Falderol Falls: Accomplishments
Erin and Price returned from their Far East adventure to find spring had fully bloomed. Erin was excited to be back with all her babies--toddlers Bradley and Samuel and infants Nicholas and James.
She immersed herself wholly in teaching the older two vital skills and just in general playing with them. The younger set grew quickly and were soon toddlers themselves.
As much as she loved spending time with her children, other things had to be attended to as well. One afternoon, during what must have been a strange aligning of the planets, all four boys went down for their naps at the same time. Erin took the opportunity to check over Price's latest drawings, but before long the sun playing on the water caught her attention.
Raven noticed Erin gazing out and insisted that she leave the house for at least an hour and preferably three or four. The boys were all sleeping, he reminded her, and he could give them their afternoon bottles and set them up with toys just as easily as she could. Though it took a bit of persuasion, Erin eventually rushed outside and worshiped the newly returned sun in the best way she knew how. Though she was chilly when she came in, she felt relaxed and ready to face another day with four toddlers running loose.
At least, until she realized that it would soon be MORE than just four toddlers!
The news didn't slow her down much, though.
Price, meanwhile, had become a little bored designing buildings--even if they did garner the adoration of the masses. Toward the end of the spring, he was approached bya man who had a proposition for him, and he happily accepted. He never gathered the courage to talk to Erin about his career change, but they had plenty of money and he was sure she would want him to be happy more than anything. One night as he climbed out of the carpool car with a promotion and a substantial bonus, he heard yelling coming from inside the house.
He rushed inside to find that Erin was preparing to have the baby. Or rather babies, as he noticed Raven was already holding one tiny boy and Erin was still breathing laboriously. The second baby came and Erin was finally, after six children, able to hold a little girl for the first time.
She was unable to enjoy the moment, however, as pain struck her again. Before she was finished, she would have two more daughters. She and Price decided to name them Timothy, Alyssa, Emily and Genevive. As soon as the babies were tucked away, it was time for Bradley and Sam to grow up.
Bradley grew into a smart and extremely laid-back boy with a constant case of bed-head. Sam, on the other hand, was extraordinarily fastidious about every aspect of his appearance and surroundings. Both were deeply attached to their parents and one another.
It wasn't long after the babies were born that Erin finally got the opportunity to do a little teaching. She'd always thought she'd make a good teacher and for several years she'd quietly looked for just the right place--she didn't want to work all the time with all her kids so small and needing her so much, but her Far East vacation with Price had taught her that she needed to step away once in awhile to help her appreciate not only the babies but herself. The night before her first day, however, she was too worried to sleep. She wasn't sure if she'd like teaching, if the babies would be okay, if Jim and Nicky would miss her, and what would happen if one of them got sick? Would Price know what to do? She paced around her garden for awhile, trying to work off the stress, when Bradley came down and asked her what the matter was. She smiled and told him she was a little worried about her first day at school. He laughed and told her what she should expect at school while they took turns playing with Price's practice putting green.
Though both were late going to bed, Bradley's words of wisdom went a long way toward soothing Erin's concerns and she was able to get a good night's sleep and do well at her first day of work.
Despite all the demands on their time, Price and Erin still found time to spend alone together. As was made obvious when Erin realized she was once again pregnant.
There wasn't a lot of time to think about it, however, between work and birthdays. It was time for the quads to become toddlers and the toddlers to become children!
(Timothy)
(Alyssa)
(Emily)
(Ginny)
(Jim)
(Nicky)
The race was then on to teach the quads everything they needed to know before yet another new baby needed attention. It wasn't easy, but Erin had long ago proven she could rise to a challenge.
Tim and the girls even managed to impress the locals with their amazing block towers. People randomly stopped by just to see them.
A little goofing off was to be expected, though. Ceasar sure loved the attention the toddlers lavished on him. Then again, he might just have loved the food that was occasionally left on their faces.
It wasn't long before Erin came home with a promotion to Education Minister. She wasn't sure she'd ever been so proud of herself before.
Her family was pretty impressed with her as well.
And never was the family support more apparent than on the last night of the summer
when David, Michael and Juliette joined the family!
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