Ice Cream Truck

The big boys had an ice cream truck visit their school today.  Notes were sent home in advance so that the children would be prepared with money.  I sent each boy with $3 and instructions to return any money that they did not spend.  Houston spent every bit of his $3 (no surprise there) and Hayes returned some money to me this afternoon (no surprise there).  I let Hayes put his extra in his piggy bank.  It is so funny to see how their own characters and personalities show up in every facet of their lives.

This afternoon the big boys went on a bike ride around the neighborhood together.  Hawkins, Holt, and I were sitting outside enjoying the weather while Halle napped inside.  We could start to hear "It's A Small World" playing off in the distance.  Hawk's ears perked up.  Holt was oblivious because he has never experienced the magical ice cream truck.  Hawkins froze in anticipation of the truck as the tune grew louder and louder.  "Can we get some ice cream?" he asked very sweetly with his batting big blue eyes.  What he didn't know, is that when I heard the ice cream truck, I was already planning on getting them ice cream.  I don't think he actually believed that my answer would possibly be 'yes' because when I spoke it, his response was, "Really?!"  It was as if he were actually saying with his one word response, oh my gosh Mom, you never ever say yes.  Did I really just hear you say yes?  Or did I imagine it because I want ice cream so badly?

He jumped up and ran to the curb and began waving his arms, to which mini-me followed suit, though he had no clue what he was actually doing.

The truck was still far down the road but they stood there waving those arms like a survivor on a life raft off the Titanic.  At this point, Holt was feeding off of Hawk's excitement.  Little man could tell that something really mind-blowing was about to take place.  I pointed out the rows from which they were allowed to make their selection.

With ice cream in hand and the giddy kind of smile plastered on their sweet faces, we all headed back up the driveway to take a seat and enjoy their treat. "Mommy, is the ice cream free?" Hawkins inquired. He seemed satisfied with my simple, "No, baby." as he licked his sour cherry bar. Then after a few moments of silence and a couple licks later, "Wouldn't it be cool if it was free?!"

I've already mentioned in this post how Holt is Hawk's mini-me.  He does everything any of his big brothers does, but specially Hawkins.  The other thing you must understand about this dynamic is that Holt argues with Hawkins about everything, even the simplest of things.  Case and point follows:  Holt points at his popsicle and says, "Boo!"  (translation: Blue).  Hawkins corrects him, "No, Holt-y, it's green."  "No!  Boo!"

"HOOOOOOOOOLT!  It is GREEEEEEEN!"  "No!  Booooooooo!"

 

 

Holt spotted an orange cap peeking out from under my car and conceeded this battle (for now).  And once he acquired said orange cap, he cared no more for his sour watermelon that was quickly vanishing in the mid 80s temperatures.  I actually had to bribe him to continue eating his ice cream.  What's wrong with this picture?  I bribed my child to eat ice cream?!  I wanted the sticky red face picture.  Don't judge!

 



Though poor sour watermelon mostly just melted into a puddle of red goo, the boys enjoyed their once-in-a-lifetime occasional visit from the ice cream truck.