Pt 2 of them (continued ver)

Chapter 221

It was a bright, sunny day, and the family decided to take full advantage of the mansion's luxurious pool. Malia was the first to suggest it, hoping the fresh air and water would help calm Carter, who had been energetic but slightly fussy earlier in the morning. Colby quickly agreed, thinking it would be a great way for everyone to bond and burn off some energy.

Getting Ready

The chaos began as soon as the kids were told about the pool day.

Carter, who had been playing with his dinosaur toys, immediately perked up and started tugging at Colby's shirt. "Pool, Daddy! Pool now!" he exclaimed, bouncing on his toes.

"Hold on, buddy. We need to get you ready first," Colby said, picking Carter up and tickling his sides to calm his impatience.

Meanwhile, Malia was upstairs gathering swimsuits, sunscreen, towels, and pool toys. The girls, Colleen and Caitlyn, were already in their pink swimsuits, each holding floaties shaped like unicorns. They waited patiently while Malia packed a bag with snacks, drinks, and Carter's essentials, including his bottle, extra diapers, a change of clothes, and his favorite shark towel.

Liam, on the other hand, was being his usual stubborn self. "I don't want the blue swim trunks! I want the dinosaur ones like Carter!" he protested.

"Well, Carter's already wearing the dinosaur ones," Malia said calmly. "You have the shark ones, and they're just as cool."

Liam pouted but eventually complied when Colby gave him the look.

Pool Time

Once everyone was ready, they headed out to the sprawling backyard, where the crystal-clear pool sparkled in the sun. Malia set up a shaded area with chairs and umbrellas, while Colby carried Carter and a bag full of pool toys.

The girls immediately jumped into the shallow end, giggling as they splashed each other. Liam followed suit, holding his shark floatie tightly.

Carter, however, clung to Colby, eyeing the water nervously. "No pool," he mumbled, burying his face in Colby's chest.

"You don't have to go in yet, bud," Colby said gently. "Let's sit by the edge first, okay?"

Malia brought over a small bucket and some toys, handing them to Carter. "Look, Carter! You can play with these," she said, showing him how to scoop and pour water from the bucket. Slowly, Carter began to relax, dipping his hands into the water and giggling as he splashed Colby.

Fun and Games

After some time, Carter grew more comfortable. With Colby holding him securely, he ventured into the shallow end. "Look, Daddy! Splash!" he exclaimed, smacking the water with his hands and laughing.

Colleen and Caitlyn swam over to cheer him on, their floaties bobbing around them. "Good job, Carter!" Colleen said, clapping.

Not to be outdone, Liam grabbed one of Carter's pool toys and shouted, "Look at me, Carter!" before cannonballing into the water. Unfortunately, his splash startled Carter, who began to cry.

Malia quickly waded over, taking Carter from Colby. "It's okay, sweetheart. Liam didn't mean to scare you," she said, soothing him.

"Sorry, Carter," Liam mumbled, looking genuinely apologetic.

Once Carter calmed down, Colby brought out a giant inflatable slide, which immediately grabbed everyone's attention. "Who wants to try this?" he asked.

"Me! Me!" the kids shouted in unison.

Even Carter, now fully relaxed, was eager to join in. With Colby's help, he climbed up the slide and giggled uncontrollably as he splashed into the water at the bottom.

Snack Break

After an hour of playing, the kids started to tire out. Malia brought over a tray of fruit, crackers, and juice boxes, while Colby handed Carter his bottle of milk. The kids gathered under the shade, munching happily.

Carter sat on Colby's lap, his energy finally winding down. "Fun, Daddy," he said softly, resting his head on Colby's chest.

"Yeah, buddy. Lots of fun," Colby replied, kissing the top of his head.

Winding Down

As the sun began to set, Malia wrapped Carter in his shark towel and carried him inside for a quick bath. The girls followed, still giggling about their adventures, while Liam insisted on staying outside "just five more minutes."

By the time everyone was clean and in their pajamas, Carter was already half-asleep in Colby's arms. It had been a long, eventful day, but the smiles on everyone's faces made it all worthwhile.

"Pool days are officially a success," Malia said as she and Colby tucked the kids into bed.

"Agreed," Colby replied, his eyes softening as he looked at Carter, who was clutching his stuffed dinosaur tightly. "Let's do it again soon."