Boy, what a night! I never
want to go through THAT again! Not a ounce of sleep!
First, it was the twins, both at the same time. Then it was Chase not even ten
minutes after laying myself back down. Bliss even
joined in on the babies’ fun. After no more than an hour, I heard a set of
little feet running through the house; I looked around, the sun wasn't even up
yet! Sure enough, who do the feet belong to? The little voice yelling,
"Mamma
time to get up and play with me." I buried my face into the pillow, hoping to fool her, making her think
I don't hear her, and that I'm sleeping. I discovered that doesn't work with
that child. She just jumps on my bed and me, telling me to get up. I was surprised
to see Shanda standing beside the bed; I hadn't even heard her coming.
"Girls what do you
want?"
"We want you to play
with us Mamma!"
"Well the sun’s not even
up so I'm not either and the two of you can turn around and go back to
bed." Stating this, I rolled over and closed my eyes, assuming that they
both would do as I told them; I was surprised to feel the little girl beside
me. I looked to see who it was, although I had the feeling I knew. Sure enough,
Skyla had curled up beside me; she looked to my eyes and smiled before pushing
me so that I was on my back and climbing on top and laying
so that we were belly to belly. Her head was right under my chin. I gently put
my arms up over her so that I was holding her, and kissed the top of the little
head.
When I had awoken, I had discovered
that both Sky and Shanda were in my bed. I had to smile; these are days that I
treasure. The ones that one or more of my little ones come
and cuddle. I knew that these two had been really good. With that I made
a decision. I kissed their little faces gently then spoke.
"Shanda, Skyla wake
up." The girls both opened their eyes.
"Go ahead and get
dressed," As they two went to do as I asked, on her way out I stopped
Skyla.
"Go ahead and get
Cookies ready to go out as well." She smiled as she turned and ran.
"Girls, I'll race you
both." I called out as I asked my horse to speed up. I had purposely got my most frisky horse for
the day. In a way, I felt bad about leaving Darlita. But she herself had told
me about she likes being able to use the time to just sit back and read. And
that she liked it better when the two of us spend our time at night after all
the others had gone to bed. I agreed to that. After all is still, Darlita
normally climbs onto my lap and as we rock, we read something or another
together. She likes to wait because she's afraid that others may think that
she's a baby or something. I keep telling her not to worry about it, and since
she seems determined on that I just let it go and let her have it her way.
"You win that one
Shanda! You and Speckles sure work well as a team."
"Mamma, I did better
than she did, I didn't almost fall off." I chuckled to myself as I walked
over to them.
"Yes, Sky, but Shanda
doesn't ride as much you do. If she would practice, I'm sure that she would be
just as good." I turned to see Shanda walking off, towards what looked
like the swings. I had taken them both to the lake and was going to let them
swim for a little while, then we were going to head home and they were going to
study for a while. I watched as Skyla started to pick on Shanda about her being
scared of the water. Although I don't normally let the girls beat up on each
other I had to admit, it was funny when Shanda smacked Skyla. I scolded both
but let them go. I knew that the other had to stand up for herself
somehow.
"Girls, it’s time to go.
We have things to do at home, get your horses, and come on."
"Can we race
again?"
"No, just stay with me,
it’s getting late." After moaning, Skyla obeyed me.
"Make sure you girls
take the extra time and blanket your horses, it looks as if it could storm tonight."
"Then I'm staying with
Cookies."
"Its great how you like
to care for your horse, Sky, but I want you to come into the house after you
get her settled in for the night."
"But
Mamma!"
"Skyla if you don't come
in, you will not be permitted to play with Cookies for a week." I
threatened. "Understand?" The little girl nodded. I hate to speak to
her like that, but Sky's one of those types that if you don't warn her ahead of
time, she will do what she wants, whether you want her to or not.
Sure enough, as soon as the
three of us got inside of the barn itself, it started pouring, not sprinkling,
it skipped that part.
"Let’s get into the
house girls." Shanda stood at the door, staring eyes wide, trembling. I
had forgotten that Shanda wasn't afraid of storms; she was terrified of them
for some reason. I reached down and picked her up so that she could hide her
face.
"My
poor little girl." I said as
I held her tight, then called for Skyla to come on.
Once inside, I was greeted
with Chase screaming his head off. I sighed, and then looked to my daughter who
looked tired.
"Did he do this all
day?"
"Pretty
much." I looked to my son.
"Now you listen here, young
man. All this screaming is unnecessary and it’s going to stop." He was
still whimpering as I scolded him; he was still on the floor. I was still
holding Shanda and wasn't going to put her down for a while, not while she was
afraid. I noted that there were several bottles on the floor, and Bliss was
playing by herself.
"Now you go play,"
I pointed towards the toys, with my free hand. Then headed over to my chair and
sat with my little girl on my lap.
"Just close your eyes
and rest Shanda, it'll be over before you know it." Her little arms were
still like clamps to my neck. She wasn't going to let go. I knew that already.
She had proved that one before. I looked down at the boy that was still crying
at my feet. Sighing, I looked to Shanda, feeling horrible about having to make
her get down for a minute. But I knew that this screaming that Chase was
starting again was going to have to stop. It wasn't fair to the others. I still
had five other young children that needed held at times too. I had come to the
decision that he was old enough to start learning that you couldn't always get
your own way by crying; granted I know he's just a baby and will cry when he
needed something and that kind of thing won't be ignored. But he did this more
than needed; Chase practically screamed every time I put him down. I picked him
up, walked into the kitchen got him a couple of bottles, and took him to my
room for a quick change and put him to bed.
I picked Shanda back up and
sat back in my seat, kissed her cheek and thanked her for waiting, and
apologized for having to making her get up.
"Shanda, come and
play." Skyla called out. The little girl shook her head no.
I watched Skyla as she
wandered to a window. I knew that she hated to be stuck inside. She loved
staying outside as long as I let her.
"Sky, would you like to
come and sit with us?" She shook her head and looked back outside.
"Mamma, the barn is
open."
"I must have left it
open by accident, thank you Skyla." I said, walking over to her. She
looked up to me, her blue eyes shining. Noting that Shanda had fallen asleep, I
took her into my room and laid her into my bed, knowing that she most likely
would wind up in it anyway, if the storm got louder. Then I went back to where
Skyla stood, and picked her up.
"I'll let you help me
lock the barn. I have to feed the animals anyway."
As I tended to the animals,
Skyla wondered around. She called out to me.
"Mamma,
look!" She called from
outside, on the west end. She was standing on the stairs of a tunnel like
passage.
"I know, that passage
has been there for a long time, long time. Longer than I
have. I'll tell my more after you get in here." The town used to be
of some great importance, and so was this land that we are standing on."
The little girl nodded. That’s when I spotted something in her hand that had
not been ruined by time.
"Be careful with that,
Sunshine. That was the hat to someone a long time ago, probably a few years
older than you." I reached my hand out for the hat, "I don't know why
time hadn't taken it way, but everything was still on it. Even
had the stem of a little feather. I looked at Skyla,
"You know what, since
you found it, you get to keep it. But I want you to keep it safe. If it could
talk it would have many stories to tell of. I rather I put it on you tall shelf
so no one gets it, alright?" I had turned to look at my daughter when I
didn't hear a thing and discovered that she had fallen asleep. That little blue
hat curled up with her tightly. I smiled as I carried her inside and went to
bed myself.