Chapter 2- Lullabies and Laundry

Haley held baby Ryan while sitting in the rocking chair, rocking back and forth, back and forth, and singing softly.

"Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
"Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird
"And if that mockingbird won't sing,
"Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring
"And if that diamond ring turns brass,

"Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass
"And if that looking glass gets broke,
"Mama's gonna buy you a Billy goat
"And if that Billy goat won't pull,
"Mama's gonna buy you a cart and bull
"And if that cart and bull fall down,
"You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town."

Haley got up and put Ryan in her crib and saw Nathan standing in the doorway. She set Ryan down and walked over to him, "Hey, I didn't know I had an audience."

"I always loved listening to you sing, even if it is a lullaby to our newborn daughter."

"I wasn't even trying, I sounded horrible."

"Never, not to me."

"Okay would you rather watch all of the boys, from Nick and Nate to Hayden, or do the laundry, wash the dishes, vacuum, dust, and make dinner?"

"I'll take the boys."

"I thought so. Hayden, David, Andy, Greg and Farley are still napping. James and Kyle just got up. Keep your eye on them, there's two of them, and they love trouble," she pulled the baby monitor from her back jeans pocket and handed him the one from her hand, "The green one is for the boys room, so you know if any of them get up. The blue is for Ryan, though she should sleep the whole time. If she does get up, give her a bottle, and she should go back down. Remember, keep a close eye on James and Kyle. They love trouble. Don't just sit there and watch a movie, they will leave and get into so much trouble, before you know it. Take them outside. I think Nate and Nick are capable of entertaining themselves all right, but check on them occasionally. Okay, I love you, I need to get work done," she kissed him and went down the stairs. Nathan looked in confusion. He thought for a minute what he was supposed to be doing. Then in stereo came "Daddy!" and he was awaken from thought. He saw them at his feet.

"Hey, you guys wanna go outside?"

"No!" they said in unison.

"But mommy said that I should take you outside."

"But…" James started.

"We don't want to go outside," Kyle continued.

"How about we watch a movie," James finished.

Nathan picked them both up and slung one on each shoulder, "We're going outside."

"Hey, no fair," Nathan couldn't tell which one said that though, or if they both did.

Haley sat in the serenity of the laundry room, sorting clothes and not having to worry about any screaming kids. She threw whites in one pile and colors in another to be sorted later. She heard the door open to the laundry room and looked up. It was James.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"Daddy kept calling me Kyle."

"Where is Kyle?"

"Right here," Kyle said, walking in.

"Where's daddy?"

"Getting Farley," Kyle said.

"Oh, okay."

"He made us go outside," James complained.

"Well, what do you want to do?" Haley asked, throwing a pair of jeans in the colored pile.

"We want to play video games," James said.

"On the T.V." Kyle added.

"Well, why don't you go find daddy and tell him."

"But…" James started.

"Farley doesn't like video games," Kyle finished.

"Well, I suggest you both go find daddy and Farley and work something out on what to do. Mommy's busy right now."

"Okay," they grumbled, leaving and slamming the door behind them. Haley sighed and went back to sorting the clothes.

Nathan was looking around for James and Kyle. He hoped Haley hadn't seen them, or he'd be in deep trouble. "Daddy!" Nathan turned around and saw James and Kyle running up the steps.

"There you two are, want to go back outside?"

James and Kyle looked at each other, "No!" they both said.

"What about you, Farley, you want to go outside?"

"There's too many bugs, and it's hot outside," Farley said, pretty clearly. Even though he was a year younger than James and Kyle, he could communicate much better. James and Kyle were more active though; they had better motor skills.

"Well, what do you guys want to do?"

"TV!" James and Kyle said together.

"But Mommy said-" he was cut off by James and Kyle jumping up and down yelling TV, TV at the top of their lungs. "Fine, TV," which was awarded by cheers. He shook his head hoping he wouldn't get in trouble for it.

They went downstairs and turned on the TV, Nathan and Farley in the chair and James and Kyle on the couch. A while later, Nate walked in, "I thought you were supposed to be watching these," he said, shoving James and Kyle at him, "Keep them out of my room, please. Mom told me I have to clean it, and that is impossible when I'm cleaning and they're undoing my cleaning."

"Oh, I didn't notice they were gone."

"Didn't mom warn you about that?"

"Yea."

"So why don't you take them outside?"

"They don't want to."

"Whatever, just make sure they don't come crawling back to my room."

"And you don't tell your mother about this."

"Tell me about what?" Haley said, walking in.

Nathan looked at them, "Nothing," he looked at Nate.

"Yea, mom, nothing."

"Is your room clean?"

"Almost. I was just about to return to cleaning."

"Okay," Haley said looking at the stairs as Nate scrambled upstairs. "James, Kyle, what would you like for dinner?"

"Pizza!" James said.

"Chicken Fingers!" Kyle screamed. They stared at each other.

Finally they both said at the same time, "Fish sticks and French fries!"

"Okay, fish sticks and French fries it is," Haley smiled, "Would you like to help me make dinner?"

They looked at each other and Nathan, "Yes!"

"What about you Farley? You want to help with dinner?"

"Yes."

"Okay then, three little helpers, why don't you go wash your hands while I talk to daddy."

"Okay," they said and headed for the bathroom.

"I know that James and Kyle escaped."

"How?"

"They came and found me when I was doing laundry. I know you haven't been home long from basketball. I understand, you go play, which allows us to live the way we do, but for future reference, James is taller than Kyle, and Kyle is the one with blue eyes, James has green. James runs faster. Kyle has way more energy than James. And when they stand together, James is on the left, Kyle's on the right. Kyle's right handed, James is left, okay, and they hate to be called each other's name."

"You mean-"

"Yea."

"Oops."

"Yea, and Farley could care less about sports. He's a brain. A thinker. Smarter than James and Kyle. Better motor skills, too. I bet you wonder how I know all this. It's quite simple when you spend the whole day with them. And to you they may all look the same, but not to me. You'll learn, sooner or later."

"Yea, I guess so, I'm just glad they all inherited my good looks."

"And Ryan?"

"Just like you, of course."

"Yea, those brown eyes of hers."

"I know, they scream daddy," Nathan smiled, and pulled one of the baby monitors out of his pocket, "I believe that would be Greg calling, you go start dinner, I'll bring him down."

"Okay, have fun. He's cranky when he wakes up."

"Gotcha," Nathan said heading for the stairs as Haley walked into the kitchen. She washed her hands at the sink and looked at them; they were lined up.

"Okay, Farley, how about you go get the cookie sheets, James, the foil and Kyle, you can get the non-stick spray." They all scattered about getting the things while Haley got the fish sticks and French fries from the freezer and set the oven. "Okay, good job," she covered the pans with foil and sprayed them. "James and Kyle can put French fries on one and Farley can put fish sticks on the other." They liked helping, and it really helped her, so it all worked out. When Greg joined them he set the table. When it was ready she sent them all to get everyone else. She, of course, got Hayden and left Ryan sleeping.

"Let's say Grace…"