Why Is Life So Harding?

Ch.13

Summer continued with Gabby, Jace and Cristina working most days. During past summers Melissa would take turns with John taking the three younger boys places and trying to keep their minds busy. But with Mac being older and the twins going into high school in the fall, they didnt think they would be interested in the same things they use to be. So Mac took on the role as sole babysitter of Sammy most days until Melissa or John were done with their work.

A typical summer day at the Harding household:

### Morning

The sun was just starting to rise, casting a soft glow over the Harding household. John and Melissa were already up, sipping their morning coffee as they went over their work schedules for the day.

"Looks like a busy one," John remarked, glancing at his laptop. "But we can squeeze in some family time."

Melissa nodded. "We'll make it work. It's summer, after all."

By 7:00 AM, the older kids were starting to stir. Gabby was the first one down, grabbing a quick breakfast bar and an apple, smiling at her parents. "Morning, Mom. Morning, Dad."

"Morning, sweetie," Melissa replied. "Have a great day at work."

Gabby gave them a quick hug. "See you guys tonight!" she called over her shoulder as she headed out the door.

Jace followed soon after, his hair still slightly damp from his quick shower. He poured himself a bowl of cereal and sat down at the kitchen island. "Got a busy day at the community center," he said, between bites. "We're organizing a big event for the kids."

"That sounds great," John said. "You're doing good work there, Jace."

Cristina was the last of the older kids to leave, stopping to chat with her parents for a few minutes before heading to her shift at the coffee shop. "Don't let the boys cause too much trouble," she joked, rolling her eyes playfully.

"We'll do our best," Melissa said with a chuckle. "Have a good day, honey."

### Late Morning

By 8:30 AM, the younger boys were up and about. Mac, Nick, and Peter were the first ones downstairs, quickly followed by Sammy, who was already chattering about his plans for the day.

"Let's get some breakfast in you guys," Melissa said, setting out cereal, toast, and fruit.

John joined them at the table, taking a break from his work. "What's on the agenda today?" he asked, looking around at the boys.

"We're gonna play outside," Mac said, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Maybe ride our bikes and play some basketball."

Nick and Peter nodded eagerly. "Yeah, and we want to build a fort in the backyard," Nick added.

Sammy, his eyes wide with excitement, piped up. "Can I help? I wanna build a fort too!"

"Of course you can," John said, ruffling Sammy's hair. "But first, let's finish breakfast."

After breakfast, the boys helped clean up the kitchen, with Mac supervising to make sure Sammy stayed on task. Melissa and John returned to their work, glancing out the window occasionally to check on the boys.

### Midday

By 10:00 AM, the boys were outside, running around and playing in the yard. John watched from the patio, laughing as Nick and Peter tried to outdo each other with their bike tricks while Mac kept a close eye on Sammy, who was busy with his own games.

"Remember to stay where we can see you," John called out. "And no going past the big tree!"

Around 11:30 AM, Melissa called them in for a snack. The boys came running, their faces flushed from the morning's activities. They gathered around the kitchen, munching on apple slices and granola bars.

"This fort is gonna be awesome," Peter said, talking excitedly. "We found some old sheets and cardboard in the garage."

"Just make sure you clean up after yourselves," Melissa reminded them. "No leaving a mess for us to deal with later."

### Early Afternoon

After lunch, which was a lively affair with everyone talking over each other, the boys had some quiet time. Mac settled in with a book, Nick and Peter worked on a puzzle, and Sammy played with his tablet, occasionally asking for help from Melissa, who was working nearby.

"Mom, can you help me with this level?" Sammy asked, holding up his tablet.

"Sure, sweetheart," Melissa said, taking a short break to sit with him. "Let's see what we need to do here."

Meanwhile, John was on a conference call, his voice drifting from his home office. The boys tried to keep their voices down, knowing their dad was working.

### Late Afternoon

By 2:00 PM, Melissa had planned a fun craft project. She gathered the boys around the dining table, handing out supplies for making homemade bird feeders.

"This is so cool, Mom!" Nick exclaimed, carefully stringing beads onto a piece of twine.

Peter was equally enthusiastic, threading pieces of fruit onto a skewer. "The birds are gonna love this."

Sammy, his focus shifting from one thing to another, was finally engaged. "Can I use the peanut butter, Mom?" he asked, holding up a jar.

"Sure, just be careful not to make a mess," Melissa said with a smile.

As the afternoon wore on, Gabby, Jace, and Cristina started arriving home from work. Gabby came in first, dropping her bag by the door and heading to the kitchen for a glass of water. "Hey, everyone. How was your day?"

"It was great!" Mac said. "We built an awesome fort and made bird feeders."

Jace and Cristina soon followed, the house filling with laughter and chatter as everyone shared their stories from the day.

### Evening

At 5:30 PM, the older kids helped start dinner. Gabby and Cristina chopped vegetables while Jace manned the grill outside. The younger boys set the table, sneaking tastes of the food as they worked.

"Hey, save some for dinner," Jace teased, catching Peter trying to snag a piece of grilled chicken.

By 6:30 PM, everyone was gathered around the table, enjoying a delicious meal together. They talked and laughed, sharing highlights from their day and making plans for the next.

"This chicken is amazing, Jace," Gabby said. "You've really got the hang of grilling."

"Thanks," Jace replied, beaming. "It's all about timing."

### Night

After dinner, the boys helped clean up before heading to the living room for some family time. They watched a movie together, the room filled with the sound of laughter and playful banter.

As the night wore on, the kids slowly drifted to their own activities. Mac and Sammy played a board game in the living room while Nick and Peter went back outside to catch fireflies. Gabby and Cristina sat on the porch, chatting about their day, while Jace relaxed with a book.

Melissa and John took this time to unwind together, enjoying the calm after the busy day. They sat on the patio, holding hands and listening to the sounds of their family.

They stayed outside for a little while longer, talking quietly and enjoying the peaceful night, before finally heading to bed, ready to do it all over again the next day. As they turned in, they could still hear the soft murmur of their children enjoying the last bits of their summer evening.