December 6th, 2003

Randi slid Ireland into the stroller behind Lyric. Dave tried to put a hat on Lyric, but Randi smacked his hand away. Dave whined looking at his wife.

"You're not ruining her hair." She said.

"Lyric has hair?" Dave laughed looking at the small ponytail on the top of her head.

"Yes she has hair!!" Randi laughed as she pushed the stroller towards the mall.

"Hair hair hair." Ireland giggled. Dave winked at her.

"Yes everyone has hair. Lyric has hair. You have hair. Mommy has hair and Daddy has hair. Although, daddy won't have hair forever." Dave rolled his eyes with a chuckle.

"You ready to go see Santa?" Dave asked.

"Santa!!" Ireland squealed.

"I think that's a yes." Randi chuckled. Dave smiled holding the door open for his girls. "Lord, this place is packed."

"It's the Christmas season, what do you expect?" Dave asked.

"I don't know." Randi smiled. She loved the hustle and bustle of this season. Seeing all the kids so excited for Santa's arrival was so great. There was such a feeling and vibe she always received this time of year. "There's Santa." Randi pointed to the fat jolly old man sitting in chair.

"Santa!!" Ireland clapped. Randi smiled as they got in line.

"This is so much better now that she's old enough to enjoy it." Randi said.

"Yeah." Dave said, "Next year, both of them will enjoy it more." Randi nodded.

"This is one reason being a parent rocks." She said, "Wrapping gifts, stuffing stockings, Santa, Easter bunny tooth fairies, I love it." Dave laughed.

"I love it too." He said.

"Next." A woman dressed as an elf said.

"Here you go girls." Randi grinned picking Lyric up and placing her on Santa's lap.

"Why hello there little girl." He said. Dave put Ireland on Santa's other knee. "Hi there. What's your name?"

"Iall." Ireland giggled.

"Ireland." Randi laughed, "Ireland and Lyric."

"Ireland and Lyric, hello. What beautiful names for two such beautiful girls." Santa said. Lyric giggled tugging at his beard. "Oh don't do that." He laughed.

"Smile for the camera." The elf said.

"Landsie looks like she about to bawl." Dave whispered. Randi giggled softly.

"Yeah. Ireland, smile big for Mommy and Daddy." She said. Ireland looked at her parents and started to cry.

"Mama. Daddy! No Santa!" She cried as the picture was snapped.

"Oooooh! Don't cry, little one." Santa smiled.

"It's okay, Landsie." Dave laughed as he grabbed his daughter. "Is Santa scary?" Ireland nodded. Randi giggled picking up Lyric.

"Thank you, Santa. They have been really good little girls honest." Randi said handing the elf some cash for the picture. Ireland sniffled as Dave held her. The elf handed him the picture. Dave chuckled.

"Look, Ireland. There's you, Lyric, and Santa." He pointed. Ireland nodded slowly rubbing her eyes.

"I think she's tired." Randi said, "Let's get her home and in bed. Not need for whiney children."

"'Tis the season." Dave winked.

December 20th, 2003

Lyric crawled up to the Christmas tree. She smiled at her reflection in the red glass ball. Her little hand wrapped around it and tugged it off. She giggled softly.

"Lyric! No!" Dave snapped. Lyric jumped and dropped the ball. It shattered into tiny piece around her feet. Her lip trembled and Lyric started to ball. Dave ran and picked her up, "You're not allowed to touch the tree!!" Lyric buried her face into Dave's neck and sobbed. Dave sighed rubbing her back. Ireland trotted up to them.

"Wic sad?" She asked.

"Lyric is in trouble." Dave said walking into the kitchen.

"Why?" Ireland asked.

"Because she touched the Christmas tree and broke the ornament. She's not supposed to touch the tree."

"Why?" Dave sighed.

"Because she could get hurt." He said.

"Why?"

"Because she just could, Ireland." Dave put Lyric in her highchair. He picked Ireland up and put her in her own highchair. "You and Lyric are not allowed to touch the tree okay?"

"Okay." Ireland said looking at her crying sister. She reached over and patted Lyric's hand. "Shhh. Kay, Wic."

"Mama!!!" Lyric cried.

"Momma is at work." Dave said dishing up dinner. "Lyric please stop crying."

"Wic want Momma." Ireland said biting her lip.

"I know, Landsie, but Momma is at work." Dave said handing Ireland her sippy cup of milk, "I want you girls to eat your dinner." Ireland looked at Lyric and sighed.

"Eat." Ireland said. Dave placed food in front of the girls.

"Yes. Eat." Dave sat down with his own plate. Lyric was still screaming for Randi.

"MAMA!!!" Lyric cried taking her bowl and throwing it on the floor. Sauce and pasta went every where. Dixie immediately came over and started to eat everything.

"Christ, Lyric!" Dave cried. Ireland's own lip started to tremble. He pushed Dixie away as he grabbed the bowl off of the floor. Ireland and Lyric were both crying. Dave sighed deeply throwing the dish into the sink.

"Mama!!!" Both of the girls cried. Dave sighed deeply looking at his daughters.

"I'm sorry for yelling." Dave picked up Lyric. "Daddy is very sorry." He picked up Ireland. "Daddy is very very sorry." He walked into the living room and sat down with them. "Santa isn't going to give daddy anything is he?"

"Mama!!!" Ireland cried.

"Okay." Dave growled picking up the phone and dialing the shop's number.

"Randi Wear. We can make anyone feel like a million bucks for little bucks." Randi said.

"Randi, come home." Dave said.
"What? Dave? Is that you?" Randi could barely hear him.

"Yes it's me and two screaming daughters." He said. "You need to come home."

"Why? Are you killing our daughters?" She asked.

"I will if they don't stop this." Dave said, "They both want you."

"Okay. Okay. Naomi can close up tonight, okay? I'll be there in fifteen minutes." She said.

"Thank the lord." Dave said, "Hurry."

* * *

Randi walked into the house still hearing her daughter's screaming. She chuckled. Dave would probably be pulling his hair out by now.

"Mommy is home." Randi said walking into the living room.

"Thank the good lord." Dave said looking at his wife.

"Mama!!" The girls cried even louder when they saw Randi. She giggled and got down on the floor. Ireland threw her arms around Randi's neck and Lyric collapsed on Randi's laughed. "No go Mama!"

"Momma is here now, okay?" Randi giggled as she held her daughters. Dave sighed as he watched them.

"I can't believe they're quiet. They've been screaming nonstop for an hour and half." Dave said. "I have a throbbing headache."

"Poor baby." Randi giggled. "They're dozing off."

"Good." Dave sighed, "There's a broken ornament in the other room and sauce stains on the floor in the kitchen."

"We'll clean it up later." Randi said, "Take Lyric." Dave bent down and scooped up his sleeping baby. Randi got up with the sleeping Ireland.

"Silence is golden." Dave said.
"Oh it wasn't really that bad." Randi winked as she walked upstairs. "Still want twenty kids?"

"Yeah." Dave chuckled as he walked into the nursery and lying Lyric in her crib. Randi chuckled as she put Ireland in hers.

"You really gave Daddy a run for his money today." She said, "We'll torture him again later, but for now sleep and get energy." Randi kissed Ireland's forehead.