Josh Gets the Party Started

Last night as we were packing I told the kids we needed to weigh each of their suitcases to make sure they didn't weight over 50 pounds. Everyone was coming in right around 40 pounds -- then Josh walked in.

He was literally lugging his suitcase over to the scale and it appeared he needed to exert an enormous amount of effort just to lift it onto the inch-high scale. When the number came up as 96 pounds, I said "Oh my gosh! What on earth do you have in here?!?" I tried to lift if to confirm what the scale said and I couldn't budge it at all! He said he had just packed a lot of clothes and things and asked what would happen if it was overweight. I told him it would cost extra and he was going to have to figure out what to unload out of there, but he said he needed it all.

Well, this banter went back and forth for several minutes until he finally said, "Maybe you should help me go through my bag and try to decide what to take out." So he unzipped his suitcase and flopped it open and there lay.................................... TWO 25 pound dumbells. "Josh! What on earth?!?" "What?" he said, with a sly little smile. "I have to work out while I'm gone." He then burst out into the heartiest laugh I have heard from him in a long time. And he laughed and laughed and laughed. He thought his practical joke was HILARIOUS. I thought it was funny too but I laughed harder at the fact the he was cracking himself up.

That was a perfect way to kick off our adventure...light-hearted fun and sillyness. Really more than any of the things we are planning to do or see, I want our trip to be full of laughter and family bonding time. So thank you Josh for setting the tone, and let's get this party started.