Chapter 8: Zola's birthday party
Tomorrow is Zola's birthday and party and I'm just so tired to even bake a cake so I'm sending Derek, Bailey, Ellis, Hannah,and Amelia to the store to get all the items I need for the party. I don't dare to send Lexie because she's just been a royal pain in the butt. Actually she's working on not having her iPad and iPhone because of the way she's been treating her siblings Derek and most of all me. Lexie is mad at me for Elizabeth and Tyler because she didn't want any siblings after Amelia. I don't like this new attitude that Lexie has been giving us and if she doesn't stop she's going to lose things actually I didn't even see her last report card when all the others showed it. "Mother where is it." Lexie said. "Where's what Lexie Carolyn Grey Shepherd." I asked her. "My sparkling water I had in the fridge this morning where is it" she demanded. "I will get it after I see your report card because I saw your other siblings report cards." I told her. "Fine oh by the way the principle wants a meeting with you or dad on Monday." She told me. When I looked at her report card I was not impressed with her grades as they dropped dramatically from first quarter. "LEXIE what is this?" I asked her. "My report card you asked for." She said nicely "No theses grades are unexceptional young lady." I told her. "So it's just one report card." She said. "Well your going to have to wait for your father to see these grades on whether or not you should go to Florida in June with the family. "No mom not vacation I'll do better I will study harder and be nice to Zola, Bailey, Hannah, Luke, Amelia, Tyler, Elizabeth, dad, and you." She said. "What about Ellis?" I asked her. "Oh ya I forgot about her." She said.
"Mommy Tyler needs a diaper change and clothing change." Luke said. "Okay baby I'm coming." I told my son. Luke is afraid to touch Tyler, and Elizabeth because of how small they are. "Can you find my a outfit for your brother?" I asked my son. "Yes I can how about baby brother's besties with the picture of Bailey, Tyler and I the one daddy took the day he was born shirt and his blue pants." Luke said. "Oh that's precious baby I know you love your brothers and I'm sure Tyler loves you too." I told him.
This morning when I woke up Derek had the house decorated Tyler, in his shirt with the whole family taken when we first got home from the hospital along with Elizabeth. Derek had placed the babies in their car seats on the counter. "so Zola are you excited for your birthday party." I asked her. "to be honest mom I'm not because this is the last birthday party I will get to celebrate with you because I'm heading off to college and I wont see much of my family and I love you guys I even love my baby siblings even though I wasn't on board at first but now I am and I wouldn't trade them for the world." She told me. As the day went on she had fun. But what she said made Derek and I depressed because we knew our time with Zola was wrapping up to a close with her graduating in 3 months and going off to college in 5 months life was going to be hard without her. It might just be the mommy hormones from having babies but I am sad that I have limited time with my oldest and in a few years it will be with Bailey, then Lexie and Ellis, Hannah, and then before I know it I will be 70 and all the children will be off on their own without Derek and I.
"Happy Birthday Zola I hope you liked the present that I picked out for you." Said Bailey. I love my sons and how they would rather spend time with their sisters than their friends even if Bailey's friends are here at the party. "WHAT is this Mom and Dad?" asked Zola. "Sweet Zola it's a blanket with all the fun times we have." Said Derek. "Oh I remember this one it was the day we went to the gala and Bailey spilled his applesauce all over himself." She said. "Hey I was only 3 when that happened." Bailey said. "Oh Look it's the time we went to Grandma's shortly after Luke and Mia were born." She said. "I remember that day grandma was so happy to finally meet the twins after a challenging time she was going through with her heart as Aunt Amy and Uncle Owen flew, Bailey, Lexie, Ellis, Hannah, and myself to see her in the hospital." She said. I know Zola took Caroline's illness pretty bad as she wants to be with her Grandmother but can't because of school. I just hope when she graduates Caroline can be here to see her graduate as she is mighty proud of each and every one of her grandkids her in Seattle. "Mom, Dad I'm sorry I've been mean to everyone I'm just having a hard time at school, grandma is sick and dying, and with Elizabeth and Tyler's birth it made it worse I never meant to hurt anyone by any means. " Lexie told us crying. Zola came over and comfort her sister and told her that everything is going to be okay. With this birthday party I felt proud to have the family that I have. I also enjoy each of the children's friendship of each other. I couldn't imagine life without my 9 children. "So Zola did you have a good birthday." I asked her. "Yes I did I got the one thing that I have been looking for which was a sign of whither I should got to UCLA or not and I have made up my disunion I'm going to stay her in Seattle and go to the state college just downtown so I can be with you guys for a long time and next year we can celebrate my 20th together." She told me. "But Zola your giving up your dream college." I said. "NO mom I actually didn't like the college because It was far away from my family and I don't want to lose you guys." She told me.
A/N: so Zola is going to stay in Seattle with the family, Lexie was having a rough time in school, and her grandma's health. There will be more of Lexie's story in the following chapters. Also Hannah, and Amelia will have some drama in the next few chapters along with Bailey. I should be updating this tomorrow
