“I really wish they wouldn’t. I get enough surprises at work to make me want to have a quiet home life.” Marnie laughed at that and gave an understanding nod. "Just think that for all the times it's a less than great surprise, there are other times that it's a nice one." She promised, like the times the kids suddenly try to make breakfast in bed for her, even if the kitchen downstairs looked like a bomb hit it afterwards, the thought was sweet. “Don’t you wish that we could clone ourselves?” Marnie thought about it for a moment and then conceeded with a slight shrug, "I guess so, though I have been lucky that mine weren't too close together and I didn't need too many hands at once. Sometimes a second me would have been useful though." She agreed.

“I do know how you feel. People tend to change once they get married and have children. Do you still keep in touch with those friends?” Marnie wrinkled her nose. "Not as much as I'd like to, I admit. Having a family does take up a lot of time." And it made her feel bad at times, but you couldn't apologise for having your life go in one way and not another, or feel bad for loving it. “Gardening? I definitely don’t have a green thumb. What would be your favorite thing you’ve grown?” Marnie smiled at the thought of her garden and it's budding colours. "I'd have to say my roses. They can look a bit ugly when they're growing but once they're out, they're so gorgeous, and so many colours... plus they smell wonderful, and they're easy to maintain." She could talk flowers the way people could talk horses in this town.

“True, I should start believing in karma or something. I know some people don’t like children but, they do exist.” Marnie nodded, "we all have to live in the same world," She agreed, understanding that not everyone wanted kids but it didn't mean that having or not having them should give anyone more rights than the other. “It’s an odd city. Washington feels like a big city with all the government buildings, but I enjoyed growing up and living there.” Marnie grinned, "it does feel very small and close compared to America, I must admit it's odd being in a place where everyone seems to know someone in one way or another." A bit like small towns in America, but the whole country seemed to be that way in England. “I do have to admit, it took me a moment to realize you weren’t from here. My accent won’t ever go away, though there seems to be more and more Americans around here. Don’t you think?” Marnie laughed softly and shrugged, "I've been here a long time now, and I have to admit the kids have had an influence, they've grown up English through and through, and it rubs off. It does seem to have attracted people of all countries, this little town." Spending so much time as a housewife, some days she'd spent most of her time talking to her kids than people in town, and the accent starts to rub off. Hers became more pronounced when around fellow American's.

"True, I don't need to get them used to food bribes though." She smiled and gave an agreeable nod at that, "It's better if you can get away without using food, but sometimes it's the easiest solution." She agreed, and bribes in general, but sometimes it was the one way to get things to work. Marnie didn't like having to do things the easy way but as a teenage mum, she'd had to fumble her way through things a little. She would readily admit she had made some mistakes, but ultimately she'd learned from them and she felt her kids had grown into amazing people. Funny, confident, self sufficient, sweet kids. "I really hope they are comfortable enough to tell either of us to say if they weren't." She smiled and gave another nod, "I'm sure that would be the case."

"I can imagine, is she at home with the rest of the family?" Marnie nodded, "Yes she is, I'm a stay at home mum so I'm usually around but it's not too difficult to wrangle a baby sitter when we need." She hadn't had a job for a long time, and though sometimes she missed it, Kyle's career came first, and they were lucky enough that they could get by comfortably on his income, whilst she saved money at home - no need for child care or a cleaner or anything as such. She made decisions with the food shops and such which enable them to avoid over spending.

"I know but I do try and be nice to people my children try and run over." Marnie chuckled, "You can't have them on a leash all the time, people are generally quite understanding." She grinned, having endless supplies of patience for most people but most of all the kids. "Wow! That's a really long time. Where did you live before then? I've been here a few years now, just before the triplets arrived." Marnie relaxed in the chair, thinking back all those years to where she'd been born and raised until the move. "The move was the right choice in the end, though it was a little daunting to begin with - but we have a good life here. I'm from Minnesota, America. How about yourself?"

“I hope my kids didn’t hear that or else I’ll have to reverse the reverse psychology.” Marnie laughed and glanced toward the kids then gave him a wink. "I think you're safe for now," considering their attention seemed to have pulled elsewhere for the moment. "Anything to get them to clean their rooms. Why does that seem to be the bane of their existence?” she gave a sympathetic laugh at that. "Unfortunately that never changes, they are either tidy or they're not I'm afraid. Though some of them improve a little work age." Sam was tidy but she understood where that came from..Harper was not too bad though has been terrible as a child, Jack was...well she couldn't say she was too impressed when she'd last seen his dorm room but for all she knew he was changed.

"I’m glad. Is it too early to tell if the older kids enjoy having a baby around yet?” Marnie hummed slightly in thought then gave a small nod and a smile. "I feel that they do, if only because we don't ask too much of them. Plus Jack and Sam used to help with Harper and so it's not much different to the with a new sister and I feel Harper is old enough now not to feel odd about mo longer being the youngest." “Glad you are able to. Ah, talking about grandchildren already? Isn’t it a bit early for that?” Marnie pulled a face and nodded. "It sure does feel like it but it does come around faster than you think. I was younger than my eldest when I fell pregnant." it felt like such a long time ago and also not at all since that scary day she'd found out. She had been ridiculously lucky with Kyle. Many others would have run. “Thanks. I know they are unique, but it makes it easier calling them in a crowd somewhere.” Marnie have a slight grin. I bet you still have to call it several times as they decide whether to listen though." she joked.

"Thank you again," She said politely as he paid for her order and she collected it at the other end once it was ready to go. “Would you like to pick somewhere to sit?” Marnie nodded, "Sure!" and she glanced around for a decent seating. She spied a corner table work plenty of room to spare for the kids and beelined for it, glancing back to make sure Christian was okay to follow with both his order and his hoard.

“Yeah, they unfortunately had a nasty nightmare. It seems that even when they are older they have trouble sleeping through the night.” Marnie smiled in sympathy, "Don't worry, it really does get easier." She promised, her own children had gone through their phases with sleep, and now she was about to go through it all again with Kiara. Sometimes, she did wonder what her and Kyle had been thinking; until she looked at her newborn's face and was convinced all over again. "Nightlights definitely do wonders, and actually I used dream catchers too, to help the idea of catching bad dreams." She suggested, thinking of the one she had brought for Harper in particular.

“Please teach me this reverse psychology.” Marnie grinned, "Ah, not one you've learned yet? You just have to tell them to do something and they do the opposite, I've learnt that subtle can be useful but nudging them toward 'fine, don't clean your room' can encourage them to be insolent and want to clean it just to spite you." It was maybe not the best example off the top of her head but she'd played these came before. “Is it difficult having them be born that far apart? I only have these three and they were born minutes apart. I don’t think I’ll want any more after these three.” Marnie chuckled and her head tilted in consideration. "It's a little tough to go back to that lifestyle of night time feeds when we've already been through it and that part was over. She was quite the surprise, but having the others older is almost easier - they're so good with her, and they help out when we need. I hope they can still be as close to Kiara as they are with each other but I know that the age gap will likely make that difficult." After all, by the time Kiara was into her late teens, Jack and Sam would be approaching 40 and likely to have their own families and such.

She kept pace with him easy enough as they walked. “That must be hard on you but it’s what she will learn to know as she grows up....You must live in a busy house then!” She gave a shake of her head. "No, not hard on me really, though I am a little unsure of being into my 60's by the time we have an empty house again." She joked, as she had been a homemaker for so long she knew she wouldn't know what to do with herself without the kids. “These three just turned seven.” Marnie nodded, "It's a good age, they start to get over the terrible toddler stage and love you again - and I bet it's helpful that they play together?" She said. “That’s a beautiful name.” Marnie nodded, "Thank you, what are your childrens names?" She asked in return politely. “Hopefully it shouldn’t be too long of a wait. What have you had here before?” A slight smile as she glanced over the familiar menu - it was not particularly big but she preferred that, there was no need for half the choices these days. "I usually stick to a cappuccino - they really are good here, but the occasion Mocha if I'm feeling like chocolate. They do nice cakes too." She added, if he was thinking of the kids.

“It’s the least I can do after the kids nearly barreled you over. Any particular place at the Market you enjoy to get tea from?” Marnie smiled and shook her head, "Honestly, I'm not fussy when it comes to tea - there is a nice place on the corner of the market.. and it's reasonably priced too." She added conspiratorially. She didn't mind, tea was tea, but there was a place she tended to gravitate toward and whilst price didn't really matter, she always liked to save a penny if she could regardless. Her and Kyle were comfortable, and did not worry about money but she didn't spend frivolously.

“And these three are a prime example of that. Any tips on how to calm them down without harnessing their spirit?” Marnie smiled and watched the cute-faced terrors and shook her head. "Unfortunately, the only way to do it is to send them to sleep. Or you let them wear each other out in a safe environment." She joked; play areas were very useful but she had seen Jack try to shove kids off from the top before - far too much alpha male energy. Sometimes, she was glad of the gap between him and Harper so she wasn't overwhelmed. "I'm impressed you went with three at once." She added with a small chuckle.

“Exactly. Some people want their children to grow up too fast. Or expect their children to be mature at such a young age.” She nodded at that, "I'll never wish for that again, you have to enjoy every little moment whilst you have it." Marnie thought back to how fast Jack and Harper had grown - they were good kids but sometimes she missed their cute baby faces. “Oh congratulations on the newborn. Do you enjoy being a mother?” Her expression softened as always when she thought of her kids. "Thank you, I do .. I love being a mother. She was a surprise, but a wonderful one."

Marnie smiled to herself as she ducked down another alley of stalls, the scents of freshly grown produce a glorious way to start the morning. It was a wonderful way to wake the senses, the wafts of freshly baked bread and cheeses, along with pastries, fruit, vegetables and fish. The fish didn't smell quite as lovely, but the rest of it was right up her street. She was happy to shop at the local supermarket for a lot, but she preferred to pick up her fruit and veg from the farmers market. Not only was it guaranteed fresh and much better quality and size, the price wasn't and it meant she was helping the local farmers. Much better than shopping in a supermarket.

She had already picked up some peppers, mushrooms, green beans and potatoes, and she was on her way to the fruit sections, keen to pick up some oranges from a stall she often visited when a gaggle of kids suddenly came running at her. "Oop!" She exclaimed, drawing to an abrupt stop mid stride before they could knock into her legs. "Hey! Watch where you three are going." She heard someone call, assuming a care taker of the runaways in some form. She was already smiling when the owner of the voice came over. "I apologize. Are you alright?" Shaking her head slightly, her smile was easy going. "No harm done - they would make an excellent tag team," She joked - three at that age seemed quite a handful, that was for sure.