Cheaper by the dozen plus one - Book 1 & 2 (COMPLETED)

Chapter 8

Tom began to 'fix' the issues around the lake house like fixing the bathroom plumbing but when flush the kitchen sink pipe exploded. Later he began to fix the docks with the music turned up high on his walk man. But a piece of the dock where Kate and the twins (Nigel and Kyle) were broke off and began to float away. Kate tried to get his attention but the music was too loud and Tom was too busy dancing around.

The went to fix the tire swing, "hey kids! Tire swing ready!" He yelled swing from it until it snap with him. "Tire swing not ready!" He yelled out in pain when he hit the ground.

The next day he tried to fix the moose head but it only made the boat that was attached to the sealing fall to the ground. He look at it confused as to how that could have happened.

Later that night they had family dinner with Skylar as they discuss the wedding planning. Tom wouldn't let Nora, Kate or Skylar have any input on the planning he's doing which scared the women.

The next afternoon Tom was outside fix up the tents with the instructions in hand. After a moment he could hear the his kids coming back from the Murtaugh's with alot of excitement in their voices.

"Hey! Get bored over the Murtaugh's?" Tom asked curiously as the kids walk pass him.

"No. It was cool, we're going back after study time" Sarah informs him, Tom smile proudly at her, "that's great, y'all making time for your study, am really proud of you" Tom said.

"Not us dad, them. Mr. Murtaugh forces all of his kids to read and write for two hours every single day. Including Skylar, lame, I know" Sarah explains rolling eyes slightly annoyed and walked away.

Tom looks over at the Murtaugh's place, "who are these guys?" He mumbled to himself.

A few hours later Skylar came over to see her dad setting up the tents so she went over to Kim and Jessica who sat on the porch watching him.

"What?" She asked confused when she saw their face expression. "There is no way am camping outside" Jessica complains.

"Oh, yes, honey you can do it for one night for daddy" Kate says behind the girls causing Skylar to jump because she didn't see her standing there.

"This doesn't sit well with me" Jessica said watching Tom, "I know what you mean" Kim said agreeing with her.

Later they watch Lorraine pushing her bed out the house and into her tent. Which Skylar thought was pretty dumb but didn't say anything cause she did not want to argue with her sister.

"That's not going to fit in your tent Lorraine" Tom told his daughter, "oh, am going to make it fit dad" she told him glaring then went back to forcing her bed into the tent.

When it became night fall they all sat around the camp fire with marshmallows and making s'mores. "Do you ever think we should be more strick with the kids?" Tom asked Kate as they watch they happy kids.

"No honey, we give them love and guidance, what is there really?" Kate asked. "But everytime I turn around their either in trouble, about to get in trouble or laying out a long term plan to create trouble" Tom explains to his wife.

"Dad how come those guys know how to camp so good?" Mark asked curiously as he looked over at the Murtaugh's across the lake seeing them camping as well.

"Oh boy" Skylar mumbled but it came out muffled because her mouth is full of marshmallows.

Tom looked behind him at the Murtaugh's with a slight glare but turn to his kids, "hey, hey, what if we sing a camp song huh?" Tom asked excitedly.

The kids agreed as Skylar rolled her eyes as she knew this would turn into a camp out war with the Murtaugh's.

They began the camp song but soon after they could hear the Murtaugh's singing as well but a bit louder. Tom got his younger kids to stand up and sing to beat the Murtaugh's.

"This guy is so competitive!" Tom says aggressively singing even louder, so it was did become a camp out war.

As soon at it got later into the night and the kids realized that their dad was asleep they left their tents and went to their beds inside the lake house.

When it became morning Tom and Kate got out of their tent, "hey kids! Didn't you like blowing the Murtaugh's off the lake last night huh?!" Tom questions loud.

But then he realized that no one answered him and began to walk to the kids tents.

"Honey, their all in the house and Skylar went back to the Murtaugh's" Kate told him.

She was up when they all left, Tom couldn't believe that his kids ditch him so he search all the tents for them. "They can't spend one night in a tent?" Tom asked his wife.

But before she could answer he heard Jimmy Murtaugh's voice. "Hey Tom!" Jimmy yelled out as Sabrina and Skylar drove the boat with him water boarding behind them.

Jimmy let go of the rope that's attach to the boat and ran up to Tom and Kate. "Now what does that show off wants?" Tom mumbled rolling his eyes.

"Oh boy what's day, hey Tom. Boy you got this place looking....." Jimmy couldn't find the words to describe it so he didn't say anything about it.

"Anyway, I see the troops are sleeping in" Jimmy pointed out the empty tents.

"Oh no, their already up, they're up cutting wood, and ah, making biscuits and ah, blazing a new trail out back" Tom lied.

What he didn't notice was his sleepy kids walking onto the porch, Skylar wave to then when she saw them and they waved back.

"Yeah, really impressive, listen the Mrs. and I are thinking about putting on a little spread today ok. Since the kids are getting along so well and we're about to be in laws, why don't you and the gang come over to the boulders for lunch?" Jimmy asked.