Meet the Callahans

[lifeinhenford]

Katie Callahan POV

Being Emily's mummy is the best thing that's ever happened to me. To guide her tiny hands in the dirt as we care for our food fills my heart with warmth. She runs back and forth in the garden, giggling and babbling to every creature she sees.

In the afternoon once we're done with our hands on work outside, we take time to go over flash cards and learn to potty. I'm glad Emily is so bright, and her skills are building faster than I ever thought!

Sometimes it's hard being a working mum, especially when I come home dead tired at 2 am while starving and pregnant. But it turns out Emily also enjoys a midnight snack, so we eat a sandwich together and then I take her upstairs to read her to sleep.

There's nothing I wouldn't do for this little girl of mine. I can't wait to see what's in her future!

[lifeinhenford]

I can't believe it, but Katie is pregnant again! I only ever thought about having one child since I never had any siblings, but I can't help but be so excited to have another baby with her. I should have expected it a bit more than I did- it still feels like we're on our honeymoon most days!

Sadie came over and Katie told her the news- Sadie was happy for us but we could tell she didn't want to talk long about kids. She loves Wade and Marcus, but taking care of your siblings on your own can be tiring. The good news is that Sadie, Wade, and Marcus are moving to Henford-on-Bagley! It'll be so nice to have them closer and I know it will really help Sadie.

We called Kristyn too and it turns out she's pregnant with twins! She and Grant are so excited to start their family and we can't wait for our kids to be best friends just like all of us!

Emily came over and told her aunties everything about the baby in mummy's tummy and how she was going to be a big sister. Kristyn said she and Grant would need to babysit sometimes so they can start being proficient in baby babble!

[lifeinhenford]

Life has been great as a family of three! With my beautiful wife and wonderful daughter, I couldn't imagine anything better. Katie recently got promoted so she's working later shifts now. We've got a pretty good schedule where she takes care of Emily in the mornings while I tend to the farm, and then I take care of Emily and put her to bed once Katie has gone to work.

Emily loves our balcony bathtub with a beautiful view of Cordelia Falls. She's still living up to her title of flower girl and is at one with nature.

She loves to chat with the bunnies that live by the falls. They've all been named after the produce in the garden, while the new chicks have been named after her favorite fruits.

Emily and Daisy are best friends. Daisy has always been friendly, but I've never seen her adore someone more than Emily. I have to tell Emily to not play with her too much or I'll end up getting a milkshake when I milk Daisy in the morning!

[lifeinhenford]

Presenting Mr and Mrs Grant and Kristyn Westbrook!

Emily did amazing walking down the aisle and didn't put a single petal out of place. Now she wants everyone to get married so she can be their flower girl!

Kristyn and Emily love each other so much and Kristyn says she hopes she'll give Emily a cousin soon! I would love to have our kids grow up as close as we are- cousins are just extended siblings after all!

Kristyn and Sadie got this great picture together at the end of the night. They're mine and Katie's best friends and we love them so much!

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Emily has aged up! She looks just like Katie but with my (and my father's) eyes. We all came down to the Gnome's Arms to celebrate her this week. She's so smart and creative, and adored all of the pub's toys upstairs!

Kristyn, John, and Duke all came down to spend time with us. Even though they're cousins people think all of the time that they're siblings. They might as well be, seeing that they were raised right next to each other and Aunt Marina has been looking after Kristyn ever since Uncle Patrick and Aunt Cecelia died.

Kristyn let it slip that she's been seeing someone new! Grant Westbrook has been courting her for a while and they're completely in love. They seem like a good match, and Kristyn is completely happy with him.

She told us all the story about how he took her to the community garden and told her how much he adored and valued her.

It turns out, not only are they seeing each other, they're engaged! They don't see any point in waiting, and now that Emily is a toddler, they'd like her to be their flower girl. Emily is, of course, over the moon about it. She loves her dress and the idea of throwing flower petals everywhere. I'm sure glad I don't have any flowers in my garden for her to practice with!

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Here we are, Emily Marie Callahan! She's the most perfect baby in the world and we adore her.

She is everything we could have hoped for! She is the quietest and sweetest baby so far, and we named her after Katie's grandmother and Katie herself.

Sadie came over with the news that Aunt Marjorie passed. We asked Sadie if she'd like us to take Wade and Marcus in as we have the room, but as she just aged up to young adult and Wade into a teen, she feels they'll be able to manage on their own.

Aunt Marjorie was so wonderful and a real matriarch of our family. I'm so glad we have so many stories of her to look back on in years to come.

[lifeinhenford]

Finnean Callahan POV

Breakfast with Katie is one of my favorite times a day. We love cooking together and move perfectly in sync in the kitchen.

I thought we should take a few photos of Katie while she was pregnant to remember this amazing time, so she pulled a few poses after we were finished in the garden.

Then she turned it around on me and started snapping pictures! So here are my paternity photos! I'm ready to be a dad!

The family went to Marina's house to catch up with each other after losing Aunt Saoirse this past week. Aunt Marjorie is doing as well as can be, and spent all of her time gushing over Katie's bump.

We all spent time reminiscing about Aunt Saoirse, and though she died when Wade and Marcus are still children, they'll always have stories of her.

[lifeinhenford]

Katie Callahan POV

I love Finn so much. I've never known a more caring soul than him and he makes my heart soar.

We went on a date to the Isle of Volpe to do some foraging since I haven't been able to go in a while. Finn is so supportive of my crazy schedule as a chef, and it's about to get crazier if I get the promotion I'm hoping for!

We went back home and I wasn't feeling very well so I took a bath to relax. I still wasn't feeling well so I decided to take a pregnancy test.

It was positive! I ran outside to tell Finn and ended up yelling it across the barn I was so excited! Finn couldn't believe it!

Of course, we called Sadie and Kristyn to come over so we could share the news! They're so excited to be cousin-aunties!

[lifeinhenford]

Today I married the love of my life, Katie Marie Callahan. We got married in front of the home we built together, next to the garden we work in together every day. Agatha Crumplebottom, the woman that introduced us (her matchmaking never rests), sat in the front row as we vowed to have and hold each other for the rest of our life.

Katie served up some of her incredible aubergine parmesean, and we talked with our loved ones all night. It was a night to remember, and I think these pictures are worth a thousand words.

[lifeinhenford]

This morning, Katie and I cooked breakfast together in our new kitchen. We completely remodeled the cottage into the perfect home for our family. I'm amazed at what Katie dreamed up and the home that we've created together.

We ate breakfast together in the dining room, and talked about the Finchwick Oversized Crop Fair later today. My aubergine didn't quite grow in time, so we're both baking pies to enter in the competition.

Before we left for the fair, we took care of the farm chores. Since Katie is a chef, she loves working in the garden and growing the best ingredients. I'm teaching her all of the tricks my parents showed me and she's taking to it like a duck to water!

The fair finally started and Katie and I entered our pies. I've had the pleasure of tasting all of her test pies, so I can safely say that while mine was good, hers was perfect.

I looked at Katie and thought about all of the years I had been coming to the Finchwick Fairs. I thought about bringing our children here with her. I wasn’t planning on it, but I found myself going down on one knee and pulling out Mum’s engagement ring I’ve kept with me ever since she passed.

Katie,

One year and three months ago, I was dating an amazing woman. I was absolutely gone on her. I adored every single moment we spent together. And I was so excited about our future. She’d met my family, and I wanted to invite her to spend the night soon. I thought maybe, just maybe, if she can stand my smelly feet and the roosters, I could ask her to stay forever. But then my Dad died. And Uncle Colm. Then Mum, Patrick, and Cecelia. You never left my side. You did end up staying over lots of nights, and you held me together through them. You kept me and the farm going, and helped my family through everything. I love you more than I ever thought possible. You bring color to every inch of my life. I can’t live another day without the sound of your laugh in the kitchen, and hearing you hum in the garden. We’ve built the perfect home together, and I want to fill it with love and laughter and children. Be my wife, Katie. Grow old with me, will you?

For some crazy reason, she said yes! I can't believe that she loves me as much as I love her. I'm the luckiest man in the world.

As ever, our family was over in the Gnome's Arms, and we ran over to tell them.

We told the aunts that we want to get married as soon as possible, and they immediately launched into planning mode! Since Aunt Saoirse has a catering side to her restaurant, she has loads of contacts in the industry. We had to pull her in a bit when we told her we just want a small party with family at home.

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Katie and I went to Willow Creek to meet my new cousin! Life has been so busy with those we've lost that we've barely had time to focus on those that are new. We chatted with the proud siblings Sadie and Wade before heading inside to meet the new Marcus O'Reilly.

I love how close Katie and Sadie are. Katie has blended in so well with my family, sometimes people don't know that I'm the one related to them! With Katie not having family here of her own, I'm glad she has mine to rely on.

On our way back home, we stopped by my favorite spot by Cordelia Falls. I told Katie how much she means to me and how glad I am to have her in my life. She's been spending nearly every night at my cottage, so I asked her if she'd like to make it official and move in. She was so happy and said yes!

Here we are, in front of what is now our home! I can't wait to wake up next to her every day.

[lifeinhenford]

I've spent more time in the kitchen lately, thinking about Mum. I loved cooking with her, and working alongside her and Dad. They taught me everything I know, and I would be nowhere without them. Katie and I sorted through their house this weekend, and I found some wonderful photos I had forgotten even existed.

A day never went by where she wasn't chatting it up with friends or family. There was always someone at the house or she was out visiting people. She ran more errands than anyone else in town. She wasn't the mayor, but she might as well have been. We've laid her to rest at the Gnome's Arms, along with many other members of our family. She loved being there with her loved ones, and now she always will be.

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Aunt Saoirse called this morning saying that Mum had passed last night. I knew it would happen sooner or later, but after losing Aunt Cecelia last week, I was hoping it wouldn't be so soon.

Katie knows just what I'm feeling and has been amazing. She and Mum had grown close together, and I know she's hurting too. I was in the middle of my chores when I got the call, and she took over for me and told me to call my cousins.

She's taken care of the farm all on her own, and Daisy and the chickens adore her. I would be absolutely lost without her. Since both Uncle Patrick and Aunt Cecelia are gone, we weren't sure where Kristyn should stay. She was very firm that even though she's still a teen, she can take care of herself. She still goes to Marina's house most days and helps look after John and Duke.

Uncle Patrick and Aunt Cecelia were amazing people. They were always there to help me out and lend a friendly ear. We'll miss them very much.

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The family gathered together today at Colm and Marina's house after the news that both of my uncles Colm and Patrick passed. Marina is having some trouble coping especially with the two boys, so we've all come around to try and help.

Katie and my mum get on like a house on fire, and the aunties love her too. She's cooked up so many meals for everyone during all of this, and her cooking has the seal of approval from Aunt Saoirse.

It's hard that my parent's generation are passing at the same time, but it's made me cherish the time I have with my family. I've been spending as much time with them as I can while we get through this.

[lifeinhenford]

We lost my Dad last night. Mum called me this morning, and we've spent the day talking about Dad and reminiscing.

Katie has been amazing helping Mum and I through this. Mum says Katie is the daughter she never had, and that Dad felt the same. He would have been happy to know that we've finally got together.

He lived a life full of love and joy

He was an amazing father and the greatest man I have ever known.

[lifeinhenford]

I invited Katie over this afternoon as I was making lunch. I had collected some new mushrooms by the falls, and I wanted her opinion on the soup I was making out of them (after saving some to plant, of course).

We ended up making the loveliest soup, which of course would have been awful without Katie. She knew exactly what to do to highlight every element of the mushrooms!

Seeing Katie there in my home, I couldn't hold back the words. I told her that I thought she was amazing, and that all I wanted was to kiss her and laugh with her all of the time. I can't believe it, but she felt the same!

I took her to a club in Willow Creek Sadie told me about, and we spent the whole night wrapped up in each other. I know she's the one for me.

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I spent some time this morning running errands for my neighbors. Agatha has to know the latest gossip and sent me on a matchmaking scheme of hers. She's always looking out for potential lovebirds in the town!

Later on, the whole family got together at Colm and Marina's house. There's so many gray heads bobbing around now, they outnumber the gingers!

We all made our way down to the Finchwick Cow Fair where Daisy and I entered! We scored third, but my girl was the best one there. They really enjoyed her milk though, and it earned first place!

I invited Katie to the fair with us, and she got along so well with my family! Sadie and Kristyn spent a lot of time joking and laughing with her, and Mum said they had a third pea in their pod by the end of the night. Mum and Dad really liked her as well, but I made sure to tell them that Katie and I are just friends. I really really like her, but I want to get to know her well before I say anything to her. I won't lie, I'm a bit nervous about telling her of my feelings. She's so dear to me I wouldn't want to lose her in my life.

My cousin Duke was excited about all of the entries in the fair, just like I was at his age. He entered a fire milk that came in second! I was so impressed and can't wait to see what he'll enter next!