Hey guys! Georgia here :) In JOE at the moment, where we live, it's been snowing since about...4 ish? It's 23:49 and it's quite deepish. Well...deep enough to build a snowman and have more to play in afterwards. Also, over the past few days, we've got like...loads of DVD's. Meaning of Life, Secret of Nimh, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge, Princess and the Frog, A Cinderella Story and Monkeybone...thank you CEX! Peace Out! TG101 :-D x
"Jordan! You ARE doing homework aren't you?"Shannon called up the stairs
"Yep!" Jordan called back his head poking out the door.
Shannon sighed as she found yet ANOTHER one of Savannah's toys on the stairs "Savannah you know not to leave your toys on the stairs, you might trip up"
"Sorry Shannon! Lotso fell outta the plane again" Savannah grinned, running up to her
"You seriously have to install seatbelts in that thing,you know that?" Cooter questioned,taking the stuffed toy from Shannon and handing it to Savannah
"Uhuh! I need some ribbon though, to make it more safer"
As Savannah ran off, Cooter gave Shannon's temple a soft kiss "Y'know, adopting was the greatest idea ever"
"Couldn't agree more" she whispered back,watching their daughter search for some ribbon in her art and craft drawer
"How 'bout you use some rope instead? That way they're more secure" Cooter suggested, going down to the 3 year old's level
"Nope. Rope's too tricky" Savannah sighed,rolling her eyes as if that was the most obvious thing in the whole wide world
"You do remember who's coming tonight,don't you?" Shannon asked, smiling as she watched her face contort with concentration.
Savannah's face lit up as she realised "It's Uncle Will's and Aunty Em's babies!"
"Yeah, you got it kiddo" Cooter chuckled, ruffling her hair and sitting down on her bed.
"How long are they stayin' for?" the young girl asked,her favourite toy clutched in one hand
"It's just for the weekend whilst the club are at Regionals"
"Can we watch?"
"Sorry petal,it's in Chicago. And unless being stuck in Rosie for four and a half hours is your idea of fun then I'm afraid not"
"Oh" Savannah's face fell as Cooter told her the news
"But we can loads of fun here"
"Like what? There's noting to do around here!"
"Excuse me? Did you just say that there's nothing to do around here?" Cooter asked,sounding shocked
"But there isn't! There's only the park an' that's boring"
"That's only 'cos you've been around this area. Tomorrow, we'll sign you up to the kids club at the cinema, we'll go to a different park then I know a place where there's the best ice cream in Ohio"
"You do?" Savannah asked in awe
"Of course! Who would I be if I didn't know it?"
"Not Cooter" Shannon chuckled from the kitchen "Savannah sweetie, I need you to help me with dinner alright? It's tuna pasta bake"
"But I don't LIKE tuna pasta bake" she mumbled, shuffling off the bed and heading towards the kitchen,her head hung down
"You know my policy,Sav. At least 5 bites before you leave. I've even made it pepper free this time"
"Tuna's disgusting! It's all fishy!"
Shannon sighed. When she got told Savannah was a fussy eater, she never knew she'd be THIS fussy. The kid couldn't even eat a pb and j without having the crusts off and cut into 4 triangles. And it HAD to be on brown. Not white like any other "normal" person but brown.
"Listen pumpkin" Shannon squatted down to her level "I know you're a fussy eater but soon, you're gonna have to try new things. I've got an idea. We'll do a chart and whenever you try something new and finish the meal, we'll stick on a star on the chart and at the end of the month we'll count the stars up and you'll get a treat"
"What kinda treat?" Savannah asked,eyeing Shannon suspiciously
"Well,that depends. But you don't get it JUST for eating new foods. It's also for keeping your room clean and helping Cooter and I"
Savannah pondered for a few seconds before smiling "Deal" she smiled, holding out her small hand
"Alright...that everything packed?" Will asked, zipping the bag
"Yep...I'm just going to change Ari's diaper" Emma sighed,stroking her daughter's soft brown whisps. Although they were only 13 weeks old,Emma couldn't help notice that Zach had inherited her ginger hair and Ari had Will's brown curls.
"Okay..let's see the damage,shall we?" she cooed, unbuttoning her onesie
"They're here!" Jordan shouted not taking his eyes off the screen "You're never gonna beat me old man"
"Old man?" Cooter scoffed "I'll tell you who's an "old man" bud"
"Coot!" Jordan laughed as Cooter him up and tickled him "Put me down!"
"Me next me next!" Savannah squealed, jumping up and down
"Hmmm...Cootersaurus is hungry. But what can he eat?" he grinned, playing along "Nope,too boney" he growled,pretending to chew on Jordan's arm "And I can't eat Shannon,I'd never forgive myself. Who else can I eat?"
Savannah giggled,knowing what was coming next.
Eyes flashing with amusment, Cooter swung round and grabbed Savannah by her waist, turning her upside down
"Mmm" he chuckled "This is delicious!"
"Cooter! Put me down!" she laughed, kicking her legs on his chest "I wanna see Uncle Will!"
As the doorbell rang, Shannon opened the door for Emma
"Hey Emma!"she greeted,giving her friend a hug "How're you?"
"I'm..I'm good...nervous" she laughed lightly, absently-mindedly putting her finger into Zach's palm
"Don't worry, they're gonna be fine" Shannon reassured "I promise"
It was 10 pm. Cooter groaned as he felt someone shaking him awake "Cooter...Cooter I can't sleep"
"Why,what's up?" Cooter asked, yawning
"I had an nightmare"Savannah whimpered, hugging Snuffy and Evil Dr Porkcop
"Aww...don't worry,you're okay"
"Don't even think about it Coot" Shannon mumbled,turning over as there was a mewing from the corner "Savannah, why don't you go with Cooter to get the bottle ready? I'm sure the twins would appreciate it"
"Okay" Savannah smiled, brightening up "Can I get them some orange juice?"
"I think they're a bit young for that. I think they would like some milk though"
"Can it be with that stuff you put in your milk sometimes?"
Cooter chuckled to himself,knowing what she was reffering to
"I don't think so. They're way too young for that and besides, there isn't much left. Come on pee wee"
"...I wanna go to the park!" Savannah moaned the next day,swinging on Shannon's arm "Can we go to the park Shan?"
"Sorry petal,not today. I'm looking after the twins. AND" Shannon knelt down to Savannah's level "...Cooter's got a surprise for ya"she whispered in her ear, making her gasp
"What is it?"
"Why don't you find out?"
Giggling excitedly as she ran off, Savannah ran off to find her foster Dad, only to find him changing Zach's diaper
"Cooter what'cha doin'?" she asked inquisitively
"Trying to work out...how to change a diaper" Cooter muttered, frowning in thought "Now how do I..."
"Need help?" Jordan asked "I know how to change 'em. I had to change Sav's when Mom wasn't well"
"Please" The older man sighed greatfully
"Right, the trick is to hold their legs so they don't escape..."
"...and just fasten the tabs" Jordan instructed, doing the tabs on Zach's diaper "You gotta make sure it's not too loose and not too tight, incase of diaper rash"
"Thanks" Cooter smiled "Um...d'you think you could do Ari?"
"Sure, where is she?"
"Okay Ari...here's some coffee..." Savannah mumbled to herself. Cooter said that they couldn't have juice. He never said anything about not giving them coffee
"Not so fast there, Savannah"
The three year old gave a small gasp and turned around to find her foster mom standing in the doorway, her face smug
"Bus-ted" Shannon said,folding her arms
"Cooter's fault! I know nothing!"she shouted before running off
Shannon sighed as she measured out the powder into the bottles. Well at least she was gonna get rid of Jordan, Cooter and Savannah for the afternoon. Cooter secretly bought both of them a year's membership to the kids club that ran at the cinema every Saturday so they were going there and having Mc Donald's afterwards.
"...YAY! KID'S CLUB CLASSICS!"
The 43 year old couldn't help but chuckle to herself as she heard Savannah laugh in amusment
"...I liked the part with the ROUS's and the water mill and the the man in the black and..."
"And you're getting tired so I think it's time for a bath then bed" Cooter grinned, picking her up,groaning slightly "Urgh...you're gettin' heavy" he smiled,kissing Savannah's cheek,making the small girl giggle tiredly
"Can you read me Phantom Tollbooth" Savannah mumbled, yawning
"Sure"
"..I just can't wait to see them again" Emma breathed,shutting the car door behind her
"It's only been two days" Will chuckled shutting the other door
"In a way,I'm sorta glad that they didn't place because that means no more weekends away. But I would also like it if they would so we could get a vacaction away from them. But in all retrospect, I can't wait till I see them"
"...hey guys!" Shannon greeted "Don't worry, they were absolutely fine...they're in the living room at the moment" she mentioned, noticing on how anxious Emma looked
"Is it okay..."
"Yeah sure, go ahead"
As they entered the living room, Will grinned at the sight before him. The twins were on their bouncy chairs, smiling at Cooter as he played boo with them
"Where's Cooter...where's Cooter" he teased, his hands covering his eyes "Here he is!" Cooter laughed,maing the twins giggle again
"Hey Ariana" Emma cooed,picking her daughter up, feeling instantly relaxed"Did you enjoy Aunt Shannon's? Huh?"
She let out a soft chuckle as Ariana wriggled in her arms and babbled to herself
"I'd take that as a yes"