Kodak Moments-Sort of!

Arriving in Florida today, Dave and Kendra, are celebrating their tenth anniversary, minus, Jack and Madelyn.  Although I would love to see the kids, we haven't seen them since June, this is a well deserved vacation for a very special celebration. A few years in the planning stage, Kendra had no idea her husband, Super Trooper Dave, our "adopted son" was, such a romantic.  Now the world will know, women will be jealous, (that's for you, Dave), I think it is just absolutely outstanding. 

Seeing them alone, no children brought back memories of our vacations, especially the first time leaving the kid's alone.  Mr. Bill and I, as patrons of many organizations, had purchased a raffle ticket to benefit  the 4-H Camp in Lebanon, Connecticut,  Never having  won a raffle, it was a pleasant surprise.  Although we could not take the week-long cruise to the Caribbean, they allowed us to take a few smaller trips.  One of which, was a three day trip to Montreal.  Mr. Bill, his first visit, mine a return, but nothing like I  remembered as a much younger person.   The three boys, alone at home for the first time.  Although, adults would be running Fred's News, it was limited supervision for the "young ins."  We actually decided not to tell the Grandparents until we returned, avoiding a negative reaction.  All phone numbers, contacts everything in place, the Egg-Nazi and I,"on the road again."   We hadn't been gone more than thirty minutes, the boys calling the paternal grandparents, just to let them know.  I do remember Grammy Hastings re-telling the story, "but Bob (that was Grampy), those boys are alone, do something!"  Never did get out of Grammy exactly what it was she wanted Grampy to do, but she was upset with her son and I.  We would of never gone if we hadn't felt the boys capable of three days alone.  Our youngest, probably ruled the roost while we were away.  Upon our return, the house barely recognizable, Mark's theory, "a place for everything, everything in it's place", except for his room, which resembled photos of a tornado's destruction, but then, he was only twelve.  Matt & Todd caring little about the shape of the dwelling.  We could always count on Mark to whip things back into shape!

We felt this trip would be a testing ground for future excursions,  We knew they boys had matured enough not mummify the youngest child again.  This dastardly deed done years early on a summer afternoon.  Although, we were only gone about three hours, it traumatized Mark for years.  This trip, we knew our responsible adult employees, would look out for the boys.  Without going into detail, stories surfaced years later, as well as pictures from the amateur photographer (Mark).  I believe he figured it to be evidence in case Mom & the Grump heard rumors of "friends at the house".  Obviously, this was one of those Kodak moments where they all flew under the radar.  Life in the Fishbowl, those days must of been in "murky waters!"