Traits: Clumsy, Artistic, Easily Impressed, Vegatarian, Mooch

LTW: Home Design Hotshot

Spouse: Engaged to Ronnie with one child.

Celery

Traits: Eccentric, Easily Impressed, Hydrophobic, Frugal, and charismatic.

LTW: Paranormal Profiler

Spouse: None

Currant

Traits: Slob, Loves the Outdoors, Grumpy, Easily Impressed, Inappropriate

LTW: Become Astronaut

Spouse: None

Cucumber

Traits: Hates the Outdoors, Insane, Absent-Minded, and Neurotic

LTW: None

Spouse: None

Cherry

Traits: Disciplined, Eccentric, Light-sleeper, and Natural Cook

LTW: None

Spouse: None

It broke my heart seeing Carmelo graduate highschool. I was super proud of him, though. He had developed a  passion for decorating after we bought the new home, and that’s what he chose to do as his career. He wants to become a home design hotshot. It didn’t take him long at all to start racking in costumers.

“Ronnie, I’m a gentlemen. Until you graduate high school, we can’t be together.”

“I hate this, Carmy. I love you.”

“I promise to marry you, when you graduate. I love you, too.”

While Carmelo was promising his life to his future bride, I was teaching my only baby girl how to talk. She was a blessing and I spent way more time with her than I ever did the boys. I knew it was wrong, but I couldn’t help it.

Cypress and his girlfriend were getting more and more serious. They made a good match, but I still favored Ronnie.

The kids weren’t the only ones growing older. Afi was getting on up in age too. We had a huge community party to celebrate his 50th birthday.

“Happy birthday, my love.”

**giggles**

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, dear Cherry, happy birthday to you.

I was in tears during Cherry’s whole birthday party, and the tears lasted into the next week as she started kindergarten.

The triplets graduated high school and chose their careers. Cy wanted to be a monster inventor, Currant an astronaut, and Cel a paranormal profiler. To obtain their goals Cy started taking an inventing class, Currant joined the army and started boot camp, and Cel took a class about ghosts.

“Oh man. What did I do?” I heard Carmelo say outside.

I knew that him and Ronnie had been sneaking around lately, but I was surprised at what I saw out the window. Ronnie was about 5 months pregnant, and of course, Carmy was the father.

Not only was Carmelo a gentlemen, he loved Ronnie with all of his heart as well. Asking her to marry him wasn’t just because she was pregnant, it was because he had planned this since the day they met.

Ronnie was scared to death when they brought home her little boy. Carmelo stayed with her day and night for weeks after he was born.

The army changed Currant. When he came home for the first time after boot camp, he was a different man. He carried himself differently and was respectful and polite. He seemed happy for the first time in his life. With all the happiness in the air, we never expected a tragedy.

Early one Saturday morning while everyone was still asleep, Cypress was working with his inventing table. I woke up suddenly to screams coming from outside. What I saw scared me to death. My son was on fire. I dialed 911 and tried to put the fire out.  We all tried to put the fire out that morning. It just wouldn’t go out.

He was rushed to the hospital, but the burns were too extensive. He died in the ER. Afi and I had had to break the news to Currant. He was devastated. The triplets had been very close and losing one was like losing a part of the others.

We were all heart-broken, and it was a loss that I didn’t know if I would ever recover from. A parent wasn’t suppose to bury their child. I knew then that I couldn’t carry on, I had to choose an heir and step down to rest. I couldn’t carry the family any longer.

In the days after Cypress’ death, I spent hours with my only grandchild and dreamed about what Hannah and Cypress’ children would have looked like.

I was happy to see Currant settling down. He had found his first love, and I prayed that he’d settle down and marry a nice girl.

Little Cherry shared her birthday with her big brother Cucumber and with that party the last of our children grew up.

I just couldn’t get over the death of Cypress.

I remember teaching him to talk…. Watching him grow….

My only blond child and my only child with the insane trait. May he RIP..

Author’s Note:

I’m not sure where to start. I took a week vacation and ten days off of work. The day I was suppose to go back to work, I got a horrible stomach bug. I’ve had in-laws down staying with us too. There’s been eleven of us all cooped up together and going back to work was more of a vacation than being at home was. I’m back now, though. I don’t really know where my legacy is going, but I have a few pictures to make into a chapter and then a heir poll. After we decide who will become heir, I think I can get things back on track. I’m sorry for dropping off the earth without warning. I really thought that I’d be able to update and keep things going, but I just couldn’t. I am feeling burnt out, and I only hope that a new heir will rekindle my passion. A death like Cy’s only makes things worse…

Enjoy,

K

Currant still had his same bad mood attitude. He never expressed feeling about moving. He didn’t have a hobby like the rest of the kids, and I spent a lot of time worrying about his future.

Cypress was a very sweet kid. He had an evil streak, but for the most part he was sweet. One of the requirements for the highschool in Twin Brooks was to take a placement test. This assured that he would be placed exactly where he needed to be. He was labeled a genius and was placed in the gifted classes.

Celery was gifted too. He had a gift for inventing and had a vivid imagination.

It took us two whole days of flying and then only one day of driving to finally reach our home. We had done everything, even picking our house, online. The house was better than we could have ever imagined. It was huge and beautiful. Perfect for a family of 5 kids with another on the way. Everyone was able to have their own bedroom. It was amazing. I decided that I would be a stay at home mother and Afi started work at the local doctors office.

My green and blue kitchen was my favorite room. Those years as an architectural designer had come in handy and Carmelo and I worked on the house everyday. It only took 5 months to get things like we wanted. Carmelo hoped that one day he would be able to be a designer too, and he worked constantly to improve his skills.

I spent a lot of time with Cucumber on my days off. I knew my attention with him would be limited when the new baby came. I was able to do a sonogram this time and it was confirmed that all of our dreams were coming true. Afi and I were finally pregnant with a baby girl.

The boys settled into their routine and talked about the pretty girls here. All of them had someone that they had their eyes on. I didn’t know if I was ready to see my kids dating yet. I worried about Currant still. I hoped he wouldn’t break any hearts.

Cucumber’s fifth birthday was spent at home with just family. We didn’t know anyone yet, and didn’t have anyone to invite to the party. That wouldn’t last long. We would all make friends in time.

Cucumber was the lucky child, and inherited the famous family trait. He had a mental disorder. He too, was diagnosed with Schizophrenia.  Technology and medications had advanced so much that we knew he would be fine. He was more self injurious than I have known anyone to be and had problems with hitting himself.

We were a very happy family when Cherry finally arrived. She was our little miracle.

Gifted classes proved to be hard, even for Cypress. He had a hard time with his studies, but with the help of us and Carmelo, we always figured things out.

Cu just had a hard time concentrating and was put in one-on-one classes and he required a lot of extra help at home as well. The doctors blamed some of his developmental problems on my age at his birth. This made me all the more concerned about Cherry. I prayed she would be normal and healthy, despite my age.

Cy talked and talked about a girl named Hannah. He was completely crazy about this girl. I could see why. She was strikingly beautiful.

Carmelo had started spending time at a local club. He met Ronnie there. He was with her all of time and she was the first girl that was brought home to meet the family. I loved her the moment I saw her. She was classy and sweet.

Of course, we didn’t approve of Currant’s first flame. She had a dark personality and a dirty mouth.

“Mom!!! You never approve of anything I do!” Currant would tell me.

He just always made bad decisions. I hated having to fuss at him all the time, but I had to do it.

Soon after Currant and I had the fight, he was brought home by a cop. He was arrested for drinking under aged. Afi was at work, like always, and I had to deal with him alone.

“Mom, I swear I didn’t drink,” Currant told me.

“So the cop was just lieing then,” I said in frustration.

“Fine, don’t believe me. I’m your son though,” he hollered back.

“I don’t know who or what to believe, Currant. You haven’t made the best of choices. I’m just concerned. Go to bed, we’ll talk tomorrow,” I responded.

It was after midnight when I finally walked back in the house. I was grumpy, tired, and wasn’t expecting what I saw. Ronnie Rain and Carmelo were making out in their underwear.

“Ronnie, go home. Carmelo go to bed.” I hollered as I went into my bedroom and slammed the door.  I needed help around here, and my husband sure wasn’t helping.

Cherry’s 1st birthday came around and we celebrated with a small family party.

Cherry is a very mellow, non-emotional child. She looks a lot like her father.

After the party we all went swimming in the huge pool at our home. Celery even got in for a few minutes. He is still terrified of water, but has learned to cope with the fear. It would soon be Carmelo’s 18th birthday and I just wondered what he would decide to do with his life.

As soon as Cherry is a teenager, we’ll vote for heir. Have your favorite in mind. Who do you think, at this point, will be a great heir?

Artistic Carmelo

Eccentric Celery

Evil Cypress

Grumpy Currant

Insane Cucumber

Disciplined Cherry

It’s going to be tough….

Celery grew up and became afraid of water. He refuses to swim, and hates showers. He has panic attacks when it rains. We have to keep him home from school sometimes. He loved kindergarten and has started inventing small toys.

Currant has always been my difficult child. He proved to be even more difficult after aging up. He is grumpy all the time, and rarely cracks a smile. The only thing he is happy doing, is fishing. He would fish all of the time if we allowed it.

Lastly, is evil Cypress. He loves watching TV and playing video games. He is very smart, though. He plays chess on the computer all the time. He usually is the first done with his homework.

Afi may be an inspiring world renowned surgeon at the hospital, but at home he was an inventor. Him and Cel spend hours at that darn table, making garbage. Maybe one day I can see the good in this inventing. Technology sure has doubled since I was a kid.

One evening while everyone was doing their thing. The first pains of labor hit hard. The triplets started freaking out. Poor Carmelo had to drive me to the hospital. Afi was there working.

After all the praying and watermelon eating, having a girl just wasn’t in the cards for me. I gave birth to Cucumber. The minute we walked out the hospital with him, he started screaming and didn’t stop until we laid him in his crib and left the room in frustration. I’m not going to say that I was upset to have another son, I just really wanted that girl.

My 35th birthday caught me completely off guard. I was cleaning the kitchen after dinner and the kids were doing their homework, when I started aging up. I had went through the whole day without remembering my birthday.  Afi was spending all of his time working. If he wasn’t in the office, he was hosting medical fairs and vaccination clinics. He had even forgot my birthday.

I didn’t look much older and that made me happy. Afi noticed the difference and assured me I was still just as beautiful as ever. He even took charge of all the house work and got the kids off to school the next morning, while I slept in. We spent the day together alone with Cucumber.

It was easy to forget my birthday, but forgetting the kids’ birthdays was impossible. Carmelo was turning 13 and Cucumber, 1.

We purchased Carmelo a sketching table for his birthday and he loved it.

I was so happy to see  that Cu had inherited my hair.

As much as we wanted a girl, we have always loved Cu all the same. He is a precious child and I am honored to be his mother. Afi, especially, took him under his wing. He was such a sweet child.

Cel was a little inventor and spend all of his spare time in the junk yard or at the table working.

He had made countless toys. When he becomes a teen he plans on selling these things at the store. We’ll see how good of a profit that brings in.

After Dad’s death and his funeral, Afi and I decided one last time for a girl. This would be the final time. We also planned on moving to a city called Twin Brooks, just as soon as the triplets turned 13. They would be starting highschool in a new city.

I couldn’t wait for my life to progress further, but it was sad to see the home that my grandmother built be sold. It was time to move on though, and this was what we planned to do.

Hope you enjoy. Leave comments!

K

First came Celery. We decided that we would call him Cell for short. He was a very observant baby. He rarely cried or fussed. He was the easiest to deal with out of the three.

Then came Currant. He was a bit more ill-tempered and demanding. He was the hardest to deal with. He never was satisfied unless he had our undivided attention. None of the kids got total undivided attention.

Lastly, there was Cypress. He was a brilliant, smart  guy. He started babbling very early and said Da and Ma by the age of six months. There was some kind of evilness in his eyes though.

Afi has always loved his sons. He works full-time as a doctor, but has a life time want of becoming some big inventor. That hasn’t happened yet, though. He spends most of his time with Carmelo. He feeds him and takes him to the potty. I’ve been busy lately. I changed my career and was on  my way of being a famous architectural designer.

It wasn’t long until the triplets turned a year old. The year flew by and now we had triplet toddlers. Here’s where the fun began.

Celery was still very observant and watched things from a distance. He didn’t play much with his brothers. He preferred to be doing his own thing. He wasn’t a loner, he just never played. He just read his books, and learned his skills.

Currant looked a whole lot like his daddy. He loved to play, and loved mommy’s attention. He was still stubborn and didn’t like help.

Then there was Cypress. He had Afi’s mother’s genes. My mother-in-law had blond hair, just like Cy. He was an evil little guy. He gave his brothers a hard time.

I was able to start working a lot more, after the triplets got older. I redesigned a few bathrooms and studies. I was improving and getting a lot of good reviews.

My sister, Begonia, finally graduated high school. She shared her birthday with Carmelo, but she never complained. She was very ready to move out though. She found a small house to move into.

Carmelo was a natural artist. He wanted a easel for his birthday, and at the age of five, he could draw and paint beautiful things.

After Begonia moved out and the kids were older, Afi and I decided to try for a little girl. Heck, we had already gone way beyond the amount of children that we had anticipated, why not another.

I became pregnant quickly. Carmelo loved all the babies, and he actually was excited to have a possible sister.  He would make a great father, some day.

The only thing I was afraid of was another multiple pregnancy.

How many babies will be born this time?

K

The pain only worsened for Mom as time approached for the wedding. She wanted to make it through the wedding, so she kept assuring us she was fine. She was far from fine, and right as it was time to put on her wedding clothes, she collapsed.

Grape’s screams brought us back in the house. It was a bitter-sweet day. Of course, the wedding went on, but we all were devastated.

Little Cinnamon celebrated his 1st birthday soon after the wedding. After the party they told us they would be moving out. We helped them move down the street in a nice little home.

A funeral was held and the whole family came, including people who I didn’t even know. A few days after the funeral, my boyfriend Afi came over with a surprise. He asked me to marry him. At first, I wasn’t so sure. I mean I knew my duties as heir, but the thought of a home, husband, and kids scared me to death. I agreed to the marriage, but made him go to counseling with me. He knew that I was the second generation to have a psychiatric disorder, but during counseling with my doctor, he learned a lot more about Paranoid Schizophrenia. We knew the risk of having children, but we decided that I would stop taking my medications, we would marry, and have a child right away. I was given fertility treatments to boost my ability to conceive. The doctor said it was best to have kids back to back and get back on medications as soon as possible.

Words can’t describe my wedding ceremony:

Just months after we married, I found out I was expecting. We were ecstatic. The heart beat sounded great, but I couldn’t help but going back to the doctor a few times to make sure everything was still alright. The doctor assured me that in just a few more months, I would be able to feel the baby moving. I couldn’t wait.

Poor Begonia seemed to be left out most of time, but it was because she spent most of her time playing the guitar. She was getting pretty good at it too.

Doc was right, and soon I was able to feel the baby moving. This helped my nerves so much. I did rush to the hospital a few times when I didn’t think it was moving. The doctor finally sent me home with a machine so that I could listen to the heartbeat from home.

When labor hit, it hit hard. I screamed out and Afi rushed me to the hospital. I hurt so bad, and cried like a baby the whole time.

Carmelo was a happy, healthy little boy. It was love at first sight, and I knew immediately I wanted another child, so we started trying again as soon as my body healed and the doctor said it was okay.

Carmelo was exactly 6 months old when I found out I was pregnant again. Unlike my first pregnancy, I was deathly ill this time, but a lot less anxious. I didn’t spend near as much time rushing to the hospital.

I cried when Carmelo turned one. He had his daddy’s yellow eyes and my gray skin. He was beautiful and I couldn’t wait to see my other child that was growing inside me.

Carmelo was very clumsy and it took him awhile to walk, but he caught on eventually. It was bad on my back carrying him and the weight of the kid inside me. I swear this kid was 100 pounds heavier than Carmelo. I was just plain HUGE!

I soon figured out why I had been so big. I wasn’t carrying just one child….

Hope you enjoy the first chapter with Bell being heir. Wonder what’s in that basket?

Find out next time,

K

Bramble Rubus Bow

:

Bramble is excitable, easily impressed, good, a hopeless romantic, and a vegatarian.

He wants to be an International Super Spy.

He is engaged to Grape Jelly, who is in labor with their first child.

Bell Flowery Bow

Bell is good, insane, a coward, a great kisser, and a mooch.

She wants to be a DNA Profiler for the local police department.

She is in a relationship with a man named Afi, but no future plans have been made yet.

Begonia Blossom Bow

Begonia is still a teen. She is friendly, virtuoso, an angler, and a bookworm.

She hasn’t decided what to be when she grows up.

She is still currently single. She spends too much time fishing and reading.

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Vote Here:

Closed!!!!

Random Poll

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I had only a few perfect plants left to grow to complete my life goal. Everyday after work, I worked in my garden.

My episodes decreased to almost nothing, and I was getting older by the day. My 50th birthday rolled around, and I was officially an old woman.

I shared my party with my daughter, Bell. She was turning 13 and starting high school. Time goes by too quickly.

Bell started 9th grade in the same school as Grape and Bramble. She was an awkward, odd little girl, but tried really hard to fit in with her class mates.

I wasn’t excitable about my new  look, but I didn’t have much of a choice. Dosey wouldn’t let me color my hair back to its natural color, so I was left with the ugly greyness of the elderly.

Much to my surprise, Bramble and Grape were falling in love. I knew after seeing their first kiss that Bramble was in love with Grape. He was a hopeless romantic and only had room for one love in that big heart of his.

Grape loved hearing Bramble go on about how beautiful she was. He just loved touching her skin. I knew it was just a matter of time before the topic of marriage popped up, but I hoped they would wait until they were a few years older.

Graduation was a success and soon Bramble and Grape celebrated their 20th birthdays and were free to make lives of their own. Bramble decided to be an International Super Spy, and got a job at the police station. They promised to pay his way through police academy and teach him all he needed to know, as long as he worked through retirement with them. He took the offer. Grape wasn’t so lucky and had to start off as a bed pan cleaner. She was forced to pay for her classes and books, but she swore to become a  world-renowned surgeon one day.

Promotions for Grape came quickly and she was soon able to drive an ambulance.

Bramble and Grape were great together and I could see them making the family rich. Their work ethics would take them far in life. He told me the night that he planned to propose to Grape. I was thrilled at the ideal of having a daughter-in-law and possibly a grandchild very soon.

Grape agreed to the marriage, of course.

They celebrated the beginning of their lives together by spending their first night engaged in bed together. I didn’t mind this at all, I just hoped for a grand-baby.

Bramble and Grape weren’t the only ones romancing. Bell had found her elementary best friend and they spent almost every Friday and Saturday night together. She was past curfew one night, and I was watching for her at the window when I saw them kiss good night for the first time. Dosey gave Bell a hard time about dating. It was hard on him because Bell was his first daughter to date. I think it’s easier to see a son dating than a daughter.

My hopes came true, and Grape found out she was pregnant just weeks after becoming engaged. The wedding would have to wait, until after the birth of the baby. In exactly 9 months, I would have my first and only daughter-in-law and my first grandchild. Boy, how time flies!!

Bramble was shocked at the news of having a child, but the shock faded to excitement and the planning began. Every one was proud to have Grape in the family. In so many ways she already was a big part of the family.

Before we knew it, Bell was graduating and celebrating her 20th birthday as well. She was so scared of becoming an adult. We assured her she’d be fine. Being a coward made life hard for her.

Begonia was happy about starting high school as she blew out her candles.

As scared as she was, she accepted a job offer at the police station. She had been a whiz in science and they needed a DNA Profiler, so, like Bramble, her college was paid for in full

One thing that Bell wasn’t afraid of was Afi. He was a big part of her life, and I expected another proposal very soon. No rumors of marriage have been leaked out yet, though.

Grape’s pregnancy went flawlessly and she was calm and collected when she went into labor and headed to the hospital.

With the arrival of generation 4, I will now step down and select another heir. Wish the family luck,  and may the best heir be chosen.

Vote Here:

http://berryflowery.wordpress.com/2010/06/05/vote-for-heir/

Random Poll:

http://berryflowery.wordpress.com/polls/

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hope you all enjoyed. Please look for the heir poll and vote for the best heir. Did you notice the random girl in the proposal picture? Have no clue why she was there.

K.

I had not been taking my medications for a few years because I wanted to have all my kids first. I had people living with me that could help me. My episodes picked up and I started blacking out a lot more as the years went on. Just minutes before Berry and Aloe’s wedding, I felt myself slipping. I screamed for Berry as I felt the blackness engulf me.

While the guest were being seated the bride was trying to shake the maid of honor back to reality.

Finally, thirty minutes late, the wedding began. I was still a little shaky and pale, but was able to walk down the aisle and stand.

Berry looked terrified as she walked toward Aloe. Her knees were shaking and her eyes were huge.

As neurotic as Berry was, she loved being barefoot, and this is how she walked down the aisle and married her best friend.

The wedding was beautiful and the couple was very happy. They had saved up enough money to buy a house close to home. The house wasn’t in the best of shape, but it was their home and they loved it.

Sibling rivalry was beginning between Bram and Bell. He caught her in the toy box listening to his phone call. “MOM!!” I heard from his bedroom. I ran in to see what was wrong. “Tell Bell to get out of MY toy box,” he complained. I explained to him that we were suppose to share, and he should ask her politely to get out of his room and if she said no, then I would help him. It was her bedtime anyway. The poor baby is still too little to know what eavesdropping is.

Dosey and his brother Rain were finally able to gather up the boys and go fishing. Bram loved this outing. They spent the whole Saturday at the lake. Dosey loved seeing the look of excitement in his son’s eyes.

Age or children never kept Dosey and I from romancing. We loved each other and we aren’t ashamed of it. I loved it when he took me in his arms. I had no fears when I was with him.

Although Bramble and Bell had their arguments, there were times when I found them playing together. Bramble was an amazing older brother and he loved his baby sister with all his heart. He just didn’t want her in his room..

When I found out I was pregnant with our third child, I swore that it would be my last. I was just years from turning 50 and I knew my health was declining and my episodes were increasing. If I was going to be around to care for my three children, I had to get back on my medications. I cherished this last pregnancy with all of my heart.

I was days from my due date when I threw Bell and Bramble a birthday party. She was so scared of the candles. I had to talk her into it. Finally, she grew up into a child and was on her way to kindergarten.

Mom and Dad’s ghosts often sleep in the beds around the house. I told Bell to go check out her brand new room and I heard a scream and a loud noise. I rushed in to find Dad’s ghost asleep in her new bed and her passed out on the floor. Bramble teases her and calls her a coward. How did I manage to have an insane, coward?

The next day was Bell’s first day of kindergarten and Bramble’s first day of high school. I sent little, Bell to a private Christian school. I thought this would help since she was so scared all the time. We had to buy her a uniform and she hated that.

Bramble gussied up in the mirror and was five minutes late getting to his first class.

I had another episode the same day I went into labor. Dosey had quit his job at the hospital since he was making such good money writing, and was home with me that day. All I can remember is the stabbing pain and then darkness….

I awoke three days later in the psych ward of the hospital. I asked the nurse if I could see my family and it was arranged. I had a C-section while I was blacked out. A little girl was born and Dosey named her Begonia Blossom. She is friendly and virtuoso. In order to stay out of the psych hospital, I must have weekly visits with my doctor. I wasn’t happy with the news as I rode home. I was happy to have another little girl though.

Days after I got home from the hospital, Bell had her first episode. She hallucinates, and remembers her visions. She has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. She scared and worried about everything and hallucinates. We are praying she doesn’t develop the neurotic or non friendly traits which could push her into personality disorders as well. She will go with me weekly to my appointments, but she will meet with a pediatric doctor.

I threw a party for little Begonia and Mom brought her to the cake. I am so glad her and Dad’s spirits stayed around.

Bell spent the afternoon with one of friends from school one Saturday. I’m happy to see my children are making friends.

Late one night, after the children were in bed, I heard a knock at our door. I figured it was Aloe or someone else in the family, so I rushed down there. Much to my surprise I found a teenager that had run away from home. It was storming outside, so I pulled her inside and let her sleep on the couch.

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All of the green is because of Bell and Bram’s fav color. I really don’t like green that much. If you look at the picture of Berry and Aloe’s house you can see Black Berry laying in the yard. They left him outside. Poor kid.

Leave comments.

Enjoy,

K

My second child was a little girl and I named her Bell Flower Bow. She is a beautiful little girl. She looked a lot like me and my biological father. Unfortunately, that’s not all she shares with us.  The insanity trait has been passed on to sweet little Bell.  Dosey was devastated that she inherited my disorder. He knew before conception, that there was a 50-50 chance that this would happen. We are both worried about the welfare of our beautiful daughter.  Only time will tell the outcome.

Aunt Berry was getting a lot of practice. She had to babysit me, but she helped with the kids too. I could see she would be a great Mom and Bell loved her.

Amara’s boys would come over after school and stay with us until their mom and dad got home. They rode the bus over. I spend a lot of time getting to know them. I didn’t want our close-knit family to become distant and I did my part to make sure that didn’t happen. Basil didn’t look a thing like Amara or Rain, and I couldn’t help but wonder where he got his “normal” looks from.

Levi, on the other hand, looked just like the Bow’s. No one could deny where he came from.

Berry made the boys’ favorite meal of mac and cheese almost nightly. My poor brother-in-law and sister were working way too much. I tried to tell Amara that she needs to spend time with her kids while she can, but she thinks that bringing in a lot of money is more important. It’s my turn to worry about her now.

I let everyone else in the house help me with the kids, but bedtime is my time. I insist on getting the kids ready and tucked into bed. It’s a special time between my kids and I. I know that my health problems may make it impossible to do these things one day, so I do them as much as possible now.

Every morning I would fix Bramble his food and cook pancakes or waffles for the rest of the house hold while one of the others fed the little ones. These times in the kitchen with Bramble were very special and in these moments he learned to talk. The first time he said Mommy, I cried. Soon he was saying the different utensils in the kitchen. When it wasn’t time for a meal he would still ask, “Mommy cook?” He loved watching. Maybe cooking will be his career one day.

Dosey promised his nephews that as soon as Bramble turned 5, he and Rain would take all of them fishing and to a ball game. The boys still asked every time they saw Dosey if it was time yet. They were so excited as we planned Bramble’s 5th birthday party. He would share a party with Bell as she turned a year old.

Berry went into labor a little before her due date and was taken by surprise. Her and Aloe go into panic mode. Dosey saved the day by rushing them to the hospital.

A little baby boy was born. His name is Black Berry, but he looked more like a raspberry. He may not look like his name, but his personality fits perfectly. Black is an evil genius. We can already see the demon in him stirring, but Dosey and I say nothing. Sweet Aloe and neurotic Berry are going to have a time with this child.

The day after Black came home from the hospital, Bramble and Bell share their birthday party. A surprise guest arrived and carried Bell to her cake. Grandma Acacia helped little Bell blow out her candles.

Bramble wanted his daddy to bring him to his cake. “Dada, cake,” he had said when it was his turn.

I was very pleased to have to go get Bell’s hair done. It was wild and only a pony tail would calm it down. When it gets longer I have decided to give her pig tails. She is a beautiful little girl. She has Mom’s beautiful pink eyes.

Dosey and I discussed for hours where we would send Bramble to school. There was a nice private school that required uniforms and there was an upbeat public school. We decided on making him attend the private school until he decided differently. He was a nervous little guy as he walked to the bus for his first day of kindergarten. I promised him to help with homework. I knew he would be fine, but I couldn’t help but cry as he walked out the door.

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Enjoy,

K