wDhay-e1SUakFMqp5cc1o-osH1Ou7VJczGjti1dRD3Pw9hh9ji5QQOY2HwivOFcDVskxqa8yRUWjjyNTBk-4lyZjUt4ba7-thY1gCU8Lzm/s1600/17.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I put him down and gave him a bottle. Learning how to walk sure does make a toddler hungry!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9Hck0S_Cty2kbFGNyttsl4rNQWjDthLXm1KgqU1XQBcxZfOCWxHTwMuR6jRv8gGiFQggYtA1M8iYy6yWGQvO62XjwzPKNvqA3RetDYSxfpaN94o0dCmGChgkPepXlyFQC0V_y43L3zL3/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9Hck0S_Cty2kbFGNyttsl4rNQWjDthLXm1KgqU1XQBcxZfOCWxHTwMuR6jRv8gGiFQggYtA1M8iYy6yWGQvO62XjwzPKNvqA3RetDYSxfpaN94o0dCmGChgkPepXlyFQC0V_y43L3zL3/s1600/22.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I called Kevin and invited him over. I needed to break up with him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I wasted no time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"You keep flipping out and it's all just a waste of my time!" I yelled at him. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"I'm sorry, it's just..." he stuttered.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Nope! That's it! I've had enough! It's over!" I shouted.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Fine then! I never liked you anyways!" he said. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Obviously you never liked me, you idiot." I thought to myself.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDY48gUTKshZLZetZrAU2U3rqKA-ECDPC17U94w2VOAV29FkQyb3rg928k7_qdErOP6IbNNxum8VkWnsc4-n9pjQ0SCkH-jarir0HwYbQgBpbxCT2i6aIaUnwT6bJ0LY45z_mjo7R3Wof/s1600/24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDY48gUTKshZLZetZrAU2U3rqKA-ECDPC17U94w2VOAV29FkQyb3rg928k7_qdErOP6IbNNxum8VkWnsc4-n9pjQ0SCkH-jarir0HwYbQgBpbxCT2i6aIaUnwT6bJ0LY45z_mjo7R3Wof/s1600/24.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He quickly left, and so did I. I had to meet someone new. I couldn't waste anymore time, either.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I met this blue guy who had just moved in across the street from me! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I introduced myself. "Hi, my name is Payton! I live in that house across the street." I said pointing to my house. "Oh, cool! I just moved here. My name is Carl, by the way." he replied. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Nice to meet you!" I said, trying to be very friendly.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKwp9DMPcRJr3Uv3L8mBR9k5_mpO0nmMxf8yy3j4jSrVWE3VnhOuPEcdnIBF9FLA6R3qyUDpAVxd1YWfCCsE94llbuQ4BF1bkUIAphhAwpZwbwOC0JQxQGUdm6avgT5q-ror2JrQbvlp-/s1600/27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikKwp9DMPcRJr3Uv3L8mBR9k5_mpO0nmMxf8yy3j4jSrVWE3VnhOuPEcdnIBF9FLA6R3qyUDpAVxd1YWfCCsE94llbuQ4BF1bkUIAphhAwpZwbwOC0JQxQGUdm6avgT5q-ror2JrQbvlp-/s1600/27.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I told him about my challenge, and he said that he would love to participate. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>He better not flip out like the past 3 guys have!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">But, it was getting late and I had to go home. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I had a good feeling about this guy, though.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAoXI9CjiHXZQ6xwR3MLNT-ycOAQIbuU1ETOPYpoH6Gsyim9gJ38eStpITfQb-GQK1-NEyuO-2Col3Sgv5jhCg8n55TB9ikG_qhm2MfI3nAS7EuArMyI5fC0MSBumkMAsTGzvZR-XVj5C/s1600/32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAoXI9CjiHXZQ6xwR3MLNT-ycOAQIbuU1ETOPYpoH6Gsyim9gJ38eStpITfQb-GQK1-NEyuO-2Col3Sgv5jhCg8n55TB9ikG_qhm2MfI3nAS7EuArMyI5fC0MSBumkMAsTGzvZR-XVj5C/s1600/32.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I went upstairs to put Jay in his crib.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I gave him a kiss on the forehead. "Goodnight, buddy!" I said as I kissed him. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Night!" he said, sleepily. It was pretty late.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokcVEfiqYigMJwhcZy2SMEhx7tmx-rvHeJS06O8fA-823i1uiOrpGhNVG3zR-xcIJPmrIjG8-9DlJ0uIPUKV160C11vhBjZtfJaVXI4Mrhp5m2uyfaL9Kuy_RStlXrMDI8e6bdRf1vJ_i/s1600/34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokcVEfiqYigMJwhcZy2SMEhx7tmx-rvHeJS06O8fA-823i1uiOrpGhNVG3zR-xcIJPmrIjG8-9DlJ0uIPUKV160C11vhBjZtfJaVXI4Mrhp5m2uyfaL9Kuy_RStlXrMDI8e6bdRf1vJ_i/s1600/34.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I headed downstairs and ate a bowl of cereal. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Who doesn't like a good bowl of cereal late at night?</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I gave myself an excuse to not feel bad about eating breakfast for dinner. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Breakfast for dinner reminded me of my dad. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">The night before he left for the war, that he died in, he made me and my mom breakfast for dinner. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I really did miss him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I sighed with my head full of memories.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I decided to spruce up the place a little bit with some new items and a new child/teen room.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPzdhP_t1BGztDBAp8RY0Hxe8RtNcUyhmkRrWm81x1aPx3f3tyZqiTct-hz7O840dIfZdBDy-rnKjvWZcqOUjTBz8_Hh5pu8BMvw8ZmbkENBUUclXQj84xamMQem81ViU_u3TEE1ZfGbl/s1600/46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPzdhP_t1BGztDBAp8RY0Hxe8RtNcUyhmkRrWm81x1aPx3f3tyZqiTct-hz7O840dIfZdBDy-rnKjvWZcqOUjTBz8_Hh5pu8BMvw8ZmbkENBUUclXQj84xamMQem81ViU_u3TEE1ZfGbl/s1600/46.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I really liked how the teen room turned out. It was split into two rooms.</span></div>
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The boys side and the girls side.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9vQur9TPTH0MsAZLxXx6BNXX-IUBqRzf6QWxpddoOdZIb62t9LQw0kQ28xL9lsmzf9SaqpS2VcJOEIsDtp5bbHof1Q2F6WGkUNHeyKnO-NzG3jZlJD0ulz_72xWIMh9n0eseiyilpjao/s1600/40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9vQur9TPTH0MsAZLxXx6BNXX-IUBqRzf6QWxpddoOdZIb62t9LQw0kQ28xL9lsmzf9SaqpS2VcJOEIsDtp5bbHof1Q2F6WGkUNHeyKnO-NzG3jZlJD0ulz_72xWIMh9n0eseiyilpjao/s1600/40.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I also made the bathroom a little more fun and kid-friendly.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOsSIE2q1SL4iwQu8YoHoY5O3FizUtRLP6HPRxzB6WMcyPN9ygA78Ff7wvc50rjELi2F8V2PHylfKtyYubfnzdyt8f_M4v8wX1os1OSPoqRH8mMwVyS_xBoWjrntgLjr3uaEMh2yK1pjn/s1600/52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOsSIE2q1SL4iwQu8YoHoY5O3FizUtRLP6HPRxzB6WMcyPN9ygA78Ff7wvc50rjELi2F8V2PHylfKtyYubfnzdyt8f_M4v8wX1os1OSPoqRH8mMwVyS_xBoWjrntgLjr3uaEMh2yK1pjn/s1600/52.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Feeling proud of my accomplishments of the day, I went to sleep in a good mood.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFo6a0zByxTKFbpDjyB13MG8M5NnXwfb6CBOj9RTbwPARhvchiX_hKqC9kOtOgrOEEcocV7w0I0f7eSDleTLG0da3IlXDc4uhxT12SaCZKxDimXlokyWl4nn6ADtzFD2eGavsJJQxaYkW0/s1600/54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFo6a0zByxTKFbpDjyB13MG8M5NnXwfb6CBOj9RTbwPARhvchiX_hKqC9kOtOgrOEEcocV7w0I0f7eSDleTLG0da3IlXDc4uhxT12SaCZKxDimXlokyWl4nn6ADtzFD2eGavsJJQxaYkW0/s1600/54.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">The next morning, Jay woke up before me, starving.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I hurried in there to take care of him.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaa_Pt4Ws-uXCz1BIp7OLGzEs8rtDz4MHz_4CDH-2uXUsQGMwqYxYbBguRxf9UoSU52CECrfh2jbwwKaZn4qI5uA5kDkTeTREFY8vMpLS7iST_3O-9WfbfoGgoQlyKXWoeucgJG_dA8YYy/s1600/57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaa_Pt4Ws-uXCz1BIp7OLGzEs8rtDz4MHz_4CDH-2uXUsQGMwqYxYbBguRxf9UoSU52CECrfh2jbwwKaZn4qI5uA5kDkTeTREFY8vMpLS7iST_3O-9WfbfoGgoQlyKXWoeucgJG_dA8YYy/s1600/57.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">One bottle and a shower later, I called Carl to come over. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I was finally relieved that the answer was "Yes!"</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XfrS_lXG0CpDNVf-Tcyq_lP2a9pP5ackiJqSuuID7OdoRWtfU4bWhqgK3ZjVOWavem3k94uyHtD3hcDvPFzVIQvpX52JY7jHnTry7MqUkPNg-xdpwzOS5hSz_RuHj-Rkvp2ZmdxfNUm4/s1600/60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XfrS_lXG0CpDNVf-Tcyq_lP2a9pP5ackiJqSuuID7OdoRWtfU4bWhqgK3ZjVOWavem3k94uyHtD3hcDvPFzVIQvpX52JY7jHnTry7MqUkPNg-xdpwzOS5hSz_RuHj-Rkvp2ZmdxfNUm4/s1600/60.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Deciding to try out some of my new gadgets, I deep fried some bacon for breakfast.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Hey, at least it was a break from cake.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It was pretty fun and the bacon smelt and tasted delicious.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>I really have to make this more often.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmeCYfLjigwQrTg2ZO8nRqgmAIbgS7TxVTpc2wmc0mXoMSNEKn3uoZ5Ysjdkq0Zkowmye5iSXu5To6mSuBdhPMUDDCEZQcJApee3lYROkgMgBuuKK-kklawBVR6twECY6ZrpENjUfFC_9/s1600/64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmeCYfLjigwQrTg2ZO8nRqgmAIbgS7TxVTpc2wmc0mXoMSNEKn3uoZ5Ysjdkq0Zkowmye5iSXu5To6mSuBdhPMUDDCEZQcJApee3lYROkgMgBuuKK-kklawBVR6twECY6ZrpENjUfFC_9/s1600/64.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After my breakfast, I decided to try out my new massage chair.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It was a really relaxing wait for Carl.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBxIj_qrbiO6c_s3NPgybCe5p8D1_lYpMDVnhDBFilb1tMqsN_NNOG0RtSUG-1LMFT0gO_suWDQMK3jysdKiHDiZuFwKZvFtYIEySHZvslQTP0cUlTNHzh6uB5gVmPXSqhJL3CO8_s152/s1600/66.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBxIj_qrbiO6c_s3NPgybCe5p8D1_lYpMDVnhDBFilb1tMqsN_NNOG0RtSUG-1LMFT0gO_suWDQMK3jysdKiHDiZuFwKZvFtYIEySHZvslQTP0cUlTNHzh6uB5gVmPXSqhJL3CO8_s152/s1600/66.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After relaxing for a bit, I went upstairs and started a small painting, finished it, and hung it up on the wall.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I loved the colors I had put in it.</span></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Where is Ca</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">rl?</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDga3aC7DJVM5pwAvTMBKFBs54e6HhrQco9tHpE_WY8BbwEqaD5NbvwZkcI6Hqg6zg_1tC13Ngf_sKpqfbeEWXIqhqJ4TsGD-zwYL9PJ5fXIMVzOF0aWQcqpSQMFIljtgx5CG4Hokzz9qM/s1600/69.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDga3aC7DJVM5pwAvTMBKFBs54e6HhrQco9tHpE_WY8BbwEqaD5NbvwZkcI6Hqg6zg_1tC13Ngf_sKpqfbeEWXIqhqJ4TsGD-zwYL9PJ5fXIMVzOF0aWQcqpSQMFIljtgx5CG4Hokzz9qM/s1600/69.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></i></div>
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When I heard footsteps up the stairs and the sound of Carl's voice, I realized he had just come in.</div>
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I wanted to check on Jay, first, though.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sErTPPFbTXC7TFBf_2rTCzvRcuJdeTPuTvSOGCpHxPhakrxLK5xTmYJa1czQdAoCpUmw19uYHzf4ZJM9__BFrr5zFUadEc27UC5j-oHSuZpbaeg6pohXoVdTH-7npyiuOnSZnZCMJS6G/s1600/70.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4sErTPPFbTXC7TFBf_2rTCzvRcuJdeTPuTvSOGCpHxPhakrxLK5xTmYJa1czQdAoCpUmw19uYHzf4ZJM9__BFrr5zFUadEc27UC5j-oHSuZpbaeg6pohXoVdTH-7npyiuOnSZnZCMJS6G/s1600/70.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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As soon as I entered the nursery, the potty chair smell hit me hard.</div>
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<i>Great. A smelly potty and a puddle on the floor.</i></div>
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After a few minutes and one bottle, the mess was cleaned up and Jay was happy.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSPpw9p_ESGwzBTQdlEOs37D-kbQ2xYSTMQZOfZ19gysczso_PbEXO7_XdL1j6EQSusDxvylE6RTltFplbKbwYlhRnJTxmuhsyy6oBCxIvvPJXPBoyJYZg1_UmLee6Q6FKBaTXK3A7YsZ/s1600/73.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSPpw9p_ESGwzBTQdlEOs37D-kbQ2xYSTMQZOfZ19gysczso_PbEXO7_XdL1j6EQSusDxvylE6RTltFplbKbwYlhRnJTxmuhsyy6oBCxIvvPJXPBoyJYZg1_UmLee6Q6FKBaTXK3A7YsZ/s1600/73.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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I found Carl in the game room. After chatting for a while, we <b>finally</b> got to it.</div>
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<i>Finally.</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKM7fGB2Wur88U05H9QorYvUUici4jgTZ3YaGorYZcwCp_P93gqGdhPvS_-HkqUn4GJWqrGqRsVInWixttfBXF0Mlrp3MBGGyFD4FpVJ2GsQM0I_edfN4frFvSlcEjRD5iDRsAac0c1UN/s1600/75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcKM7fGB2Wur88U05H9QorYvUUici4jgTZ3YaGorYZcwCp_P93gqGdhPvS_-HkqUn4GJWqrGqRsVInWixttfBXF0Mlrp3MBGGyFD4FpVJ2GsQM0I_edfN4frFvSlcEjRD5iDRsAac0c1UN/s1600/75.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I was proud of myself, because I had finally gotten some progress.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Carl's PJ'S were pretty weird, though.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i> Like, really, who sleeps in a bunny suit?</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It didn't matter, though, because I had finally made progress.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I broke up with him and we went our separate ways, like usual.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I did thank him, though, for being there the whole time.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">After my past relationships, I was really thankful for this one.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQo_6jG_EGZXrrEh9lqJ30P6rDfBq4J98VgBI6VJxruahk4Zf9ir7dRw37d-sArwcVFnBfpyoAGGZZDASFAdkJW1uBDQMbWa3Fh-h_mSl0TziOvHkqB5AlOQUYi-XtxF63HKm9oZ_OMnq4/s1600/77.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQo_6jG_EGZXrrEh9lqJ30P6rDfBq4J98VgBI6VJxruahk4Zf9ir7dRw37d-sArwcVFnBfpyoAGGZZDASFAdkJW1uBDQMbWa3Fh-h_mSl0TziOvHkqB5AlOQUYi-XtxF63HKm9oZ_OMnq4/s1600/77.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I didn't bother to change my clothes, since I was just gonna go to bed soon, anyways.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I went into the nursery to put Jay to sleep in his crib. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I kissed him on the forehead again as I told him goodnight.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I then took a quick shower and ate a quick, late dinner.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6zWpyYKqBOI5sXhxor05scZa3l99nHUhyxJUBwE3ELZxq6ZIGpr-C7h4mbT2Q2rmmZzQdh6TuHWtwLto-Xfm8kWkQwTz9Y4PVlfVJq7Ut7ihup3f6IxJDL8mG0eJmwQ5oE-8qVfYohGX/s1600/84.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6zWpyYKqBOI5sXhxor05scZa3l99nHUhyxJUBwE3ELZxq6ZIGpr-C7h4mbT2Q2rmmZzQdh6TuHWtwLto-Xfm8kWkQwTz9Y4PVlfVJq7Ut7ihup3f6IxJDL8mG0eJmwQ5oE-8qVfYohGX/s1600/84.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I went to bed, feeling good about everything.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I was awoken by Jay, but I was okay with it. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I started taking care of his morning needs when all of a sudden I felt like I was gonna puke.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbsiWrcE5SCVi2aNVgz92QjUjMXPfLWUd_uF_xxvxiEU4E6Ruz-qWlEjdW_vmLenm2Ad9ecbZIASnRkoW4KZkVN5JFQ70aPRf_kQZNdnLYzf3k2akeWWTNeucXKAL_oCYqF_6WwC0MLlq/s1600/86.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbsiWrcE5SCVi2aNVgz92QjUjMXPfLWUd_uF_xxvxiEU4E6Ruz-qWlEjdW_vmLenm2Ad9ecbZIASnRkoW4KZkVN5JFQ70aPRf_kQZNdnLYzf3k2akeWWTNeucXKAL_oCYqF_6WwC0MLlq/s1600/86.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After puking, giving Jay his breakfast, eating my breakfast, then puking again, I came to the conclusion of being pregnant.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Hoping to not have any more morning sickness, I decided to start a new painting to pass time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">In the middle of painting, I felt a kick in my stomach. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Feeling relieved, I changed into some maternity clothes and rubbed my tummy. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I talked to my tummy and told my new baby how long I had waited for it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b>Thank you so much for reading Chapter 5! Have any questions or thoughts? Please tell me in the comments below! It makes my day. <3</b></span></div>
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Heather Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10216231018458039386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6217454030654055977.post-33442340077984619902012-11-21T22:47:00.001-08:002012-11-21T22:50:46.872-08:00Chapter 4 - No Progress!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgWbvw_A_iMapzNP3JZZuenHNaCaZkVwEuxC-g4aTxVKvyaIfBLIxaBmDAerpqkbOXrekdKieWeMufWnZ9lemMq_eSCwlWnW-uQ_yBXHJ2fEVXqNV8RzkcE5DKeQCSZZIyyOfBsufDlMC/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgWbvw_A_iMapzNP3JZZuenHNaCaZkVwEuxC-g4aTxVKvyaIfBLIxaBmDAerpqkbOXrekdKieWeMufWnZ9lemMq_eSCwlWnW-uQ_yBXHJ2fEVXqNV8RzkcE5DKeQCSZZIyyOfBsufDlMC/s1600/1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I heard Jay wake up. We both woke up pretty late.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I made my bed and went into the nursery to take care of Jay. I was so glad that today I had a fresh start again. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I really needed to get going with this challenge.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Jay was banging on the crib when I came in. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He was so hungry! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I felt really bad for making him stay up late at that party last night. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It was a waste of time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I picked him up, apologizing. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"I'm so sorry Jay." I said to him with comfort. He pointed to his stomach, and it growled really loud.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">"Here you go, Buddy!" I said as I handed him his bottle. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">He quickly grabbed it and drank from it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I then went downstairs and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> ate some waffles for breakfast.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I went back upstairs to check on Jay. He was happily playing with blocks at the block table.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He obviously used the potty chair, since there was a puddle on the ground and stink fumes coming from the potty.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>This is disgusting! You better get used to it, though!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Once I finished cleaning up, I continued on with the talking lessons. Jay had almost got the hang of it. He had trouble with the 'K' sound.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Say 'Car'." I told him, emphasizing on the 'K" sound. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Tar?" He said to me. We had some work to do.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">"Hmm, how about 'Cuddle'. Say 'Cuddle'!" </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">"Cwuddle?...Cuddle!" he said. "Cuddle, cuddle, cuddle!" He was really proud of himself.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Good job!" I said as I clapped for him. "You did it!" </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Yay!" he said as he smiled.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Since he knew how to talk now, I started with the walking lessons. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">They ended a little short, though, because we were interrupted with a phone call.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It was Kevin, someone that lived with Tyler. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He said that Tyler told him about my challenge and Kevin was interested in participating. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He invited me to their house.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">So, then, I picked up Jay and headed out.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Kevin was the one to invite us in. "Hey, come on in!" he said. He seemed very nice.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I put Jay down on the floor to play with some of the toys that he brought with him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He started playing with his toy shark.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoRHyqIjYjp1jS3iOxgLaUs1gISuVbn3XwaNP_D7TsPfOODVttWBhhM4DJs6qVS7G7eLCJQfkYfCO7-LGsPwizRPI3tniwTbr_zPnzIoHhP8wulCobg8HUVQ1Zy6tbYP1wn1wOQpgO4Jn/s1600/26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoRHyqIjYjp1jS3iOxgLaUs1gISuVbn3XwaNP_D7TsPfOODVttWBhhM4DJs6qVS7G7eLCJQfkYfCO7-LGsPwizRPI3tniwTbr_zPnzIoHhP8wulCobg8HUVQ1Zy6tbYP1wn1wOQpgO4Jn/s1600/26.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I knew that I had to get this challenge going. We had our first kiss!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrpglLWpgQTBvEyTyLsHzUQUvQ-suvu-k2UX_KdOgs68fGRHE-fjbgNt5rYqtQ_hEgi2nOuAA8Ni9LE3foU5mBfN6nb8K_ohfXmwHJLNL7nLd1svAE-L9ZhI7eDlU3RPW3YnNqc_qW0qs/s1600/25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrpglLWpgQTBvEyTyLsHzUQUvQ-suvu-k2UX_KdOgs68fGRHE-fjbgNt5rYqtQ_hEgi2nOuAA8Ni9LE3foU5mBfN6nb8K_ohfXmwHJLNL7nLd1svAE-L9ZhI7eDlU3RPW3YnNqc_qW0qs/s1600/25.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Just as Jay switched toys, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I realized that it was six in the morning when the sun shined through the windows of the house.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> <i>Whoa. I stayed up all night!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> "Jay and I are gonna be really off schedule sleeping wise." I apologized to him as I picked him up.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"> I said, "Aww, Jay. I'm sorry that you had to stay up all night again. We will go home right now and then we can sleep, okay?"</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> "M'kay." he said, with a yawn. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I was glad that he didn't get angry at me for this, especially because it happens so often.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">As soon as we got home, I hurried to get Jay in his crib so that he could sleep.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">He was already asleep even before I put him in.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I happily got my sleep, too.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I woke up at 4 in the evening.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i> Wow. I didn't think that I would be this off schedule.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I fed Jay his breakfast at 5 o'clock at night. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I had no idea how we would get back on schedule.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I ate some waffles, but when </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I went to wash the dishes, I realized that the dishwasher was broken. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I had to wash the dishes using the sink.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I changed my clothes and called the repair technician.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> He said that he would be over in about an hour. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I then got a call from Kevin. He invited me to the gym. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It was kind of a weird place to go, but hey, it was somewhere.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju38OrEEC85EV1b1dztgzU4Imj-dJ2QHjaP9yktkQH3WqBrK6P4zBfBaYkK82bvOp03-2dR5aCuQwIf0dAhWRJNHvSoUqMNp6a3iX9foykIOMMyFV8MbJptRZwGDomWWkhkBGJzB3zT-zk/s1600/38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju38OrEEC85EV1b1dztgzU4Imj-dJ2QHjaP9yktkQH3WqBrK6P4zBfBaYkK82bvOp03-2dR5aCuQwIf0dAhWRJNHvSoUqMNp6a3iX9foykIOMMyFV8MbJptRZwGDomWWkhkBGJzB3zT-zk/s1600/38.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I quickly saw Kevin standing near the front desk. I met up with him and we chatted for a while.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrWOza78anQO20jfQSWyuILimTaM4Jwarxl63rh0Z3kxYoxsH4hyphenhyphenBSKW1QEu3Koh6Aq6tHqRbLSz8LVk1re3Vx41mpzG2xkpTxj8MK4MjbANaFzJ-8bK8nnucCqO9jR0phWxnDGc0PMqT/s1600/39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrWOza78anQO20jfQSWyuILimTaM4Jwarxl63rh0Z3kxYoxsH4hyphenhyphenBSKW1QEu3Koh6Aq6tHqRbLSz8LVk1re3Vx41mpzG2xkpTxj8MK4MjbANaFzJ-8bK8nnucCqO9jR0phWxnDGc0PMqT/s1600/39.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It was getting late again, though, and I thought about how Jay and I are really off on our sleeping hours.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I had to go home.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYWXf57rYo0veVrzoXATXPlpA28ounTyQFuwgGCyMoFxRMRWrHrDOKwb2nJ48ik3BJkLnJ48vyf3aPsGuEoKGau4GtbGuynK3WOczV7pU7oNGB6a0NsZ1eT035jnRW4QMuj6d7TsaTPuy/s1600/41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYWXf57rYo0veVrzoXATXPlpA28ounTyQFuwgGCyMoFxRMRWrHrDOKwb2nJ48ik3BJkLnJ48vyf3aPsGuEoKGau4GtbGuynK3WOczV7pU7oNGB6a0NsZ1eT035jnRW4QMuj6d7TsaTPuy/s1600/41.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I got home around 3 in the morning. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>At least I got home earlier than last night. </i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">I picked up Jay, apologizing once again.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I put Jay in his crib, and he fell asleep fast. I still felt bad about this.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97yoxFw7ExALz8uhrz0G6tmM0wzCrgyR3ohjHUutYYpfM2bc0mLMSociC-rN06tcMgtp7DO4b5E8eh9TJ3Y12MXk58vJY4wxK6qX0M3Y8IqhE6MZO7cEwQguj_IisfWVenvSuwbEytnTj/s1600/43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi97yoxFw7ExALz8uhrz0G6tmM0wzCrgyR3ohjHUutYYpfM2bc0mLMSociC-rN06tcMgtp7DO4b5E8eh9TJ3Y12MXk58vJY4wxK6qX0M3Y8IqhE6MZO7cEwQguj_IisfWVenvSuwbEytnTj/s1600/43.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">With Jay taken care of, I went downstairs to eat. The dishwasher was broken!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I thought the repair technician came and fixed it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> <i>I'll just have to call him again.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTHzCKHoasIUoB3-qAidSbaMnipMu-J7QtkuOo-Pzlj5W3-TDx21tk8CDkB6fDgE5XxgNxfalpsPbxmyx8DUyEmDjCgMK3CDT4-j33luYD87oAy6XmRCTA4v9-Ru01xLj5Py-f27Zpodp/s1600/48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTHzCKHoasIUoB3-qAidSbaMnipMu-J7QtkuOo-Pzlj5W3-TDx21tk8CDkB6fDgE5XxgNxfalpsPbxmyx8DUyEmDjCgMK3CDT4-j33luYD87oAy6XmRCTA4v9-Ru01xLj5Py-f27Zpodp/s1600/48.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After eating cake, I washed the dishes using the sink. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">But, of course, that had to break, too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Great. Now I have a broken sink, a broken dishwasher, and a big puddle on the floor.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I called the repair technician, once again, to have everything fixed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfA-TdFcT47KNoRLZb4On__h6MmnChHFMKSTuAduMrde6Ibdl_g7YoMyYN57snwRm_lEp9oZl5lTlMYtz2OaaQz3ovNfrm1YaMvD7yh3KDp3H31d7x5BoK7nhYDTX8ORKewgL3laX3Sad/s1600/50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfA-TdFcT47KNoRLZb4On__h6MmnChHFMKSTuAduMrde6Ibdl_g7YoMyYN57snwRm_lEp9oZl5lTlMYtz2OaaQz3ovNfrm1YaMvD7yh3KDp3H31d7x5BoK7nhYDTX8ORKewgL3laX3Sad/s1600/50.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I then called Kevin and invited him over. He said he would be over in a little while.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I was so tired, though, that I took a nap on the couch while I waited for Kevin to come over.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhsivS54DP1_kJPQxzPq-W9yAxR-APQka712QEr-vRDVgbTjjLBqTu8hZDFFIrHOlKbybMBQkyiVrBiwShhioZzNJ2fdsgcLGNcTgUITN0BOWJxpJsoS8JPzlbiXkPRzgd_xPgeo6Sa8B/s1600/52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhsivS54DP1_kJPQxzPq-W9yAxR-APQka712QEr-vRDVgbTjjLBqTu8hZDFFIrHOlKbybMBQkyiVrBiwShhioZzNJ2fdsgcLGNcTgUITN0BOWJxpJsoS8JPzlbiXkPRzgd_xPgeo6Sa8B/s1600/52.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I soon woke up to the sound of the doorbell.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Hey!" I said. "What's up?" he replied. "Just the usual, life with Jay," I said.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> Kevin was acting just like how Javed was acting. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Suspicious.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVKpzTKXOxdMg0J6hhdd6s_MHVRBXAEZALpa32nm1PqJu8EDY9G1CdViGNkGXPxrzuMUK_3nLFc3240PVs2bY_4JDqEqcOwRF714P_75OzGHjDk6-C8PTs9_Z3YgyOsxwCKOTZ24CwDj9/s1600/53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVKpzTKXOxdMg0J6hhdd6s_MHVRBXAEZALpa32nm1PqJu8EDY9G1CdViGNkGXPxrzuMUK_3nLFc3240PVs2bY_4JDqEqcOwRF714P_75OzGHjDk6-C8PTs9_Z3YgyOsxwCKOTZ24CwDj9/s1600/53.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I tried flirting with him but, he told me that I was acting weird.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> From the look on his face that he gave me, I could tell he felt awkward. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Let me know when you stop acting so weird..." he said as he walked away.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> <i>Weird? You're weird, Kevin!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13VqW-wYAH91VmTcFVYkmTyOrvk-9E0YlPl0xlfFxwnBHGIf3dE6IkdhLW2F2G7PfEzCp2lqul4YWGfsMfKZ8HjjzgjLZTMXPl27pWZV2DR1tW00nBd3n_PhVBVZeiqsbHOr_wQP97EUY/s1600/54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13VqW-wYAH91VmTcFVYkmTyOrvk-9E0YlPl0xlfFxwnBHGIf3dE6IkdhLW2F2G7PfEzCp2lqul4YWGfsMfKZ8HjjzgjLZTMXPl27pWZV2DR1tW00nBd3n_PhVBVZeiqsbHOr_wQP97EUY/s1600/54.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I sighed and headed inside to check up on Jay. He woke up as I walked in.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"At least I will always have you, Jay." I said to him. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Mhm!" he said, happily.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I put him down on the floor and gave him his breakfast.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I was glad to have a child like Jay to keep me encouraged.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYnbZKQfLuxJP25v58zuJMcvxozXaCkbWoLoGO7Wj3ngaGiPMyd4ePROELCMyTxRVLGIW7hJcpcJ2NbTrt_GFCbzNBuXXFug2EcKykTjERfFVncxeZ7dnzmwZ9_5Ch53S_nuR9kTpAARH/s1600/58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYnbZKQfLuxJP25v58zuJMcvxozXaCkbWoLoGO7Wj3ngaGiPMyd4ePROELCMyTxRVLGIW7hJcpcJ2NbTrt_GFCbzNBuXXFug2EcKykTjERfFVncxeZ7dnzmwZ9_5Ch53S_nuR9kTpAARH/s1600/58.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Exhausted, I finally went to sleep.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>How will I ever get this challenge going?</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b>Thank you very much for reading Chapter 4! Did you like it? Do you have any questions? Please comment below! It makes my day. <3</b></span></div>
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Heather Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10216231018458039386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6217454030654055977.post-53010800108825656682012-11-21T17:04:00.000-08:002012-11-21T17:04:27.416-08:00Chapter 3 - Party Time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I put away ALL of the cake leftovers.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>With 100 kids I'm probably gonna have a lot of leftover birthday cakes in the fridge!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Jay was sitting on the floor watching a kids show on T.V. They were teaching kids how to count using puppets. Jay just sat there and stared at the T.V. probably not learning anything.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I laughed and picked him up and headed upstairs.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I needed to start right away with teaching Jay all of his skills. First up, potty training. I sat him down on the yellow bear potty chair. I hoped that I would be able to use the pink one soon!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I put Jay in the baby swing and set the swing setting on 'low'. I didn't want him to get sick from swinging on the 'high' setting. He was probably gonna be in there for a while.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He instantly fell asleep.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Tyler unexpectedly came over. "What are you doing here?" I said to him. "Oh, I wanted to see how my child is..?" he responded. "Oh, he's great! His name is Jay and he has my hair and your eyes. He is already a toddler now." I explained to him. "Wow! I wanted a boy. That's great! Well, good luck with your challenge!" he said back. "Thanks," I said as he left.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>That was kinda weird that he wanted to check up on Jay. Well, he is his child, after all. I hope all the other dad's don't come and check up on their children, too.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I headed over to the park after Jay left. I needed to get a new baby inside of me! I met this man named Javed. He was very nice. I told him about my challenge and asked him if he would like to participate and be a dad in my challenge. "Sure!" he said, enthusiastically.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">We chatted and flirted for a while. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I invited him over to my house, but he said, "I would love to! But, I have to go to work right now. Sorry, maybe next time! Bye!" I responded with a simple, "It's fine. Bye!"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">As I drove back home, I thought about Javed. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Who goes to work at 9:00 at night? Hopefully I can just get a baby inside of me soon!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">When I got in the nursery, I saw that he was still in his swing!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Oops!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I quickly took him out of it and said to him, "Sorry, Jay! You were stuck in that swing all night weren't you!" He just nodded his head, smiled, and kissed me on the cheek. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I felt very loved and that moment and couldn't wait to have 99 more children to love!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Hopefully they are all as sweet as Jay.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I fed him a late dinner, then went downstairs to eat mine.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyZ32QxI-fgPxWlpeyJaL8tbU-KPHxPZt1N0ZrCzv5qTKogCQavJW9KHLGzzUi09oPfzj48f3ujPhVek4pybtEqYn5JQa0vuWqd5WH7AU_Ely0cfScccXQSWc8jp5o5PMFynAypSh5zx7/s1600/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyZ32QxI-fgPxWlpeyJaL8tbU-KPHxPZt1N0ZrCzv5qTKogCQavJW9KHLGzzUi09oPfzj48f3ujPhVek4pybtEqYn5JQa0vuWqd5WH7AU_Ely0cfScccXQSWc8jp5o5PMFynAypSh5zx7/s1600/21.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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On my way back up, I thought about how hard this challenge was really going to be. I already committed, though, and I wasn't going to let myself down.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICAs0iASGASgYh8I6fBn5vocrjhc7L4CuC0Qaf3t2wkfnkm3D5-oqY_cNg5Mi1khxHRgW6At98rxlkeDxdcEsVEZRZ5RHh_2KZ6ZrsMt3XvGSu_RAV-XFN8qGi9g8FbR_UOE5idVRB27V/s1600/24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICAs0iASGASgYh8I6fBn5vocrjhc7L4CuC0Qaf3t2wkfnkm3D5-oqY_cNg5Mi1khxHRgW6At98rxlkeDxdcEsVEZRZ5RHh_2KZ6ZrsMt3XvGSu_RAV-XFN8qGi9g8FbR_UOE5idVRB27V/s1600/24.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Goodnight my little Jay bird!" I said to him. I gave him a kiss on the forehead as he told me, "Night, mommy!" </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Aww!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I left the room and turned off the lights.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLeCgbUZn8baPt8g0IjPxaOdeUIQNw_KMdgBqUxD2iwI6BrycGaE4WYz0NRam922z4RZI0QS8RU53Y07GcOsf2RuoAhOmTKY5_jHebGqiY84qZA9zKGXuywcArMIkniZqPUkiWH12vYEX/s1600/25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLeCgbUZn8baPt8g0IjPxaOdeUIQNw_KMdgBqUxD2iwI6BrycGaE4WYz0NRam922z4RZI0QS8RU53Y07GcOsf2RuoAhOmTKY5_jHebGqiY84qZA9zKGXuywcArMIkniZqPUkiWH12vYEX/s1600/25.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It had been a long day, and it felt good to sink into my soft, warm bed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX71UTsST5rio9M6bBWxFp_scncsnri2KBfNIa4cP47AkOMeYdWbI3eONlclc0OvcuF3wpwxtcXJAxeo2WtE5y-G5EVhgh49AHxiTQQuC3s-od_NbXatcyKMmrY0KT7QPbropbYHWFZUWB/s1600/27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX71UTsST5rio9M6bBWxFp_scncsnri2KBfNIa4cP47AkOMeYdWbI3eONlclc0OvcuF3wpwxtcXJAxeo2WtE5y-G5EVhgh49AHxiTQQuC3s-od_NbXatcyKMmrY0KT7QPbropbYHWFZUWB/s1600/27.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">When I woke up, Jay was still sleeping, which meant that I had time to get ready myself. I ate some leftover pancakes for breakfast. I saw my leftovers from last night still on the table.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Man, I have GOT to stop doing that!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithSoYxw9w8i4ZjZPCgH52dnwRQXCtMwEbEFP_C1wQDEPBvawji-Lk5mvmYC45exhxHg0j4rGnwDYxPr1evwshqQyudF3NNnqJyFKPeyKlDS_HWNjVvMipnj6gEZf6KwUcnTnc-bdmZsGO/s1600/29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithSoYxw9w8i4ZjZPCgH52dnwRQXCtMwEbEFP_C1wQDEPBvawji-Lk5mvmYC45exhxHg0j4rGnwDYxPr1evwshqQyudF3NNnqJyFKPeyKlDS_HWNjVvMipnj6gEZf6KwUcnTnc-bdmZsGO/s1600/29.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After breakfast, I invited Javed over.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>I have GOT to get a baby in me soon!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He said, "Sorry, I have plans all day. Maybe tomorrow?" </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Sure.. maybe tomorrow." I said, disappointed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbvHVQiSERyqaXMzHPmirt9F3GOXam3jFDMLBQ1q5VnodHDn0BcL2Lr-eUISWrJtZecLpme2pHL9qKqrpW2toZg0yfwcjx9n0AVTl3wNiB0ymy1Z6kL_NNcWyitXxWFMlveX4Rrt33C6P/s1600/31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUbvHVQiSERyqaXMzHPmirt9F3GOXam3jFDMLBQ1q5VnodHDn0BcL2Lr-eUISWrJtZecLpme2pHL9qKqrpW2toZg0yfwcjx9n0AVTl3wNiB0ymy1Z6kL_NNcWyitXxWFMlveX4Rrt33C6P/s1600/31.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I remembered that I still had an unfinished painting upstairs.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i> I started this painting when I was pregnant, and I'm gonna finish it as a mom with a toddler!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">And so I did. It turned out pretty good to me, but didn't sell for much.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXeGFtYjP_XKggpEnI6fQnHwFR8HN-qe_AHkYpOzevy7HHhR9I7JGDI7vtzsax5XaYl7XgppMLqkaaGgkTmfGl8D0BvP8JxIw4S-wteem2ybm1Oi1FGdHOZNM-v9__iZXgnxw9_HiVhHJ/s1600/33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXeGFtYjP_XKggpEnI6fQnHwFR8HN-qe_AHkYpOzevy7HHhR9I7JGDI7vtzsax5XaYl7XgppMLqkaaGgkTmfGl8D0BvP8JxIw4S-wteem2ybm1Oi1FGdHOZNM-v9__iZXgnxw9_HiVhHJ/s1600/33.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I heard Jay wake up and I headed right in there.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"You woke up late today, huh?" I said to him. He just nodded his head and smiled.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98LAZgGaNajicWk7B0gUL7ux4miWpeH30nx7ZbN9QfuXblPsCyf27GNoc2baZUXY2zjYHRFY5E6HC41hnzSyYeQW6rhKC23w6G-P33ew8BNnrcHdl59cQkKfOPfBxn-R8Nj5xX1UoNoVP/s1600/36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98LAZgGaNajicWk7B0gUL7ux4miWpeH30nx7ZbN9QfuXblPsCyf27GNoc2baZUXY2zjYHRFY5E6HC41hnzSyYeQW6rhKC23w6G-P33ew8BNnrcHdl59cQkKfOPfBxn-R8Nj5xX1UoNoVP/s1600/36.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He seemed very happy all of the time, even though he was an only child. I remembered growing up as an only child. It sucked. Jay didn't seem to mind as much, though.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNcr8skge39VoW4EqgHbPhU8RiTss7N_wc_3AB6aVBWbApIuEOi1SkCaGlcG-YYoX8qP5YLdkLR3pkUw45DFTWamR-53G7Q9XKm3A3vQ90BbgGicMlAi9k5cf7-BZgNo0a-7owQMubu4l/s1600/37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNcr8skge39VoW4EqgHbPhU8RiTss7N_wc_3AB6aVBWbApIuEOi1SkCaGlcG-YYoX8qP5YLdkLR3pkUw45DFTWamR-53G7Q9XKm3A3vQ90BbgGicMlAi9k5cf7-BZgNo0a-7owQMubu4l/s1600/37.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I started to paint some colorful streaks on a small canvas but, didn't get the chance to finish it. My stomach growled really loud. I decided to put my painting on hold to go and eat something.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoAAOm6a9Y5pnnlhFn-zQ99_qc5wptY2t-eRiczYX1b16Ka3rvfWJNnwEyqbgeYhAl1S665nPrc3oiUgT4lep6wfZeKHxB4TsY4MNG9Yz4Eu8kbHFDSPw2FogCXfNO22YYXzafzCDsXIk/s1600/38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoAAOm6a9Y5pnnlhFn-zQ99_qc5wptY2t-eRiczYX1b16Ka3rvfWJNnwEyqbgeYhAl1S665nPrc3oiUgT4lep6wfZeKHxB4TsY4MNG9Yz4Eu8kbHFDSPw2FogCXfNO22YYXzafzCDsXIk/s1600/38.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I ate some leftover cake, of course.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HBEPzjOx2iH4k563uSnYRoWq-l-XfcJO6Hlur3x07LlSvozxngqOOemi3pG8ypTdvrOiWf1pQue1QAK5nFfEHN3YmEi6aYDtKNGp2X9lv6RyO9z-xiKqVEhrcTV5tFDdyeQp0gXUAnVa/s1600/40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HBEPzjOx2iH4k563uSnYRoWq-l-XfcJO6Hlur3x07LlSvozxngqOOemi3pG8ypTdvrOiWf1pQue1QAK5nFfEHN3YmEi6aYDtKNGp2X9lv6RyO9z-xiKqVEhrcTV5tFDdyeQp0gXUAnVa/s1600/40.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Suddenly, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I got a call from Javed. He invited me and Jay over to his house for a party tonight!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> "I felt bad about not being able to hang out, so we can hang out now." he said over the telephone. Something in voice signaled that he was lying. I tried to just trust him, though. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">"Okay!" I said, "That's sweet of you to invite Jay! We will definitely be there tonight." "Great! See you there!"</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">With time to kill, I went upstairs to teach Jay some skills. He got potty training down! I was so glad that I wouldn't have to teach him anymore! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Good job, Jay!" I congratulated him. He just laughed and clapped for himself.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZaFlXgKBUlHqzqNCol1x2ZR5g252KL7ue-CN_rje8_xcGGSgGf0y9NbBKPw3y6XyeGWniqpCMlW6Au0GRUQFgDdjM2ZelrEQfHT9IxWpK8J425-AjbsGjhlcU9_ygIyAPJ6S3iuZ52Nh/s1600/44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZaFlXgKBUlHqzqNCol1x2ZR5g252KL7ue-CN_rje8_xcGGSgGf0y9NbBKPw3y6XyeGWniqpCMlW6Au0GRUQFgDdjM2ZelrEQfHT9IxWpK8J425-AjbsGjhlcU9_ygIyAPJ6S3iuZ52Nh/s1600/44.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Since the dress code was 'Formal Attire', I changed into my best dress and heels. I changed Jay into his little tux, too.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF6bPsQ-5zElnPvoBWSNJHz2rtwSEPg2ddTK6_A-QzciVINvgnOZYAi4mQrbm8TMAiQglvGe99NFwtf7oT_PAHKd-L5jqSya9Yaw7U6D6kmjt47Zg0CK-2ijKYGrjuO4rnbwslsSrVJR9/s1600/46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPF6bPsQ-5zElnPvoBWSNJHz2rtwSEPg2ddTK6_A-QzciVINvgnOZYAi4mQrbm8TMAiQglvGe99NFwtf7oT_PAHKd-L5jqSya9Yaw7U6D6kmjt47Zg0CK-2ijKYGrjuO4rnbwslsSrVJR9/s1600/46.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">And just like that, we were gone!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It seemed like something about this party wasn't right, though. I just tried to push those thoughts away and focus on my challenge.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2wIlhjbjjVIJkA0P5eOrOZM-3kWkxJAySWnvjyhRPI_jtp3YRzR7v02LYM1N-_-UgqXEaBdaB4HivAG6H4T6ITmWQ1v1Nn67qQxe-u02KKHZFFDb5u51ciE7xl7ha4ebqf63ZP4zbuzH/s1600/52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2wIlhjbjjVIJkA0P5eOrOZM-3kWkxJAySWnvjyhRPI_jtp3YRzR7v02LYM1N-_-UgqXEaBdaB4HivAG6H4T6ITmWQ1v1Nn67qQxe-u02KKHZFFDb5u51ciE7xl7ha4ebqf63ZP4zbuzH/s1600/52.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I put Jay down on the floor and turned the T.V. on for him to watch. I walked up to Javed, still feeling weird, and started chatting with him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SadBHZ4zZvz860PUP7m4MsEU4DzSOTnY8VXZ1DiCrPpZ6v3BXab3vgBls19MAExLEHrZ2D85oECnoEl6MC5cb-_GzkcM7qS4vj8WHe0RiiQspITTisSIKW999Vq5VrcA9EV1iEQx1PEt/s1600/49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SadBHZ4zZvz860PUP7m4MsEU4DzSOTnY8VXZ1DiCrPpZ6v3BXab3vgBls19MAExLEHrZ2D85oECnoEl6MC5cb-_GzkcM7qS4vj8WHe0RiiQspITTisSIKW999Vq5VrcA9EV1iEQx1PEt/s1600/49.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I looked over at Jay, and he seemed to be enjoying himself over there. Javed and I laughed because he was so small on the ground with all of these adults at the party.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YfV5AJSUGciEbaDLstmkVcXpzVlU8bFwSD9LHQ582LMhbiAWcXDHGM7HHftQeh3YaLoaQUmWoUnArYEp18WmMZ6WIzu7hditANvh9xQRp4ojdWtEvzSzeT57u8E7uRaNOdDc5P-S3tTq/s1600/54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YfV5AJSUGciEbaDLstmkVcXpzVlU8bFwSD9LHQ582LMhbiAWcXDHGM7HHftQeh3YaLoaQUmWoUnArYEp18WmMZ6WIzu7hditANvh9xQRp4ojdWtEvzSzeT57u8E7uRaNOdDc5P-S3tTq/s1600/54.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Like I thought, everything wasn't normal with Javed. He started to get a little creeped out by me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>What is his problem?</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwKXALwEBxpbZrm9D4iuYR4VZzyHNk__mlEPc5YsSOmecsqXYkzPeD3Hxp9NaYnDCK80ySNHy8Q-nK9_lvDvnSufl92b8WTuTozUx_ajNfpcbx1yeWgwrxDYePJI8w9le5ZCEErgs3mCz/s1600/53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFwKXALwEBxpbZrm9D4iuYR4VZzyHNk__mlEPc5YsSOmecsqXYkzPeD3Hxp9NaYnDCK80ySNHy8Q-nK9_lvDvnSufl92b8WTuTozUx_ajNfpcbx1yeWgwrxDYePJI8w9le5ZCEErgs3mCz/s1600/53.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Okay," I finally said to him, "What's the deal? Why do you not like me anymore? I thought this party was just for us to hangout! I guess not, huh?"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> "Well, I.." he stuttered, "I don't want to be a part of your challenge anymore! That's why I threw this party! To break up with you."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Shocked, I yelled at him and let all my anger burst out.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> "Fine then!" I yelled at him, "We will break up! And I am happy that we did! I don't want you anywhere near me, let alone be a part of my challenge! You would've made an awful dad, anyways!"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCIja8t2mYiNpRltOGmTth6NBkVxO5G5EwvgR-USMVSbMBW_u9TYVxlaHlf7QDYE__cHYFLxZX95qoDKXOVD_zXulopIKJOIkaoRU_TMMmR9bB_9bCkHbY9y4RwZVR5JHxPAT6FzKVRIZ/s1600/58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCIja8t2mYiNpRltOGmTth6NBkVxO5G5EwvgR-USMVSbMBW_u9TYVxlaHlf7QDYE__cHYFLxZX95qoDKXOVD_zXulopIKJOIkaoRU_TMMmR9bB_9bCkHbY9y4RwZVR5JHxPAT6FzKVRIZ/s1600/58.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. This relationship was all a waste of my time.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"C'mon Jay, we're leaving." I said to Jay as I picked him up. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"M'kay." Jay said back to me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> Everyone just stared at me and Jay as we left, speechless. I didn't mind, though. At least we were leaving.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpDBaTe3AaJyzXFdhYiUAVZmMOZaxuAm80rv4nXj0YNDs7dxvum9_8lqqwuricuKQhX8L_SMzZXXoeJHC2PU-6OWr4yWGadTEL2Ujc7iCO-QWO8wEpGk8Xcnr7jetn3x_WqPlWbctzcyX/s1600/60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpDBaTe3AaJyzXFdhYiUAVZmMOZaxuAm80rv4nXj0YNDs7dxvum9_8lqqwuricuKQhX8L_SMzZXXoeJHC2PU-6OWr4yWGadTEL2Ujc7iCO-QWO8wEpGk8Xcnr7jetn3x_WqPlWbctzcyX/s1600/60.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">We left that house as fast as we could, with no regrets. I was relieved to be home.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qWMuDLA38JxNdztnsfv0jbwE1kRZiHsT-Cl7YGivhmEuVogpzbnGwXSAkR95xSwmgJyYSpcvX3wJJYyO1Ibq89U8ZM3Yy-oiDhvgQDN0uybHY81h1C-Md9rMSYO-re2xuAr1fUjwqSE9/s1600/61.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5qWMuDLA38JxNdztnsfv0jbwE1kRZiHsT-Cl7YGivhmEuVogpzbnGwXSAkR95xSwmgJyYSpcvX3wJJYyO1Ibq89U8ZM3Yy-oiDhvgQDN0uybHY81h1C-Md9rMSYO-re2xuAr1fUjwqSE9/s1600/61.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I was glad that I would always have my kids. The dads come and go, but my kids... my kids will be with me and love me forever.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwF5BW93BHbRc5xz-kt7f60VjVZMTrQAzNlghTD8xLDZRClJbTtO5JbMIgvDWiCaosBsfxlegXFI0iG3V2jjyG0pzo5M7csaIhg8oHoQnhBspOPwCfKO6BvgrZexCBVre2VmdNMTkbETh/s1600/62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwF5BW93BHbRc5xz-kt7f60VjVZMTrQAzNlghTD8xLDZRClJbTtO5JbMIgvDWiCaosBsfxlegXFI0iG3V2jjyG0pzo5M7csaIhg8oHoQnhBspOPwCfKO6BvgrZexCBVre2VmdNMTkbETh/s1600/62.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I watched as Jay instantly fell asleep. He was so sweet. I knew that he would always be, too. I was glad to call Jay my son.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_Bxvzie_1ii5FzEIi3MDYdpgsINX3VecLWdSxyOspDb8bKQgLJw_Xn25JgyakjMIWf2VdY46-KO9svhsyqZNEquV6QrG3dvmWzUELT_fcr5PUGbaIyomT67udkl0ye05Xz0qVPZy-H2k/s1600/64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_Bxvzie_1ii5FzEIi3MDYdpgsINX3VecLWdSxyOspDb8bKQgLJw_Xn25JgyakjMIWf2VdY46-KO9svhsyqZNEquV6QrG3dvmWzUELT_fcr5PUGbaIyomT67udkl0ye05Xz0qVPZy-H2k/s1600/64.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After this huge, emotional day, I happily sank into my bed and instantly fell asleep, just like Jay. I had no idea how I would get pregnant now. Everyone seemed to back out. I felt frustrated, but tried to not give up so fast.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">My dad's words ran through my mind.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"If you never fully commit and put your mind to something, you will <u>NEVER</u> be able to accomplish it."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b>Thanks for reading Chapter 3! Did you like it? Have any questions? Please comment below! It makes my day. <3</b></span></div>
Heather Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10216231018458039386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6217454030654055977.post-16155191912351805592012-11-21T16:03:00.000-08:002012-11-21T16:09:42.868-08:00Chapter 2 - Jay Bear!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPq_h_XSBJbuZcpOE1B8nERDBjq_LobnwPdRUd3idADytK4FnmRnGYD3UmCb-SdmmF657aBmFrZHruBxF1SOqPAqF291CAw-cpNCT3QxpDA1CcPHpUfg6-jz9XbunZOTzhZLYPg1P-rJdz/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPq_h_XSBJbuZcpOE1B8nERDBjq_LobnwPdRUd3idADytK4FnmRnGYD3UmCb-SdmmF657aBmFrZHruBxF1SOqPAqF291CAw-cpNCT3QxpDA1CcPHpUfg6-jz9XbunZOTzhZLYPg1P-rJdz/s1600/1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I woke up the next day feeling good and made the bed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I could just start to see my baby bump. It made me feel proud and good inside.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I changed into regular clothes and went downstairs. I was craving pancakes, so I made a bunch of them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">As I sat down to eat them, I realized that I forgot to clean up my microwave meal from last night.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Yuck!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I decided to go out and buy some pregnancy books at the book store. I could use a little help the first time around!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">When I got there, I realized that the bookstore was partnered with a day spa! After buying some pregnancy and kids books, I went over to the spa to treat myself to relaxation.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It felt good to be pampered!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">When I got out of the car, I realized how much bigger my belly had gotten over the past 3 hours. I tried to walk normally, but that didn't work out too well. I had to "waddle" my way inside.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I started to read one of my pregnancy books. Labor sounded a lot scarier than I thought it would be! I will have to get used to it though, if I'm going to do it 99 more times!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I tried to get my mind off of labor by painting. I was thinking about what my baby will look like. I realized that I started to actually paint a face!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>I guess I'm painting a portrait this time!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After painting, I was craving ice cream. I found a huge tub of it in the freezer! I don't know why I ate a giant tub of it when i could have had an ice cream cone using my ice cream maker!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I went upstairs and laid down in bed. It took me a while to get used to sleeping with my big belly.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">When I woke up, I noticed how big my belly was! "You're a big baby, aren't you?" I said to my unborn child.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I went downstairs and showered,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ate,</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIlsFVCm_ZZ8c59arZPUC7Bq6ddirla3uhKMVVLGYeIggCK9m1vGniSfTUQOsuk9yu-gERLmsYBCA09Y_yxwH53vUxjQ7ByEH53-OEZjPoTzDx6FHmETvM8BLr7_FSSTc2iengVgskd58/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIlsFVCm_ZZ8c59arZPUC7Bq6ddirla3uhKMVVLGYeIggCK9m1vGniSfTUQOsuk9yu-gERLmsYBCA09Y_yxwH53vUxjQ7ByEH53-OEZjPoTzDx6FHmETvM8BLr7_FSSTc2iengVgskd58/s1600/17.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Then read my other pregnancy book. When I was done with it, I felt confident in myself that I am able to do this challenge! "Bring it on!" I thought to myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I walked upstairs into the nursery. I realized that I hadn't put anything in there! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I wanted to have some sort of animal theme. Maybe something with bears since, my last name is Bear.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>That would be really cute.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I started right away.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>That's MUCH better.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I was prepared to either have a boy, or a girl.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I went downstairs to make some mac and cheese, but then...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">The baby was coming! I knew what to do because of reading those books. Good thing I did! I would have no clue what to do if I didn't!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I went into the nursery to have my baby.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After about an hour, I welcomed Jay Bear into the world. It felt amazing to be a mom. I feel so blessed to be able to do this!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I happily fed him his first bottle.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I smiled and said to him, "Hey, buddy! Welcome to this crazy world of ours." I put him into his panda bear crib with a kiss on the forehead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jay just looked up at me and smiled. My heart was instantly filled with joy and warmth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With Jay safe in the nursery, I finished cooking my mac & cheese.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I went upstairs and poked my head into the nursery. I found Jay sleeping and was happy that I could go to bed tonight knowing that my baby was safe and sleeping. I didn't know how much longer it would last, though.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I headed to bed with my fingers crossed that I could get a full night's sleep. My chances were very slim, though, with a newborn baby.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">About 30 minutes after I got into bed, I was woken up from Jay's cries. I sighed and hurried in to take care of him. I fed him a bottle and he seemed content.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I went to bed knowing that I could sleep the rest of the night knowing that Jay had been taken care of.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">The next day, I woke up and went through the usual routine. Making the bed...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Showering...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">And the new addition to the routine, Jay! He just started to cry as i walked in the room. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I picked him up and tried to calm him down. "It's okay now, mommy is here," I softly said to him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">He just needed another quick bottle. I tossed him in the air and played with him for a while. I still couldn't believe that I had <i>made </i>him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Time to age him up!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I carried Jay from the nursery, down to the Birthday Area. "Happy Birthday Jay!" I said to him. He just laughed as I blew out the candles for him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I loved his eyes so much! They remind me of when I would look into his father's eyes. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Those purple eyes of yours are going to get some girls in high school, you know that, right?" I said to him with a laugh. Even though he didn't understand my words, he understood my tone. He laughed as I tickled him.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's great to be a mom.</span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you SO much for reading Chapter 2! Did you like it? Have any questions? Please comment down below! It makes my day. <3</span></b></div>
Heather Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10216231018458039386noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6217454030654055977.post-29805970462058404262012-11-20T22:35:00.001-08:002012-11-20T22:37:14.645-08:00Chapter 1 - The Very Beginning!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_oGu_QJaYZzIXGcghvhQsyS1qqwVEa4lJJulYdwdqB8FBG4-Jw46jOSM7NsGEqS8fuLSK13x6J7LgKRcqRfJ07DFX0rLsdvpMIsTwlA2wlw3Ewu7nQ6ZIvxlm0xQpIVhOyTPpIuvLnSl/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_oGu_QJaYZzIXGcghvhQsyS1qqwVEa4lJJulYdwdqB8FBG4-Jw46jOSM7NsGEqS8fuLSK13x6J7LgKRcqRfJ07DFX0rLsdvpMIsTwlA2wlw3Ewu7nQ6ZIvxlm0xQpIVhOyTPpIuvLnSl/s1600/1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I heard that 4 new guys just moved into town. I saw my chance and went for it. I headed off to go meet them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">When I got there, i was greeted by this cute boy. His hair was bright orange and his eyes were an amazing purple. His name was Tyler Rowe. "Hey," he said smoothly. "What's up?" I stuttered, trying to not make a fool of myself.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">We chatted...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">And flirted...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Then, went inside.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I was so nervous, it was my first time going through all of this. I had to just go for it and kiss him.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">"Hey, would you want to be a part of my 100 baby challenge? It's really simple. You just have to help me with the whole getting pregnant part. That's it. You don't have to take care of the child or anything." I said, nervously. "100 babies? That's crazy! Of course I'll help!" he said. "Thanks so much!" i said, relieved. "No problem." he replied.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I had to go home after that. I left thinking about my future and how i will be a mom to 100 kids! I couldn't wait.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I drove home in my pink car. Every girl dreams of having one, doesn't she?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I decided to make some waffles. My first meal in, now my house and it's waffles. I laughed to myself in my huge empty house.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">*EXTRA*</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Author's Note: She made this face the whole time she was cooking. xD</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">They weren't too bad.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After going to the bathroom and washing my hands, I decided to call up Tyler and invite him over. "Sure, I'll be over in a little while." he said over the phone.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I played some video games while I waited for Tyler. I remember watching my dad play video games on this huge T.V. screen when I was little. <i>He used to love it.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He came over and we started talking about my challenge. He said he was glad to be daddy #1. I invited him to spend the night here. He said it would be fun to hang out here.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I couldn't imagine having to dump him. I mean, <i>c'mon</i>. Look at those eyes! I decided to not think about it right now and focused on the first step in this challenge. The baby making!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">You know what happened then.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Then, I went straight to sleep. Tyler wasn't tired, though.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">He went upstairs into the game/workout room and started playing with the Freezer Bunny Slot Machine. He didn't have much luck.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">As soon as I woke up, I felt nauseous. I threw up. <i>Great</i>. 99 more times of doing this, huh? I guess it's something I just can't avoid. And, at least I'm making progress.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> I realized that I had to break up with Tyler. It wasn't easy, that's for sure. I promised myself then and there that next time, I won't go out with them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After we broke up, he immediately left and i made the bed. I thought to myself of how awful that was.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I had to forget about it and move on, though, so I ate some leftover waffles from yesterday.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I went upstairs to go and paint. Hopefully painting will get my mind off of things.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlG6pjboTRBMT-aPZAKQcuShPOOYkV3niwY34ghMqRWgEd319EsRgHUsYsLQ5BNTHb9EVQIhDSFQs5uZRMC0kjLx-J7xHFcHzvJoYdhCXK2nOlyE7heZZBeLC3nKuIOpA91EuU3Nj-RBX/s1600/28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlG6pjboTRBMT-aPZAKQcuShPOOYkV3niwY34ghMqRWgEd319EsRgHUsYsLQ5BNTHb9EVQIhDSFQs5uZRMC0kjLx-J7xHFcHzvJoYdhCXK2nOlyE7heZZBeLC3nKuIOpA91EuU3Nj-RBX/s1600/28.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It wasn't great, but hey, it wasn't awful, either.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXtcsCa-PICKh0S_fEk7fiIvzRBi1axf9w40ddcimZFd6gEo4M39uVpD9xtfuhyphenhyphenBzQb9_uonzwXqaV_TNx9FzsutsMbQzzH83n3TFsnH9TeH7GoDFZwNGTxgdzp1P_9MpE4jAIUQOdVN2/s1600/30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXtcsCa-PICKh0S_fEk7fiIvzRBi1axf9w40ddcimZFd6gEo4M39uVpD9xtfuhyphenhyphenBzQb9_uonzwXqaV_TNx9FzsutsMbQzzH83n3TFsnH9TeH7GoDFZwNGTxgdzp1P_9MpE4jAIUQOdVN2/s1600/30.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I knew I had to make <i>something </i>for dinner, sooner or later, so I decided to grill up some hot dogs.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-3_2-CaGJUTFku8iXEmrb3DdXiXMtWctgJnb3kb3QkSJzIfzpbbcwahUtBJ6u-066tKjbsN5ruBr1hqOYkIgJCocb8aNqWuCfJRShB1qV7AgBoQtWd8GxHbz8koEmJ8zBTERO5ASZ9Nb/s1600/31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd-3_2-CaGJUTFku8iXEmrb3DdXiXMtWctgJnb3kb3QkSJzIfzpbbcwahUtBJ6u-066tKjbsN5ruBr1hqOYkIgJCocb8aNqWuCfJRShB1qV7AgBoQtWd8GxHbz8koEmJ8zBTERO5ASZ9Nb/s1600/31.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">In the middle of grilling my hot dogs, I felt a kick in my stomach. I was pregnant! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Wow, so this is what it feels like to be a mom</i>. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I changed into some maternity clothes and rubbed my belly thinking of all the wonderful things that i can give to my child.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">After I stopped thinking about being pregnant, I realized that I had been dreaming for too long. I tried to put out the flames on the grill.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Oops.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I sighed as I put them all on a plate. I looked down at my stomach and said, out loud, "You know, this is all because of you, baby?" I laughed as I walked into the house thinking of what I was gonna have for dinner now.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I started to heat up a microwave meal when I felt nauseous again.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">I ran to the bathroom and threw up for the second time. I hurried back to the kitchen hoping that I didn't burn my second dinner, again, because of my baby.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">It actually tasted pretty good.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><i>Success!</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> "Good job, baby! You didn't make me burn another meal!" I said laughing.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">As soon as I got into my bed, I was out like a light. I had dreams about my baby growing up, and burning his/her own meals, instead of making me burn mine.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><b>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</b></span></div>
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<b>Thanks for reading Chapter 1! What did you think? Have any questions? Please comment! It makes my day. <3</b></div>
Heather Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10216231018458039386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6217454030654055977.post-70016495864731837592012-11-20T20:47:00.001-08:002012-11-20T22:01:33.353-08:00Introduction!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrgWdmj5ndM4-TLG6qAB5YcBfoj343M2hJnVpGdKID6o7Buxo7WFXCubj_MuUJ1iYBW86kV6vR0HhYMKhD8BvybiwAGk80v9QF4MgmIO5_PYR-OQi8tGF0_IYCh5SJN0XYWPTWEpFmhN-/s1600/Intro+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwrgWdmj5ndM4-TLG6qAB5YcBfoj343M2hJnVpGdKID6o7Buxo7WFXCubj_MuUJ1iYBW86kV6vR0HhYMKhD8BvybiwAGk80v9QF4MgmIO5_PYR-OQi8tGF0_IYCh5SJN0XYWPTWEpFmhN-/s1600/Intro+1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Hi! My name is Payton Bear. I am an only child. My house is pretty big, thanks to my mom. My mom's name is Heather Bear. She was a very rich and famous acrobat. My dad died at war when i was 3 years old. I barely remember him. My mom died from lung cancer just last month. She told me (before she died) that i could have the house after she passed. It's time to start my new life!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKw4VdLmdeuA4Dp1LZnbN_hhTUs3V-DlbVBCw1ZX7RUNHxG2DTC5vd2t9Hi2nqUJOGLM6UPMhgqoF4_J_vBaayIn45_hDOz84SC2CQZcoGxWNFLj8vV50EPKl-Q0k2bBrlCgr3v5LzVCQo/s1600/Intro+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKw4VdLmdeuA4Dp1LZnbN_hhTUs3V-DlbVBCw1ZX7RUNHxG2DTC5vd2t9Hi2nqUJOGLM6UPMhgqoF4_J_vBaayIn45_hDOz84SC2CQZcoGxWNFLj8vV50EPKl-Q0k2bBrlCgr3v5LzVCQo/s1600/Intro+2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Everyday Wear. Payton's traits are Flirty, Natural Cook, Artistic, Family Oriented, and Excitable.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSNut-w0lzmtU6DacMF_PLXxRo4enVvYzRJVqJyonszZ39E2CrX3t3mBNqYmxc-BZ3kbwr1jipH2dXMOuuqYcm9llP6C79CXg2EcnzHsMgOMP8RZKvjLgnOsq3Tt67qEgth-u7w0bA4dO/s1600/intro+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSNut-w0lzmtU6DacMF_PLXxRo4enVvYzRJVqJyonszZ39E2CrX3t3mBNqYmxc-BZ3kbwr1jipH2dXMOuuqYcm9llP6C79CXg2EcnzHsMgOMP8RZKvjLgnOsq3Tt67qEgth-u7w0bA4dO/s1600/intro+3.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Formal wear! Her favorite food is cookies.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnI3xWhDJcaqI04NXAI37OEDDSp4S6C_ZndubxQaQAFBnV7DzRrqZosMlV7UloGOa9imW8hf_s0IIYrfjQ-y5-9lmn019tH61anaHfwZlHYuHAnsg0J8p7GVE0DXfF_RQJpMoOnAg54QF2/s1600/intro+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnI3xWhDJcaqI04NXAI37OEDDSp4S6C_ZndubxQaQAFBnV7DzRrqZosMlV7UloGOa9imW8hf_s0IIYrfjQ-y5-9lmn019tH61anaHfwZlHYuHAnsg0J8p7GVE0DXfF_RQJpMoOnAg54QF2/s1600/intro+4.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Sleepwear. Her favorite music is pop. (Can you tell her favorite color is pink?)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Athletic Wear. She lives in Starlight Shores.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcU-15gYtd08v8LNmFwv6zJmZa_VEV5Roy4Mk8Hzz7-K0m4TfLHMZ3XQdMpj8NA_UHqRsw0Vs7PXhbjiPLKUWGmhHuDVkkaiVRiMNqnaUAuEVy0IQRdr0rD8B74_Lrr6jtPM8z5HXI9WIG/s1600/intro+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcU-15gYtd08v8LNmFwv6zJmZa_VEV5Roy4Mk8Hzz7-K0m4TfLHMZ3XQdMpj8NA_UHqRsw0Vs7PXhbjiPLKUWGmhHuDVkkaiVRiMNqnaUAuEVy0IQRdr0rD8B74_Lrr6jtPM8z5HXI9WIG/s1600/intro+6.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Swimwear. Her house is 3 stories!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Outside view of the house! (By the way, I did NOT make this house. It is "Sanctuary" in Starlight Shores. The houses i make are SO lame. xD)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">First Floor!</span></div>
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Second floor!</div>
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Third floor!</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Growing up, I hated being an only child. That's why my mission is to have 100 babies! I want my kids to always have someone to play with and depend on. And, you know, who doesn't love a good challenge?</span></div>
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Heather Bearhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10216231018458039386noreply@blogger.com0