Ethan got to pick out ‘one snack’ for helping Mom go shopping at BJs (a Costco equivalent). The boys and I came downstairs to help bring the groceries in to see him carrying it.

Later I heard Alicia say, “Save them so we can take them to the movies.” What an image. I’d like to see him sneak that into the movie theater.

Well, for our anniversary in May, Rob was going to surprise me with a fun anniversary present. He was keeping it a great secret and getting me all psyched for it. Then I told him I didn’t care what it is as long as it didn’t involve heights. I am deathly afraid of heights. Then he got worried and said, “Ok, I have to tell you.” It turned out to be a hot air balloon ride. I wasn’t too worried about it at first, but then I started getting panicky when I heard about a couple in our ward who crashed on a hot air balloon ride. Rob had already paid for it and we couldn’t get our money back. Instead, the company would let us use the money toward other services, so when we were in Myrtle Beach, we took the kids sea kayaking and horseback riding. I think it was a much better use of the money.
The kayaking was a good lesson in cooperation. It took the kids a while to get the hand of rowing together, but they got it. I think it counts for something in scouts as well. The kids said it was their second favorite thing we did at Myrtle Beach. I recommend it.
It’s so great our kids are old enough to do adventurous things with us. The only problem was Nick and Ethan were too scared to get on the horses, so Rob waited with them until Ben, Gordon and I finished our ride. I guess if I can be scared of heights they can be scared of horses.

If you take four boys school clothes shopping….
You get one who’s semi-cooperative, but takes forever to change in the dressing room.
You get a couple who chase each other around the racks of clothes.
You get one who thinks it’s funny to play hide-n-seek in the store.
You get one who pokes his head under the dressing room to look at the people next door.
You get one who thinks he doesn’t need any clothes and refuses to try anything on.
You get tired of trying to find a pair of pants that fit a tall skinny boy cuz everything is made for fat kids
You get a mom who looks like a fool trying to keep everyone together.
You get that annoying know-it-all-mother-of-one who tries to tell you what to do.
You get extra clothes you don’t need because you just don’t want to go out with them again.
You get home and send them all to their rooms.
…but it’s all worth it when they go back to school.