The next few weeks following the babies' christenings were crazy and chaotic for the Bower-Micelli-Thomopoulos home. Tony was busy going around to stores to get boxes for Samantha and Hank. Angela had meetings via phone with planners and construction heads about the Midwest office. Mona worked on getting things ready for the construction of the daycare at the Manhattan office. Samantha and Hank were busy packing for their impending move into their first house. Jonathan, along with Tony, addressed household duties and taking care of the babies. Jack was currently taking two weeks off to help Carol with their new son Samuel, who was born on June 7th. He was still involved in some of the conference calls for the Midwest office with Angela, albeit from home.
A few days before their property closing and move into their new house, Samantha and Angela were getting the babies ready for their lunch. "Mom, I just want to tell you how great it's been the last couple of months, with us raising these little ones together. I'm really going to miss this daily interaction with all three of them," Samantha cried. "I'm gonna miss seeing Matty and Bella every day, and having these special bonding moments with you and Dad. I know we'll only be a few blocks away, but it won't be quite the same."
"Oh sweetheart, I've LOVED this time with you too!" Angela wistfully said. "I feel like you've been my co-parent in some ways as much as your father has. I'm sure these guys will want to see each other pretty regularly too, so we'll have to make sure that we do things together with them. And you and I will definitely need some mother-daughter bonding time too. When you start your internship, we'll have to plan breakfast or dinner once in a while in the city."
"Mom, that would be great! Hank's internship will be done in August, and then he'll likely be starting working full-time, which will give him some more flexibility in his schedule. And with Marie being at daycare with Matty and Bella, they'll have their time together there. Oh, I'll need to go shopping for some new clothes too! I'm still working on losing the baby fat, but I think I'll need some more professional outfits for the news station."
"We can absolutely go shopping, Sam! Make it a day with Mother too. The offices will be closed for a few weeks starting July 17th, so we could plan to go shopping after Tony and Jonathan are back from helping Carol and Jack move. The daycare won't be starting up until September, to give Bonnie time to get everything situated and any other staff hired and trained."
"I heard that there's interviews starting next is thrilled that you have her in on them. She really is so appreciative of all that you're letting her help with this. I had dinner with her a few nights ago and she kept gushing about how much trust you have in her."
"She's such a wonderful young woman, Sam. I'm so glad that she will be a part of this too. I see her passion and excitement even in the smallest of details. She's gonna be a great addition to the company. And she is so enthusiastic about the daycare, and I'm glad that she and Mother are working together on it."
Just then Marie started to sing, and her aunt and uncle joined in too. "What a beautiful little chorus those three make," Mona said as she walked into the kitchen.
"They sure are, Mona, they sure are," Sam stated.
-
"Okay, Dad just pulled up with the U-Haul van!" Jonathan called out.
"Thanks, Jonathan." Hank replied. "Let's put the bigger items in first, as we can put whatever doesn't fit into the cars later if needed."
"Good thinking, Hank my boy," Tony said. "Let's start with the bed and crib, and then we can get the changing table and dressers after that."
"Just what I was thinking, Dad," Hank responded.
Once they got all the furniture loaded in, they worked on the clothing boxes that were for the hanging clothes, and then moved on to the small appliances. "I think that's all we're getting in here, guys." Tony said.
"We can work on putting the rest in the Caravan and my car then, while you guys run over to the new place," Sam responded.
"Jonathan, can you follow us in the Jeep then? Here's the keys."
"Sure Dad, I'll be right behind you guys." Jonathan called out.
-
"I think that's last of it, Samantha." Mona said.
"Yep, looks like it. Are you happy to have your place back, Mona?"
"It'll be good, though I'll miss seeing the babies."
"You'll still see them, Mother." Angela said.
"Oh, I know. But it won't be quite the same as being in the house with them, especially at night."
"True, but it's not like you'll be that far from them. You can come over and see them anytime."
"And that's true for your great-granddaughter too. And your adult granddaughter of course."
"Oh Sam, I think I'll miss you the most! I know that you'll just be a few blocks away, but..."
"I know what you mean. You've helped me through a lot over the years. Remember when we were double-dumped?"
"I'd nearly forgotten about that! Max made me so mad! And then finding out that Jesse had dumped you too...those guys were NUTS!"
"Well, Mom and I were talking recently and we decided that once Dad and Jonathan are back from helping Jack and Carol move, we're going to go out to lunch and shopping for clothes for me to wear when I start my internship, and you're definitely invited along!"
"That sounds wonderful! It's a date!" At that the three of them enveloped themselves into one giant hug. "Okay, you two head on over to the new house and I'll watch the babies so that they won't get in the way."
"Are you sure, Mother?"
"Yeah, Mona. Are you gonna be okay until someone is back here?"
"Yes, I'm sure. And don't rush. They're all sleeping right now, so I'll get their diapers and clothes set up for when they awaken."
"Thank you, Mother."
"Thanks, Mona."
-
Once all of the vehicles were emptied out, Sam and Angela started putting things away. By the time that Tony and Hank got back to the house from dropping off Jonathan at home to help Mona, and returning the U-Haul back to the rental place, they'd gotten all of Marie's clothes and toys put away, her crib made with fresh bedding, Sam's and Hank's bed made, all of the hanging clothes put away, and their dressers halfway done.
"Wow, you sure got a lot done!" Hank said, impressed.
"Well, it helps when you have someone like Angela who taught me how to have everything organized, and someone like Dad who is meticulous with labeling boxes so you know exactly what is all in them raise you." Sam replied, smiling at both of her parents.
"That really makes it much more effecient in moving," Tony said.
"This is great! We should take a break though and go grab some pizzas and take it back to the house so we can have dinner together one more time altogether," Hank stated.
"I could definitely eat a few slices!" Angela exclaimed. Everyone chuckled.
"Okay, let's grab the Jeep and Caravan, and then we can come back in one vehicle after dinner." Tony said.