IT'S A BABY-BONANZA!

[paradisamods]

Good morning, residents! Did you sleep well? You're going to need all the energy you can muster because congratulations: You're parents! Again! The Paradisa Stork has paid some very lucky residents a visit last night, and even moved them to a more kid-friendly environment.

Some of you may already recognize your little bundle of joy and--my, how they've grown! Others will have to get acquainted with their little rugrats. You may not know them, but they certainly know you. By they way? They're bored. And hungry! And they want all the attention you could possibly give them.

It's going to be a long week.

(ooc: Use this as a catch-all post! This will be the only mass post for the Sunny Skies Retreat, so you may use it for any day that you'd like. Feel free to make your own posts and/or sections whenever you'd like!

SECTIONS: BEDROOMS | PLAY ROOM | PETTING ZOO | POOL | GARDENS | THE CASTLE)

Comments

[encryptedlock]

Thank you, Mommy. [Laura's hair is fairly long but not too tangled - it's clear that she's well taken-care of most of the time, at least as far as her hair is concerned.

For his part, York is just sitting there watching the movie quietly. The plot is pretty predictable, but he has a wiggly little blanket bundle that's where his attention is really held.]

[youfallback]

[Said little wiggly blanket bundle continues to wiggle in excitement as he watches the movie. At one point, Rod has to try and hide the alien and the spaceship from his parents, so Jack gasps and snuggles closer, his eyes absolutely glued to the screen.

Carolina gently brushes Laura's hair out in smooth, natural movements, despite never having any siblings to practice on. Once all the tangles are out, she asks quietly,] Do you want me to braid your hair, too?

[encryptedlock]

[York chuckles a little and snuggles closer to his little boy. Of course he knows that everything is going to be all right in this movie, but Jack clearly doesn't.

Laura nods and smiles brightly up at Carolina, though she's watching the movie fairly intently, too.] Yes, Mommy!

[youfallback]

[Carolina does manage to smile over at York for a moment, before beginning to braid Laura's hair into two pigtail braids in an effortless motion. Jack stands up a little to stand closer to York, pressing his face against York's neck while still trying to see the movie from his safe place.]

[encryptedlock]

[York misses the smile, sadly, but tries to pull Jack into a sitting position on his lap so he can keep the height without standing on the couch.] C'mere. Sit down.

Shh, Daddy!

[York shoots Laura an apologetic glance but then finds himself smiling at the braids. Cutie.]

[youfallback]

[Jack just snuggles up closer, not sitting at all. Instead, he stands up further, pressing his face more against York's neck.] I don't wanna, Daddy!

[Carolina affords another smile at York as she finishes up the braids and plants a kiss on top of the girl's head. For a moment, everything is perfect and it feels like they have a real family, a real life here together.]

[encryptedlock]

Well, just don't fall. [He'll keep one arm around him to steady him, and this time he does catch Carolina's smile.

Confuses him, though. Wasn't she in a bad mood? Hopefully she won't notice in the low light.]

[youfallback]

[The kids just have this magic of being able to brighten her mood even when she really doesn't want to smile. They're a sort of tangible proof that maybe one day she could deserve love, earn it, and keep it. She grabs a blanket to wrap around Laura and herself and goes back to watching the movie, her smile eventually dimming into her usual frown.

Jack squirms against his dad further at an exciting part, unable to watch but unable to look away either.] Daddy, what's gonna happen?

[encryptedlock]

[Laura, of course, snuggles up against her mom and even starts to yawn a little. It's been a long day, even for a girl as big as seven.]

I don't know. We gotta watch to find out.

[He'll try one more time to sweep Jack down onto his lap, though he doesn't expect to be particularly successful.]

[youfallback]

[This time, Jack does to down into York's lap, but not without a slight whine and an immediate attempt to get back up. After all, he wants to be standing through these exciting parts. As the space ship begins to take off, Jack snuggles closer still.

Carolina wraps an arm around Laura and tries to adjust the girl into a position where she can readily fall asleep if she wants. After all, she's not quite as wound up as her brother.]

[encryptedlock]

Silly goose. [He'll keep a grip on Jack so he doesn't fall over, but it's probably better to keep him in a sitting position anyway.

As for Laura, she easily leans against her mommy and dozes before the end of the movie. Not sleeping hard enough that she won't wake when the movie ends, but it does show how very comfortable she is.]

[youfallback]

[By the end of the movie, Jack is trying desperately to stay awake, but his head keeps dipping forward. Once the credits start rolling, he leans more up against his dad.] They did it, Daddy.

[Carolina carefully starts to lift Laura in her arms to carry to bed, hopin to not wake the little girl.]

[encryptedlock]

[Laura will blink her eyes open, but she doesn't seem like she wants to wake up entirely. She'll smile up at her mom and not protest too much as she gets tucked in to the hotel bed.

York starts scratching gently on the top of Jack's head to see if it will put him to sleep. Kind of like he would with a cat, really.]

They sure did. Did you like the spaceships?

[youfallback]

[Carolina smiles and gently tucks the blankets around Laura before kissing her on the forehead.

Jack is still trying to keep awake but failing at those head scratches. His head dips a time or two more.] Yeah, Daddy. [He sleepily rubs his eyes again and starts to settle against York.]

[encryptedlock]

[And Laura's out pretty quickly. Jack seems to be holding on a little longer, but York's once-a-year Daddy instincts are telling him the little boy has maybe two or three minutes tops before he's all out So he alternated between scritching at his head and stroking that silky red hair and murmuring softly at the little boy in hopes he'll fall asleep soon. At one point he looks over at Carolina and makes a quick gesture with his other hand.]

Grab the red panda for me, would you?

[youfallback]

[Carolina's still over by the bed and easily snags Georgia for York. She holds it out for him as Jack relaxes further against his dad despite still trying to push his eyes back open. ]

[encryptedlock]

[He gives Georgia to Jack and holds them both against him, nice and warm. If he's pretty sure Jack is actually asleep, he'll scoop up the little bundle of blankets and boy and set him over on the bed.]

[youfallback]

[Jack barely resists a little longer before falling completely asleep against York. He doesn't stir when York lifts and carries him over to the bed. He just snuggles up closer to Georgia and keeps on sleeping.

With the kids asleep, a jolt of panic surges through Carolina's gut. She'll need to get another room or not sleep at all. Neither are particularly desirable right now. She keeps her voice quiet as she speaks,] I'll go get another room.

[encryptedlock]

[York sighs and looks over at her, still standing in the low-light environment.]

You really have to?

[He knows how she's going to answer, but he has to ask anyway.]

[youfallback]

[Luckily, most of her previous anger is gone, but she still nods with a frown.] Either that or not sleep. [She starts to make her way slowly toward the door.]

[encryptedlock]

Will we see you in the morning, then?

[It's still pretty early in the evening; York's thinking about doing a few laps in the pool or getting some reading done before he'll fall asleep himself.]

[youfallback]

I'll be back early. [Carolina nods at him before heading out.

But she's only gone about 10 minutes before she returns, looking pissed again.]

[encryptedlock]

[York's paging through the journal over at the small desk in the hotel room, but looks up and raises his eyebrows when she comes back.]

Trouble?

[youfallback]

Can't get a different room. Apparently they're all booked up. [She frowns, frustrated as hell with the situation. She wishes she didn't have nightmares in the first place, but now that she can't at least experience them in private, she's even more discouraged.]

[encryptedlock]

You're more than welcome to stay here. I know you need the sleep.

[He rubs the back of his neck.]

Do you think maybe having one of the kids next to you would help keep you calm?