56 - Sweet Life

Summer was hot in Lucky Palms. As soon as the kids got home from school every day, they always crowded around the snow cone machine for an icy-cold, syrupy treat!

Quinn, Rhys and Sierra grew up quickly and became toddlers.

All three of them were witches and they made their toys appear and disappear together.

Later, while the triplets were playing with their IF’s Nickels, Pickles and Tickles, Maia had a birthday party for her older toddlers, Shane and Lucian.

Happy birthday Shane!

Happy birthday Lucian!

Upon becoming a child, Lucian came into his genie powers.

Between Lucian and A.C.E., Maia’s house was always sparkling clean, so she had plenty of time to teach Quinn, Rhys and Sierra how to walk, talk and use the potty.

And in her spare time, Maia had also planted a fruit garden on her rooftop.  Everyone was looking forward to eating some fresh fruits and berries in their meals, and Maia hoped there would be enough left over for her to make some delicious berry nectars.

But first... time for blueberry pie!

It was also time for prom, and all twelve of the teens were planning to attend. They fought throughout the day over their turns in the bathrooms to get ready, and Maia wasn’t sure how all of them would fit in the limo, but they managed!

Smoke and Skye were elected Prom King and Queen.

They all had a good time although Maia was a little disappointed that none of them had gotten dates or found a little romance at prom.  But since they all planned on moving back to Moonlight Falls, she supposed she couldn’t blame them for not wanting to form any attachments in Lucky Palms.

And then, before Maia knew it, it was time for her quads to become young adults and graduate.

Happy birthday Blake!

Happy birthday Bronwyn!

Happy birthday Corbin!

Happy birthday Christopher!

Happy birthday Shadow!

Happy birthday Shimmer!

Happy birthday Steam!

Happy birthday Smoke!

The next day they all graduated with highest honors and Bronwyn was named class valedictorian.

And then it was time for the quads and their IF’s to leave for Moonlight Falls. Maia would miss them all greatly, but she knew they’d be happier and more productive in their old hometown, helping to keep watch over the town and help fight off the zombies on full moon nights.  She hugged them all goodbye and wished them well in the career paths they had chosen.

Blake plans to use his athletic prowess in the military and become an astronaut, and his IF Shadow wants to be a lifeguard.  Bronwyn is looking forward to mastering the arts of painting and music, while her IF Shimmer prefers the idea of using her creative talents as a street artist. Corbin and Steam are both collectors; Corbin appreciates the luster and beauty of gems and hopes to assemble a collection for display, whereas his IF wants to amass a collection of photographs he plans to take during his anticipated adventures around the world. Christopher wishes to use his witch skills for healing combined with the use of modern medicine and plans to become a physician.  His IF Smoke is equally ambitious and intends to become a CEO.

After hearing about her children’s dream jobs and hopes for their futures, Maia realized she missed having a career as well! Sure, she didn’t need the money, and the baby challenge that she’d chosen to accept was a full time job in itself, but she couldn’t help but want one again anyway—to have something in her life that was hers alone and not related to childrearing and baby-making. But though she regularly scanned the job section of the local paper, Maia couldn’t find one that truly appealed to her.

But while she had been skimming through the newspaper paper for jobs, Maia noticed an article about the summer festival being in town, so she decided to take all the kids there for an outing.

Before everyone got all dirty and sticky, Maia had a group photo taken.

Then Logan, Skye, Boinky and Pat played horseshoes.

Lucian and Shane had a water balloon fight.

The toddlers played with their IF’s in the fresh air under a shady tree.

Maia picked some lovely flowers.

The teens challenged each other to a hot dog eating contest.

They were fairly well-matched, but Pat took first place.

Maia’s kids got their faces painted.

Then finally, everyone went roller skating together.

And despite all the leftover birthday cake, snow cones and fruit-filled recipes everyone had been eating recently, no one got themselves a proper dinner, but ordered desserts instead.

Life was sweet.