Oh my goodness guys! It has been way too long. I though Christmas break would give me time to write, but I have been so busy. I have a few later chapters written so hopefully this will be updated more. Anyway, here it is! Hope you enjoy.
"Come on Daddy," Allie Claire called as they headed to the pumpkin patch, "Come on Mommy."
"Slow down Allie Claire," Beca called back, "This is a parking lot."
"Ok," Allie Claire said, slowing down and waiting for Beca and Jesse to catch up with her.
They each grabbed one of her hands and swung her between them. They were meeting Emily, Benji, Ryder, Chloe, Evan, Bella, Aubrey, Matt and Nolan at the pumpkin patch so the kids could play and get pumpkins to carve in a few weeks right before Halloween.
"Al Claire," Nolan called, smiling as he saw his cousin coming into the pumpkin patch.
"Nollie," Allie Claire called, running to him.
"Hey guys," Jesse said as they followed their little girl to their friends.
"Hello," Aubrey said, smiling at them.
Soon, everyone was there and the kids were itching to play on the play equipment.
"Go ahead," Jesse said to Allie Claire when she asked to go down the slide. She was the oldest of the kids, but they were all big enough to play on some of the play equipment. Bella was not yet two, but she did everything she could to make her little legs keep up with her older cousins.
Nolan and Allie Claire were essentially joined at the hip, but Allie Claire was a lot like a mom to all the kids. They all headed to the slide, Allie Claire holding Bella and Nolan's hands as Nolan held onto Ryder's hand.
"They are too cute," Emily said, pulling out her camera and snapping a few pictures of the kids. They all headed over to the large slide, the kids climbing the steps.
"I'm going first," Allie Claire said, sitting down and sliding down the slide, squealing with joy as she slid down the slide.
"Come on Nollie," Allie Claire called to her cousin.
"Comin'," he called, sitting down and sliding down the slide after Allie Claire.
She helped him off the bottom before calling up to the other two. Ryder slid down no problem, but Bella stood at the top of the slide and started crying.
"It's otay Bella," Allie Claire called, "It's so fun."
"No," Bella cried, shaking her little head.
"Don't worry," Evan called, running around to the slide area, "Daddy's coming."
Evan slid down the slide with Bella in his lap. She cried the whole time and continued crying and clinging onto Evan.
"Mommy," she cried, reaching for Chloe as Evan walked over to his wife.
"Come here Princess," Chloe said, taking Bella and holding her tight, "It's alright."
"It's otay Bella," Allie Claire said as she and the boys came over to check on their cousin.
"Otay," Nolan said, patting Bella's leg.
"No sad," Ryder said, frowning a little at Bella.
"How about we go play in the sand pit?" Emily suggested, knowing all the kids loved sand.
"Sounds good," Chloe said, rubbing Bella's back gently as the little girl started to calm down.
The other three kids ran toward the sand, climbing into the sand pit.
"Don't get too messy," Aubrey called to Nolan.
"He's fine," Matt said, reaching for her hand to calm her down, "Sand can wash off."
Aubrey sighed as she watched her little boy get very messy in the sand.
Bella was still not willing to leave Chloe's arms. Matt, Benji, and Jesse all climbed into the sand pit to play with the kids while Evan tried to get Bella into sand pit. Eventually, the toddler got into the sand and started playing with her cousins.
"They are nuts," Chloe said, laughing as the kids played.
"I know," Aubrey said, "I can't wait to add another one to the mix."
"Wait," Beca said, looking at the blonde, "Are you serious?"
"Yep," Aubrey said, "Thirteen weeks tomorrow."
"Congratulations," Chloe said, hugging her best friend as Emily and Beca did the same.
"Thanks," Aubrey said, smiling at them.
"Benji and I have been working on our paperwork for another adoption," Emily said, "So by the time that is processed, and we get everything worked out, our kids might be right around the same age."
"That will be nice," Aubrey said, smiling.
The four of them chatted for about a half hour until the kids were done in the sand pit.
"Should we go get pumpkins now?" Emily asked as Ryder ran over to her.
"Yeah," four little voices called as they headed to the wagon that would take them to pick pumpkins.
They climbed into the wagon and soon, they were heading to the pumpkin patch.
"I want a huge one," Allie Claire said, stretching her arms as wide as she could.
"Me too," Nolan said, copying Allie Claire.
"We'll see," Aubrey said, holding tightly to Nolan as they bumped along.
Soon enough, they were at the pumpkin picking spot.
"Come on Daddy," Allie Claire called, pulling him off the wagon as they headed into the pumpkin patch.
The kids all took off in different directions.
"How about this one, Allie Claire?" Beca asked, pointing to a medium sized pumpkin.
"No Mommy," Allie Claire said, inspecting the pumpkin, "Bigger."
"Bigger?" Beca said in mock surprise, "How much bigger?"
"Like dat one," she said, pointing to the pumpkin Jesse was carrying in his arms.
"That's huge Jess," Beca said, shaking her head.
"It's da bestest,"Allie Claire said, running toward Jesse.
"Is this the one?" Beca asked, picking Allie Claire up so she could see the massive pumpkin that was probably as big as she was.
"Yeah," Allie Claire exclaimed, hugging the pumpkin as best as she could, "It's mine."
"I think it has been decided," Jesse said, smiling at his wife, "This massive pumpkin is going home with us."
They walked back to the wagon, Beca carrying Allie Claire and Jesse carrying the pumpkin.
"Wow," Benji said as they approached the wagon where the Applebaum family was already sitting with their little pumpkin.
"I'm not sure who is carrying more," Beca said as they loaded the wagon, "Me with this little peanut or him with that pumpkin."
Everyone commented on how big Allie Claire's pumpkin was. When they went to pay for it, they had to weigh it.
"How much does it weigh?" Beca asked as the woman at the register charged them for it.
"24.6 lbs." the woman said, "That's a big one."
"It weighs more than our three year old," Beca said, looking at Jesse, "Allie Claire only weighs 24.5 lbs."
"You picked a huge pumpkin Peanut," Jesse said, giving her a high five.
"That is so cool Allie Claire," Evan said, smiling at the little girl.
After the pumpkins were loaded up, the whole group headed to a restaurant. They had made reservations and had a private room booked. Emily was getting to be much more well know and when they were in town, she got recognized a lot. She didn't mind, but when it was family time, they tried to keep it quiet and private.
When they got there, they entered through a back door, going right to the private room. It was a nice dinner, but by the end, the kids were tired and getting cranky. "That was a fun day," Jesse said, smiling as they drove home.
"I don't think Allie Claire could have found a bigger pumpkin if she tried," Beca said with a laugh, "Next year, there's going to be a few new little ones in the mix."
"I know Benji and Em are sending in their paperwork in a few weeks to adopt again, but is someone else pregnant?" Jesse asked, looking at his wife.
"Aubrey and Matt are expecting," Beca said with a sigh, tears forming in her eyes that she quickly tried to wipe away.
"I'm sorry," Jesse said, taking her hand, "I know it's hard."
"I'm so excited for her," Beca said, trying to wipe the tears that were coming faster as they pulled into the driveway, "I just want it to be me too."
"Come here," he said, reaching over the center counsel and holding her as she cried.
"Alright," she said, shaking her head after a few minutes, pulling away and wiping the tears off her face, "I'm fine. We have a three year old that need to be put to bed."
"I'll get her into bed," Jesse said, kissing her forehead, "Go take a shower and relax."
"Thanks," Beca said as they got out of the car.
Jesse carefully got a sleeping Allie Claire out of the back seat. Beca kissed her forehead, brushing a piece of curly brown hair off her forehead, smiling as she looked at the piece of pure perfection she and Jesse had created, deciding that she was enough even if they never had another little one.
So there it was. I am going to say that there is a few surprises coming in about 3-4 chapters. I also have decided to add a major game changer, but not for about 12 chapters. Ok, enough rambling. I hope you all had a great 2015 and have a fabulous 2016. Hopefully, I will update soon!
