Chapter 25 As The Dollhouse Spins

Lee and Janiedear are in Texas relaxing at Lee's ranch. Janiedear is doing her best to look like a fragile southern belle

Pete and Tyler are in Tennessee for Pete's family's reunion. They've found a little playground for Rowan and Baby to enjoy. Rex, though, is impatiently wanting to find a skateboard park.

Russell and Esme are flying to Disneyworld. Esme isn't sure Jada and Jessamyn are old enough to really enjoy the park, but Russell has a long, long list of rides he wants to take.

Out at the cottage, Elissa and Matt are getting acquainted with Hortencia's new beau. Matt tries to be forward thinking, but in his opinion, eyeliner on men is just plain wrong. He's not so sure about hair beads, either.

Daniel Jim is playing in the shallows, keeping an eye on the whopper
that swam in near the shore.

Out on the boat, the little pipsqueak keeps launching herself over the side. She's having a grand time floating on top of the waves. Sweetheart is getting exasperated with Sally Rose. Then Sweetheart looks back at the shore and sees Santa's nephew, Sam. That's another cause for concern. If Scotty grows as big as Sam--how will they feed him?!?

Sam works out at the North Pole Gym every day.

(He's trying to impress Sweetheart's young cousin Cindy.)

Meanwhile, Alex Is Back To Work At Her Stress-filled Job As Municipal Planner

"Jadde, could you type a short note to the builders' association, outlining the new zoning changes for single family dwellings?"

"Then could you pull the proposal for the new park slash playground?"

"Before lunch we should take a look at the quarterly budget."

"Have the perk tests and preliminary surveys came in on that new shopping center?"

"Where are your shoes? Do you have the memo ready to send the city commission? Were you able to find a double stroller in town? What time are you leaving for your dinner date this evening?"

Alex has so much work and so little time.

"Just a moment Jadde, I need to take a call." Alex excuses herself.

Over At Basil's Office

"We've got to have more space. In the thirteen months since we were married, we've gone from a couple to a family of five with a dog. Who would have thought Alex would become so maternal?" Trent rambled.

"We dozed off last night and when I woke at three, Mowgli, the dog, Max and Martin were in bed with us. Who knows how the dog got Alex' headset on it's head."

"By the time I got the boys in their beds, the dog out for a walk and Alex under the covers, it was time to get up."

"We want closets. We want bedrooms. We want a kitchen. A living room. A family room. A nice mother-in-law apartment for Grandma Effie. And a garage where I can go out and hide."

Alex wants five bedrooms and three bathrooms. She wants the laundry room near the bedroom area. She wants an office for each of us. She wants a heat pump system for heating and cooling. She wants lots of windows. She wants a ranch house with twelve inch thick walls. Alex wants to build green. Alex wants all of this for $50,000!!!"

Trent was talking faster and faster.

"Fred, do you know of any five acre wooded parcels?" Trent asked the contractor. "I'd like to eventually be able to have a three car garage and a swimming pool."

"Ahhh Trent, sit down bud. We can start pulling house plans that are close to Alex' requests and we'll pin down a style, so we can draw up a design for Alex."

"Fred will check with his cousin, the realtor, about five acre parcels." Basil spoke very calmly. "Alex will be pleased."

"Basil dear, we're on the way to drop Silly Old Hound dog at the vet's, then Marley is going to her friend Jessica's for the day. Riley and Ellery have to be at daycare by 10. Then I need to get to work. Yesterday we took on a new client with a twelve room cottage." Emme sighed. "She wants an English Rose Garden theme."

"Are those plans for Trent and Alex?"

"Yes darlin'." Basil murmured.