Boys and cheese

I recently took my beautiful nephew Ethan on his first airplane flight from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas. He was going to stay a little over a week with his cousin Austin.
The flight with Ethan was hysterical and predictable at times.
I thought I might have to console or comfort him at least a couple of times. WRONG!!! Where was the timid and uber-cautious boy I used to know? Not once did his brow sport even a bead of moist concern!
It was all excitement on the way to the airport. He was obviously disappointed at the security line (where according to him, his mother had told him to expect hot tracking security lights, barb-wire and manned machine-gun positions). He then grew impatient waiting for boarding. Excitement returned upon boarding but he was still cool enought to assume a blase position upon being seated . This worldly ease increased with the addition of Dino's i-pod. Then boredom again during taxing "This is boring! It is just like driving, only in a plane!" Take off was great and was followed by no less than 3 minutes of awe and excited interest before boredom returned. Lucky for us it is a short flight. The landing was excellent as the plane cruised down the entirety of the Las Vegas strip at virtually eye-level. And we retrieved our bags and were picked up and were off to Kurt and Elizabeths. Note the maturity of the picture. This is a man in the know.... sage wisdom has settled comfortably on his noble brow.

After about a week with Austin I had a day off and went to collect the boys and take them out for a frolick. The love of cousindom was wearing thin and they were bickering like an old married couple. We went to the Atomic Testing Museum which both of them really enjoyed... however, never did the same exhibit please both of them. One was alway entranced by what the other deemed BORING!

Then it was off to the Treasure Island for a quick lunch and some previously promised pool time. Oh just imagine my dismay when I showed up at the pool, full of adults holding their beers etc., standing room only in the pool, flirting, drinking... etc. And what did I bring to the party? Two adorable young boys, full of youthful exhuberance and energy. I believe I would have been more welcome had I arrived with an industrial sized bucket full of eels and released them into the pool.

We lasted about 5 minutes. I placated them with about $40 of arcade play before it was time to take them back home.

As we got into my car the boys noticed that the cheddar sticks I had bought them for snacks had melted in their clear plastic packaging and asked excitedly... "Aunt Michele, can we put this under the wheel and drive over it?" To which I shrugged and said "sure".

And that was all they could talk about on the way home. I should not be suprised to find out that after all the effort and money I could have been a hero to two young boys by just buying $3.00 of cheese snacks and running over them with my car. That sounds about right where kids are concerned. Bless their sweet simple souls!