Kacie looked at her new bird, Catarina. She was so pretty. Kacie looked around her room. It was pretty too. Kara and Miles had given her and Gavin their own rooms once Kara’s belly began to show. “Catarina, mommy is having a baby! I’m gonna be a big sissy!” She said, watching her bird. It cocked its head.

“Sissy! Sissy!” Catarina repeated.

“Can you say butterfly?” Kacie asked. “Butterfly.”

“Butterfly!” Catarina repeated.

Kacie smiled and continued to tech Catarina how to talk. A scream from downstairs interrupted her. She ran down the stairs to see her father helping her mother out the door. “What’s wrong?” She called.

Val came up beside her. “It’s okay dear, your mother is on her way to the hospital to have your brother and sister.”

A few weeks later Kara came home with the twins. Kacie and Gavin ran into the nursery excitedly. Kara smiled at them as they ran in. “Sshhh babies. Come quietly and see your new brother and sister.” Kara whispered, beckoning them to the cribs. Kacie and Gavin looked in. “Your brother is Nick and your sister is Hera.” She whispered, pulling her children close.

That weekend Kara, Kacie and Gavin, and Nick and Hera celebrated their birthdays. Party horns and cake filled the room. Noise makers cackled.

Tiffany had retired after some of her busiest months, and was finally able to spend time with her family. She smiled and thought of how much her family had grown. It had begun with just her and Val, two wide-eyed college kids, and was now multiple generations. She had two loving children and now four grandchildren. She was getting old and tired and knew her time was coming. However, looking around at her growing family she couldn’t be happier.

After blowing out her cake Kacie pulled Gavin behind her and rushed to the mirror. “Make over time brother. We’re about to start high school!” Gavin grumbled and made feeble attempts to get out of it, but Kacie pulled him into the bathroom and began messing with his hair.

Kacie pulled herself and her brother from the bathroom after their hair was done and pushed him to his room. “Pick out a new outfit! Your old clothes don’t fit anymore.” She said with a laugh, running into hers. After getting her outfit right she added one last touch, the necklace her grandma Tiffany gave her.

The next day Tiffany died. She was just walking to the study when she felt faint and laid down on the floor. Val found her and cried, a heavy feeling in her heart. She knew Tiffany’s time was close, she just wished she could have had more time.

With heavy hearts the family mourned Tiffany, and threw themselves into the toddlers and school.

(Sorry for the sad note guys! This chapter felt a little weird to write. For some reason during this time I didn’t take many pictures so I’m trying to do the best I can with what I took!! Here are some I wasn’t quite sure how to fit into the story.)

Kacie and Gavin trick-or-treating

Hera as a toddler. I leave their hair color natural and I have no earthly idea where this blond came from. If she wasn’t a twin I would have thought Kara had slept around when I wasn’t watching! 😛

Nick as a toddler