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Ed Washington loved his job at a toy company because he was the perfect man for it. He is playful and energetic, sometimes even more so than his three children (Antoine, Marvin, and Tamika) and his adopted daughter Kelly. This personality has also helped him since he became the manager at Whit’s End in nearby Connellsville. Although Ed is a wise husband and father, he doesn’t hesitate to crawl on the floor to play with his kids.

Elaine is a stay-at-home mom, and Marvin and Tamika give her plenty of opportunities to perfect her parenting skills. Elaine and Ed are a wonderful complement to each other. She is more of a type A, while he is a type B. She gets more uptight about things, but trusts her husband’s judgment and has finally learned how to let him play and relax.

Mandy Straussberg is sweet and intelligent, but does have a stubborn streak. She’s had her share of disagreements with her best friend, Liz Horton. But the two of them have been there for each other, even through the tough times. Mandy’s brother, David, is sometimes too cynical for his own good.

Marvin is the middle child in the Washington family. Marvin doesn’t get excited much, but seems to end up getting caught in some wild adventures anyway. Marvin tends to get into trouble when other kids pull him into things he shouldn’t be doing. But with his father’s love and help, he’s learning to stand up for himself.

Tamika is the opposite of her brother Marvin in pretty much every way imaginable. She is talkative, funny, outgoing, playful, and a tomboy. She can beat Marvin in every sport. She has lots of friends and is always the one who decides what they are going to do. Tamika loves to try new things, and is always up for any challenge. Of course, this oftentimes gets her into trouble, as she has a tendency to try something new and not consider the consequences.