Chapter 7: Another Announcement!

The remains of the wedding reception were scattered all along the back yard of the Camden's house. None of the guests were left except for all of the Camdens and Nick's parents. They were walking around with garbage bags trying to put the back yard into some sort of order before calling it a night.

"I think everything is about done here." Eric told his family. "Why don't you all just go on home. Thanks for making this day so great." Slowly his four oldest children and his grandchildren all dwindled down and away to head off to their own homes. Sam was heading to the movies with some of his friends. He was given permission only if he had help clean up. David went inside and worked on his picture for the art exhibit competition coming up at his school. It was this year's family portrait out in the front lawn. He was going to recreate it with pastels. It was one of three different things David was going to enter in to the competition.

Annie stood quietly behind her son and watched his artwork unfold. How time had flown by. He and Sam had been as little as her grandchildren once were. For a long time everyone including herself thought that the two boys were going to act as one unit forever. It wasn't until Matt came up with the idea that the boys should have their own rooms. What a difference it made. David became such a sweet young gentleman. He always helped out around the house and loved taking care of his nieces and nephews. Sam on the other hand was someone Annie knew she and Eric would have to keep an eye on. He seemed to have the same type of temperament as Mary once did. He never wanted to help out around the house and still wants to be treated like the youngest child in the family. Eric had to bribe him to help out with Ruthie's wedding. He wanted to go out with his friends so much. He was only 12 for goodness sakes.

David could smell his mother's perfume behind him and after a while decided to turn around. "Hi mom. You look tired. Can I get you something? Tea or anything? I'm making some hot chocolate myself."

"Tea would be wonderful David. Thank you so much. There are also some cookies I have hidden in the upper cupboard in the Tupperware container. You can help yourself to a couple of those if you would like. Just don't tell the others where they are. Then the cookies would be gone in just a couple of days."

"I won't mom, don't worry. I'll be right back."

Meanwhile, Ruthie and Nick headed up to the garage apartment loaded down with cards and gifts from family and friends. Nick made Ruthie wait at the bottom and took the gifts she was holding up to the room. He then lifted Ruthie off her feet and carried her in to the apartment. Nick had really outdone himself. He installed a bathroom in the apartment so that they wouldn't have to go to the main house. He also new sheets and a new comforter for the new queen size bed that had been a gift for the two of them from one of Nick's relatives. He gently placed his new bride on the bed and gently gave her a kiss.

They opened up a few of the gifts given to them and divided the rest of the gifts up. That way they could open up some more the next day as well. A knock outside the garage door signaled that some food had been left for the newlyweds to enjoy. Cheese, crackers, and chocolate covered strawberries were laid out on a platter as well as a nice bottle of Champaign. Ruthie and Nick enjoyed spending time drinking and feeding one another. The two of them were so happy.

888888

Sunday morning, Ruthie and Nick woke up bright and early to get ready for church. Annie had placed pancakes and sausage out with fresh fruit for breakfast. After showering and consuming the breakfast, they drove together to the church.

Ruthie and Nick slipped in to church in the second pew to the front. The Camden family was getting so big that it took two pews just to hold everyone. It would take more once the three sets of twins reached seven. They would then be too old for the daycare. It would then take three to four pews. The Camden family just kept growing. Hugs went all around as the newlyweds waved to the family. Matt and Sarah came shortly after and slid in next to Ruthie.

Lucy was giving the sermon that day and everyone could tell that Kevin was so proud. Eric had been giving Lucy more and more reign of the church. He was thinking of retiring in a few years and wanted to ease out of it slowly. This would give his daughter time to adjust. He knew it must be hard to be raising three children and keep a church going. He didn't know how he and Annie did it for all these years.

After church, there was the usual hustle and bustle as everyone talked to everyone after the service. Annie and Sarah served donuts and coffee. Ruthie and Nick were congratulated on the wedding numerous times. Even two of Ruthie's own students came by to say hello. Mrs. Fink was the last person to leave. It then took all of the Camdens a while to get everyone in to cars. Sunday afternoons everyone went to their parent's house for a huge meal. Even Ruthie and Nick wanted to go instead of locking themselves up in the garage apartment. Everyone told them it would be alright if they wanted to be by themselves. Like Ruthie said though, "It just wouldn't seem right."

The whole conversation in the living room was of how nice the wedding was the day before. Also, everyone was rubbing Sandy's expanding belly. Simon and Sandy knew the sex of the baby, but wanted to announce it during dinner. Eric and Annie were in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on the meal. The menu included pot roast, mashed potatoes, carrots, and tossed salad. Lucy's homemade bread was of course available as well.

"Hey Luce, dinner is almost ready. Why don't you take care of the boys now?" Annie said as she poked her head in to the living room.

"Okay boys, let's go see what we are eating for lunch and then go and get ready." Lucy said. The boys knew not to complain and went to go see what they wanted to eat. All of this had to be calculated before they took their blood sugar. As the boys told Lucy what they wanted to eat, Annie took apple pie out of the oven.

"I want that too!" both boys exclaimed.

"Okay boys, that's fine as long as your blood sugar levels are okay. You have been really good about not having very many sweet things, so I guess this can be a treat for you." Lucy knew that the boys always wanted dessert at her parents' house. That is why she didn't allow dessert during the week. She had also made the boys share a very small piece of cake at Ruthie's wedding the day before so that they could have Nana's apple pie.

The Camden grandkids were all served up dinner and placed in the kitchen at the table or the island. There were a lot of them and it looked like they soon could be running out of room. It was tight living as it was in the dinning room with all of the adults. Molly was also at the adult table. She was 11 months old now and was starting to eat cheerios. Matt put some on her tray and she had fun playing with them.

Right before grace Lucy came in to join the family. "The boys are all set. They can even have some apple pie." Simon said grace and they all started to dig in to the meal. Dinner conversations once again revolved around the newlyweds. Ruthie and Nick were asked about the gifts given and where they were planning on moving to.

"Well…Nick and I were thinking of staying right in Glenn Oak. We want to be close by to everyone and to have our children grow up where I did. Also considering Nick's parents sold their condo in Florida to spend half their year here, we didn't want to move away from that."

"I just don't understand why they didn't buy a condo near the church. They went and bought a house that is bigger than the one I grew up with in New Hampshire."

As dinner started to wind down, everyone started to hint around at Simon and Sandy. Everyone wanted to know what the sex of the baby was. Instead, however, Mary and Carlos stood up together.

"Mom, Dad." Carlos began.

"We're having another baby!" Mary finished. The room was silent as if no one could believe it.

"We're having another boy." Sandy added hoping to break the silence.

Any outsider may have thought that there was an emergency going on in the Camden household. Everyone was going absolutely crazy. There was going to be another boy grandchild to add to the mix and also Mary was expecting another child. Who would have thought? Annie and Eric were so excited about both sets of news. Mary and Carlos apologized to Simon and Sandy for taking away from their moment. They completely understood.

Well, there goes another fertile Camden woman. I hope I will be making that announcement soon as well. I don't want my siblings to be having all of the fun, Ruthie thought to herself.

A/N: Next chapter, Ruthie and Nick are going to get a big surprise. I need some ideas to keep this flowing. I am sorry it is another short chapter. Please R&R.