Ok you are taking it all wrong. Jarrick is happy! I enjoys helping. He's not being thrown to the side. She has to find a happy medium. She asked him to sit with them for just a few minutes. She needed to get things together for his graduation. So she asked him to help so they could spend time together. He bathes his self because he likes to play in the bath tub. I'm sorry if you feel I'm leaving him out. I wrote it to spend time with him. She chose his clothes because he needed to wear his suit. Jack helped out so she could get a shower. It is hard to raise a 5 year old and take care of 3 premees! I'm don't mean to come across leaving him out. Jarrick did tell her he enjoyed feeding the babies. Please don't take it like he's being left out. Jack said what he did because most dad's don't think kindergarten is like high school. That's why his mother set him straight. He didn't say it to be mean. Again I'm sorry if it came over that way.

Chapter 40

Summer Vacation

It's the beginning of summer vacation. Jarrick is happy school is over! Jack has put in for in for a 30 day leave. The triplets are doing great.

Hey daddy what are we going to do for summer vacation? Well how would you like to go camping back by the mountains? You mean it daddy? Yes I do! Just me and you bud! I think you're old enough now! How about we go to the sporting goods store and pick up everything we're going to need? Yes sir! Let's go let mommy know, ok? Let's go! Mommy, mommy, mommy me and daddy is going camping back by the mountains! You are? Hey Love please keep an eye on him! I will! There's a small stream back there that has some trout in it! I figured I'd get us some fishing poles and I want to teach him how to fish. I want to start teaching him how to camp. I'm not going to teach him how to hunt yet. That will wait until he's about 12. But this will give us time to spend together just the 2 of us. Alright Love! How long will you be gone? Just over the weekend! I want to take to take him to the sporting good store and get some camping stuff! Ok Love! Be careful!

Jack and Jarrick go to the sporting goods store and got a tent, A small granite coffee pot, 2 granite plates, 2 granite cups, 2 forks, 2 spoons, 1 fish filet knife in a sheath, 1 survival knife in a sheath, 1 metal utensil set in a protective roll, 1 cast iron skillet, 2 sleeping bags, 2 lanterns, a folding table, 2 fishing rods and tackle, and a big backpack. Ok bud are you ready to go this weekend? YES SIR! Alright we'll leave Friday afternoon! How are we getting there? Well bud we'll have to walk in! We'll leave out our back yard and walk just to the bottom of the mountains to the stream! We'll make camp! Daddy what does make camp mean? It means that we'll set up our tent, roll our sleeping bags, make a fire!wow we get to start a fire? Yes we do but we have to be responsible and not let it get out of hand!

Beth was preparing a basket for the guys to take on their camping trip. She made sure there were things Jarrick liked just in case he didn't like what Jack caught. There were marshmallows, Hershey bars, graham crackers for s'mores. She packed some bottled water and a bag of of coffee for Jack. She heard some cooing in the monitor, she smiled at the sound! She knew that she was going to be all alone with the triplets for the weekend. It scared her but also made her happy! She had never been alone with them ever since they were born. She knew if she run into trouble she had plenty of help around her but she told herself, Elizabeth Grace Thornton you can do this! Just stick to your routine and you will be fine! She picked up the monitor and walked in the nursery. Beckie was laying there looking up at her mobile! Every time she kicked her legs and flopped her arms the Mobile moved. She coo'd every time. It was like she was trying to giggle but it came out as a coo! Beth leans over her crib, run her fingers down her arm and said, do you think that's funny? Do want it on? Beth checked her diaper, it was wet so she changed her and laid her back down. She turned on the mobile, kissed her fingers and placed them in Beckie's cheek! I love you baby girl with all my heart and soul!

Jack paid for everything and went out and loaded it in his car. Jarrick got in his booster seat and buckled up. Jack got in and drove home. Jack and Jarrick unloaded everything and took it to the back porch. Beth came out with Daniel in her arms and the monitor on her waistband and asked, did you leave anything in the store with a halfway laugh? Jarrick spoke up and said, daddy says we need all this to go camping! Daddy says we're going to have a great time! I've never been camping before! Daddy says he's going to teach me how to fish! Jack finished unpacking everything and put it in the backpack. He leans it up against the wall of the house and took Daniel from her. He picked him up over his head and wiggles him! Daniel just coo'd with a big smile on his face! Jack says, one of these days in about 5 and 1/2 years you will be joining your brother and me on this trip! He brings him down and blows a soft strawberry on his little cheek and hugs him in his neck! Daddy loves you so very much! Hey bud how about we play with Daniel before we have dinner? Sure daddy!

In the den, Jarrick asked, daddy when can I start holding the babies? Bud you can hold them now as long as you sit down while you're holding them! Do you want to hold Daniel? Yesss sirrr! Jack put Jarrick's arms where they needed them then set Daniel in Jarrick's arms! Make sure you keep your right arm over the top so he doesn't roll off! Jack call, mommy come her and look! Jack pulled out his phone and took several pictures of Jarrick and Daniel! Beth came in and said, oh Sweetie you look perfect sitting there! Jack told Beth, Sweetheart maybe it's time for our first family portrait with the triplets? I think that would be great! I'll call the photographer! We can have them taken right here at the house! Sounds great Sweetheart! Set it up next week after we get back from our camping trip!

The girls woke up. Jack says, I'll get them! Beth sat there with Jarrick and Daniel. Mommy what are you going to do with them while we are gone? What do you mean? Well, I won't be here to help you feed them. I'll be with daddy. Son don't you worry about us. We'll be just fine! You just go and have a great time with daddy, okay? Alright mommy! Can I hold the girls when daddy brings them out? Sure! You can hold them when ever you want as long as they are up but you have to ask first and daddy or a grown up has to put them in your arms ok? Ok I can do that!

Jack gets both girls changed and brought them out to the den. Beth took Daniel and said, Jarrick wants to hold them too! Alrighty! Jack placed Charlie in Jarrick's arms! There you go! Now let me get some pictures of you and Charlie! Beth laid Daniel down on the couch and slid back over next to Jarrick and Jack took some pictures of the 3 of them! Beth took Charlie and held her while Jack took more pictures of the 3 of them! Beth laid Charlie down on the couch. Jack sat Beckie in Jarrick's lap and said, ok bud you can't hold her like you do you're other brother and sister! She can't lay down, ok? Can you remember that? She can't breathe when she lays down very well. Yes sir I will remember but daddy I can't see her face when she sit like this. Ok let's try something else. Jack takes Beckie and tells him to slide down to the arm of the couch. Jarrick slides down to the arm of the couch. Jack then sat Beckie back in Jarrick's arms with her back against Jarrick's arm that was resting in the arm of the couch. Now, how's that? Can you see her face good enough now? Yes sir, just fine! Jack took more pictures of Jarrick and Beckie! Jack motions to Beth to slide down next to him. After she slid down next to him, Jack took more pictures! He says, hold it right there for a minute! Jack picks up Daniel and hands him to her ! Then he picked up Charlie and hands her to Beth! Beth had a baby in each arm and Jarrick had Beckie! Jack took several more pictures of his family!

Hey Love if you'll take Daniel I'll go get their bottles? I'll go get them just stay seated! Jack went into the kitchen and got the baby bottles and brought them back to the den. Jack took Beckie from Jarrick and asked, do you want to feed one bud? You don't have to if you don't want to! Yes I do! Can I feed Daniel? Sure you can Sweetie! She put Daniel in Jarrick's arms! Jack handed him Daniel's bottle. Thanks bud for helping! I like to help feed them, daddy! Mommy let's me help feed them all the time! I just don't want you to think that you have to. You're only 5 so if you don't want to then don't think mommy and daddy will be mad or upset with you. I know daddy. I really do like to. It's the only time I get to be with them because that's the only time they are awake. Jack and Beth laughs and Jack says, that is true! They eat and sleep. Jarrick put Daniel's bottle in his mouth. Jack fed Beckie and Beth fed Charlie. It goes pretty quick when we all pull together and feed them together. That gives us more time to spend together as a family Beth said! Yes it's nice Jack said!

Jarrick was talking to Daniel while he was feeding him! He was telling him that daddy was taking him camping on Friday and they would be gone all weekend! Daniel was staring up at Jarrick like he was hanging on his every word. Jack and Beth was listening to Jarrick talk to Daniel! Jack pulled the bottle out of Beckie's mouth and started burping her while he listened. Jarrick told Daniel that daddy is going to teach him how to fish! And when you get big enough I will teach you when you get bigger! I can't wait till you get bigger so we can play together! I love you baby Daniel! As soon as he burps Jarrick gave him back his bottle. Jack said, bud you are going to be a great big brother! How long will it be for them to be able to go play with me? It's going to be about a year before they can follow you around because they have to learn to walk first! Once they learn to sit up then you can sit and play with them! Jarrick laughs and looks down at Daniel and says, boy it sure does take a long time to get big enough to play with! Jack and Beth laughs! Beth finished burping Charlie and got up to change her diaper. She brought her back out and asked Jarrick, do you want to swap so I can change him? No ma'am I think I want to go play on the gym set. Is that ok? Sure it is Sweetie! Beth went and got Charlie's bouncy chair out of the kitchen and set it down in front of Jack. She took Daniel from Jarrick and Jarrick jumped up and went outside to play!

While Beth was changing Daniel Jack began to talk to the girls. He tells them not to worry about growing up to fast. Just take your sweet time growing up. Daddy don't want to miss anything! I missed most of your brother growing up because he was a single dad with him because he had to work all the time. Daddy isn't going to work as much while you are little! Daddy loves you so much! Beth is standing behind him listening. It broke her heart to hear what he missed with Jarrick. She didn't say anything to him about it. Jack continues to talk to them saying, daddy wants to be here when you sit up for the first time, and when you walk for the first time, and when you get a boo boo daddy wants to kiss it and tell you it's ok, I want to walk you to your class on your first day of school and tell you I will be there when you get out is school that day! Daddy will always be here for you whenever you need me! Your big brother is going to be over protective of you girls so you better get ready for it. It doesn't seem like it now because you're to little right now but when you get older he will and you'll probably get real mad at him. That's ok too but just remember he loves you and don't want to see you get hurt.

Beth came from behind him with Daniel and his bouncy chair. She sat it down in front of Jack. She put Daniel in it and said, I need to go check on dinner. He said ok, we'll be fine. He finished burping Beckie. He got up and went to change her. He came back and sat down in his chair. He talked and giggled at them. Beth came back in and seen him playing with them. Beckie was still in his lap with her head on his shoulder with her face in his neck. She had a hold of his shirt like she was afraid he was going to put her down. Beckie was so attached to her daddy. She always hangs on when he starts to put her down.

At dinner Jack and Jarrick discuss what all they are going to do while they are camping!