New Year's Day – 2018

While everyone continued watching the people celebrate New Year's at the mall, Myrtle looked at her watch and seeing it was 12: 25 a.m. decided to leave since she had been awake since nine a.m. yesterday. Being a non-drinker, Myrtle instead drank sprite from a champagne glass when the adults toasted the arrival of the New Year.

"Hey everyone," she announced, rising from the dining room chair she was sitting on, "It was nice meeting you but I have work tomorrow at ten a.m."

Myrtle worked part time at a local organic supermarket as a cashier from 10 am to 3 pm.

"Sorry to hear that Myrtle," Sara remarked.

'Have a safe journey home', Howard added.

"I'll escort you to your car sweetheart," Albert offered.

"Bye Myrtle," the children chanted, except Lily.

Myrtle grabbed her handbag on the coffee table then she and Albert departed. Suddenly Lisa covered her mouth and yawned, tiredness overcoming her.

'Well it was nice ringing in the New Year but I think I'll grab some Z's, Goodnight everyone," she announced

Before Lisa could go upstairs however Lori spoke.

"Lisa Pop-Pop put Andrew and Zach in your room. You have to sleep in Lana's bed."

"Goodnight Lisa see you tomorrow," Aunt Sara replied.

As Lisa began walking up the stairs, Leni noticed Lily yawning.

"Looks like someone's sleepy," Leni remarked in a sing song voice, then lifted Lily out of the armchair and carried the sleepy toddler upstairs.

A few minutes later as Katherine and Patchy wrapped up the New Year's celebration at the mall Uncle Lucas announced it was time for him and Sara to depart. Sara approached her oldest daughter Lauren and told her to watch over her siblings.

'I will mom," she promised.

"Bye Aunt Sara and Uncle Lucas," their nieces/nephew called out.

Howard then watched footage from the cat cam of Nepurtiti and Cleopawtra on his phone. Howard smiled affectionately upon seeing the kitties sleeping peacefully. Clyde's dads always did this whenever the McBrides weren't home for long periods.

"It's getting late hare bear," Howard whispered in Harold's right ear.

'Clyde, Lincoln, Lucy, we have to go, see you tomorrow," Harold addressed them.

"Bye dads/Mr. and Mr. McBride."

While this exchange was going on, the twins started yawning too. Once Clyde's dads walked through the door and Albert locked it, Lori addressed the other youngsters present.

"Is everyone ready for bed?" she asked, eliciting affirmations from the others.

"Allright, here are the sleeping arrangements, Lauren and Natalie, you'll take Lenis bed, Lynn and Jenna you can take either the top or bottom bunk in Luna's room, Leni and me are together, twins you'll take Lola's bed, Clyde you're with Lincoln, Zach and Andrew you're in Lisa's old room

Eventually one by one the children filed upstairs to retire for the night, except Lori and Leni who stayed behind to clear up by throwing away the paper cups and plates used and Albert the champagne glasses.

In Luna's room, wanting to be diplomatic about who'd sleep in the top bunk, Lynn suggested flipping a coin to decide, choosing heads for Jenna and herself and tails for Luna and Luan. The victors were Luna and Luan

The next day Lincoln awoke to voices outside his bedroom. He looked over to the air mattress where his dresser used to be and noticed Clyde missing.

'Clyde's up already," he thought

He hopped out of bed. Glancing out the small window he saw a little snow falling. Pulling on his new robe Lincoln washed his face. After serving himself Zombie Bran and milk with sugar, he joined Clyde, Andrew, Zachary, Luan and Jenna on the couch since the dining room table was crowded.

"Hi Jenna, what's new? Lincoln asked his cousin.

"Hey Link," Jenna replied," I sent in an audition tape for the second season of Operation Desert Storm Junior Edition last week. I'm just waiting for a response

This news piqued Clyde's interest, since he competed in the jjunior edition last year but won second place.

"I wish you luck Jenna," Clyde remarked.

Sometime later in the day, the siblings and their cousins spent two hours enjoying themselves at Ketcham Park with the younger kids playing on the playground equipment, Lana and Lola interacting with Andrew harmoniously much to the delight of Lori and Leni. A local band who played a small concert in the park every New Year's Day was enjoyed by the older children.

Once the concert ended everyone headed back to the house. Sara arrived three minutes later and her children and Lisa got their already packed overnight bags. Leni got a sleeping Lily and her belongings and handed them over to Sara.

"Pop-Pop it was nice staying over we really enjoyed your hospitality," Lauren told him.

"It was no problem Lauren," Albert replied then smiled at her.

"Bye everyone," Sara's children told their cousins.

Once Sara drove away, Lori ordered pizza from Del Rios pizzeria for dinner.

The next morning while Luan, Lynn and the twins slept, Lori poured coffee into the new mug she received from her Secret Santa Albert. After breakfast consisting of an omelet she prepared, she and Leni dressed for work then put on some makeup. Personally the two older sisters weren't enthused about going into work today knowing that Luan, Lynn and the twins would have departed by the time they arrived home but she needed the extra money for personal reasons.

Wednesday – Jan 3

Lincoln groaned with annoyance hearing the buzz of the alarm on his cell phone. Removing his left arm from underneath the electric blanket Clyde lent him last night, Lincoln silenced the alarm.

Reluctant to leave the comfort of the warm toasty electric blanket, Lincoln continued lying in bed.

'KIDS RISE AND SHINE, ITS BACK TO SCHOOL', came Harold's booming voice from the hallway.

Lincoln released another groan in defeat and climbed out of bed. Still bleary eyed Lincoln pulled on his new robe and stepped into the hallway. He saw the bathroom sign turned to 'occupied' and waited for whoever was inside to finish their business. Lincoln was eternally grateful that the days of waiting in a long bathroom line were over. In the meantime, Clyde was taking a shower in the master bathroom.

"Morning Lincoln," Lucy greeted as she walked out of the bathroom.

"Morning Luce," he responded warmly.

After his morning shower, Lincoln brushed his teeth then pulled on one of his orange polo shirts, a pair of jeans he bought during the summer then his socks and shoes before joining Lucy and Clyde for breakfast. Howard and Harold who'd showered and eaten their breakfast were getting ready for work.

"Looking forward to going back to school Luce?" Lincoln asked before taking a sip of his orange juice.

"If it means going back to the daily grind that's life, no," Lucy deadpanned.

After a breakfast consisting of orange juice, waffles with blueberries and a little whipped cream, the other morning rituals were completed then Lincoln Lucy and Clyde retrieved their school bags resting near the front door.

"Is everyone ready to go?" Howard asked.

"Make sure you haven't forgotten anything kids," Harold said, concern in his voice.

A short while later after saying goodbye to Harold and Howard, Clyde, Lincoln, and Lucy boarded the yellow school bus. Lucy joined up with her Goth friends and the boys with Stella, Liam, Rusty and Zach.

Meanwhile in Huntington Oaks, Luan, Lynn, Lana and Lola were climbing into Ethan's car with their schoolbags with Luan getting into the front passenger seat

Then January 30 Patchy Drizzle the towns local weatherman forecasted a huge blizzard that would affect the towns of Royal Woods, Beaverton and Hazeltucky in the early hours of February first. The storm arrived at seven a.m. while everyone slept. The power lines were knocked out twenty minutes later leaving the members of the McBride and Loud households waking up in complete darkness. Despite all schools closed Lincoln, Lucy and Clyde weren't pleased about spending the day stuck indoors for how long without power. This blizzard didn't stop until four in the afternoon wasn't one where children could go outside for a snow day. Lincoln, Lucy and Clyde had to read their favorite reading materials using lanterns and took occasional naps.

Then more months passed, during spring break Lori, Leni and Luna spent an entire day in Great Lake City sightseeing and riding on the GLART the city's subway system. Lincoln and Lucy went with the McBrides to Hawaii for the spring break. Luan, Lynn Jr and the twins stayed idle while Shirley continued her job as the Secretary in the Parks and Recreation division at the Huntington Oaks City Hall.