That weekend at the Stonethorn Wetland Park.
Stonethorn Wetland Park was located on the outskirts of Shercaster City and roughly took a five-hour drive, but the Crawfords decided to fly there by helicopter, shortening their travel time to an hour.
The wetland park overlooked a lush forest landscape. Their chosen campsite was the meadow right by the turquoise lake.
"Wow! It's so pretty!" Lilly marveled.
Polly was perched on her shoulder and shrieking, "Wowow! So pretty!"
Hugh and Anthony were greatly amused.
Bettany watched all eight of her sons pitching tents and fetching water. It was an inexplicably warm and beautiful sight.
She couldn't help sighing. If it weren't for Lilly's return, the Crawfords might never have been able to reunite.
She smiled contentedly at Lilly from her wheelchair.
Lilly was chasing after a butterfly with the parrot following close behind her on its feet and squawking.
Hannah wasn't quite willing to follow along at first, but her laughter grew louder the longer she chased after Lilly. Their laughter reverberated throughout the grassy plains.
Lilly suddenly ran back with a purple clover in her hand.
"For you, Grandma! It's a flower that grants wishes!"
Drake and Josh, the two little boys weren't very close to Lilly and Hannah. Zachary, meanwhile, was slacking off on the air mattress with his legs crossed and scoffed. "Childish."
Edward and Liam, meanwhile, were putting down the tent stakes. Said stakes were hard to hold despite having been already inserted into the ground.
"Where's my hammer?" Edward asked.
Liam was taken aback. "You're probably the only person I've met who carries a toolbox around for a camping trip."
That was when Lilly darted over with a toolbox. "Hammers are right here!"
Edward's toolbox was far from small. It was half the girl's size.
The child was desperately trying to keep the toolbox high in the air to not drag it across the ground.
Her actions seemed strenuous, but she remained highly energetic.
Edward was quick to speak up. "Give it to me. I can do it myself."
Lilly waved him off. "It's okay. I can do it!"
She opened the toolbox and her eyes lit up at the row of hammers.
Edward bent down. "What do you think? My set of hammers are pretty cool, aren't they?"
The girl nodded vigorously. "Yeah! It's super cool!"
The man was happy to hear. "Do you like it?"
She bobbed her head up and down. "Yeah! I like it!"
Gilbert, who stood a short distance away, twitched. My adorable niece has been led astray!
Such a petite girl liked hammers?
Liam didn't hesitate to kick Edward.
Lilly had long since picked up a mallet and asked, "What needs hammering? I'll help you, Uncle Liam!"
The frank Liam answered her, "Here. Just hammer down the stake."
"Okay!"
The child swung down the mallet far thicker than her arm. The stake was hammered halfway into the ground with a resounding thwack.
"Bash! Bash!"
Lilly shouted as she struck the stakes.
She was like a happy little carpenter who was quick on her feet, speeding from one end to the next.
All four corners of the tent were quickly hammered firmly into the ground with her battle cries.
The Crawfords were greatly amused by the sight.
Just as Lilly was putting away the hammer, a car drove up and stopped in front of their campsite.
Tina alighted from the vehicle and exclaimed with pleasant surprise. "You're here too, Mr. Anthony!"
Cheryl poked her head and noticed Drake, who was quietly reading by the lake. Her eyes lit up.
She lifted her skirt and got out of the car in a very ladylike manner and spoke innocently, "Mommy, can we camp here? I want to play with Lilly!"
The girl's mother was stopped before she could even speak.
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