1890
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Sunday) David & Calico move into the homestead and build a one-room cabin with outhouse and garden area. As Calico starts on the laundry and David begins to plant the garden a thunderstorm surprises them both. Tucking their chins they keep with their tasks and then hurry instead dripping wet. A little 'fun' to warm themselves up and Calico reveals later she is 'with child'.
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Monday) It is cold & cloudy today with a chance of rain. It will be good for the garden. While David paints, Calico harvests carrots. Her belly is growing bigger (2nd trimester) David increases his painting skill to 3. As David began to research different plants in his garden, he had a desire to buy a bee box. Locating one, he placed it in the middle of the garden so all of his plants could benefit.
1891
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Tuesday) It is raining again, soaking the clothes on the line. Another crop of carrots is ready for harvest. Calico goes into labor on a cool, rainy spring morning. David and Calico welcome into their loving arms, a son,
Samuel Carpenter.
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Wednesday) So in love with Samuel were they, that both David and Calico wanted to try for another. During a thunderstorm, Samuel became a toddler. He was scared but father and mother comforted him. Since it was a custom holiday, Spring Cleaning, he got to do one of the activities of the day. Opening a present. It made him feel better. As for David and Calico's desire to have another baby, they soon got the happy news. She was 'with child' once again.
1892
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Thursday) Calico is training her son, Samuel. He is learning well. I'm not sure how he'll react to having a new sibling. Seeing Calico exhausted, David helped her out one evening by doing the dishes. She was very grateful. David also worked very hard and build an addition onto the house. Now they have two small bedrooms. One for the children, one for the parents.
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Friday) Calico gave birth to a baby boy,
William Carpenter. Samuel was happy to meet his little brother.
1893
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Satuday) William becomes a toddler. David takes Samuel out to the garden and begins to teach him about it. [flash cards] Life is peaceful and serene on the homestead. Calico shares her desire to have a little girl with David. She conceives that very night.
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Sunday) Calico is feeling especially under the weather with this pregnancy and the Doc comes for a house visit to see how she's doing. Listening with his stethoscope, he is shocked and worried. He can hear more than one heartbeat inside her tummy. David immediate turns his worry into action and starts building another addition. If twins are on the way, they'll need a bigger home. [
Won't they be surprised, She's carrying quadruplets.]
1894
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Monday) Bell Pepper and Plantain harvest goes well. Calico will give birth just as the second half of this year comes to pass.
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Tuesday) On a beautiful Summer morning, at 4:53AM, Calico gives birth. Everyone is surprised when she does not have twins but quadruplets. Its astounding that all four babies [in this time period] lived. David and Calico name them,
Laura, Mary, Albert and Charles Carpenter. They are now the proud parents of four boys and two girls.
1895
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Wednesday) So many things have happened this half of the year. During family day, a thunderstorm was due to hit, but so far only rain. Thankfully. All four infants became toddlers. Samuel (Sam) the oldest child became a child. He'll go to school in the morning. David helped with presents while Calico took a very much needed nap. Laura - Fussy, Mary - Independent, Albert - Wild, Charles - Angelic. Samuel was dealt the loner trait when he became a child (random trait mod). Poor kid. I don't think he'll be getting much alone time with five younger siblings.
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Thursday) Thunderstorms and outhouses do NOT mix well! They keep running back inside before they can pee/take a bath. Calico was so tired after running back and forth with a full bladder she passed out, just outside the outhouse. When she woke up, she got struck by lightning! o.O She tried to do house work in between naps but she kept passing out, so I gave her the afternoon off. She's sleeping now. Doctor's orders. Not every day, someone gets struck by lightning and survives. ...This was also Samuel's first day of elementary school. He tried to make friends but didn't really meet anyone yet. When he came home, David (dad) helped him with homework.
1896
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Friday) The toddlers know how to potty (level 2) and that saves Mother a lot of time. They still have their moments when accidents happen but for the most part they do really well. Samuel has a C average in school. He'll try harder to do better next year.
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Satuday) William is old enough to be called a child now. He will join his older brother, Sam, in school next year. Too bad he acquired the kleptomaniac trait. Its the criminal career for Will, when he grows up. Poor kid.
1897
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Sunday) Laura meets a betrothal candidate, David oversees their first hello. It seems to go well but Laura is very sleepy so does not want to stay and talk long. David learns that the boy is Active. Perhaps that translates into having a good work ethic when he grows up. That would be good. David will keep track of this one. He also asks another boy, Ezra, a million questions before he is allowed to meet his other daughter Mary.
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Monday) William joins his older brother, Sam, at school. He's excitedly nervous. Maybe he's wondering what all that he can steal. He better behave! David (father) harvests the carrots, apples and grapes. It is an average harvest overall. He'll work on selling some more paintings. With the four toddlers growing up soon, he'll need to purchase beds for them. That takes money. Bills are piling up too. He's making ends meet but he doubts they'll ever be 'well off' like some in the nearby towns. ...Red-haired boy was dismissed. He was not found worthy to be a betrothed to his daughter, Laura, when he spend the afternoon ignoring her and then rudely denying her friendly hug. David will try again to find her a worthy match. Maybe next year.
1898
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Tuesday) David found another betrothal prospect for Laura. He seems to treat her well.
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Wednesday) The troublesome quadruplets have become children. (finally!) Laura is a goofball. Mary is lazy. Albert is creative. Charles is squeamish.
1899
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Thursday) The beginning of this year was a great time for 'firsts'. It was the first time ALL of the children went to school at the same time. The home felt so empty without them but it was nice while it lasted. David and Calico snuck a little time for themselves and enjoyed cloud gazing for a bit. It was also a first because it was the first time the Carpenter patriarch, David, made the betrothed choices for his two daughters official. Jeremiah (blond) will be Laura's (blue dress) future husband. Ezra will love and cherish Mary. Another first... this is the first time the family get to enjoy having more than one outhouse/bathroom.
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Friday) All together, the family moves from one decade into the next...