To keep, or not to keep?

Alright, so most of you who know us well, know that Spencer and I have rarely given the other a present on a birthday, anniversary, or Christmas/Holiday.
Fact is we both are usually to excited to have the other person wait to open the gift, so it is usually given days in advance!

And so it is again this year as it is still 2 days before my birthday. Last night I opened one gift and just minutes ago, another! Now the one just opened today is where I need your help. The kids, with the help of Spencer (or vice versa) picked out and ordered online a new cycling jersey for me. Here it is...

Now, the question isn't weather I like it or not, I do, let me continue...

We are in tight with the postmaster, so she called Spencer when the package was in, so I wouldn't know about it. Wondering why it's in such a large package and also wanting to see the fruit of his labor and if it is acceptable, he opens it. Only to find that although only one shirt was ordered, five were sent.

Thinking that he messed up when ordering, he checked the receipt to verify and sure enough, we were only billed for one. So now here lies the question and test of morals. Do I...
a) keep them all feeling like it is my turn of good luck
OR
b) send back the other four?
I mean really, how does such a mistake happen. They had to get a big box vs. the usual plastic mailing envelope for such a small order, just so they could include the extra jerseys. I told Spencer, maybe they are trying to get rid of the stock to make room for newer styles/colors. (Is this what they call justification?)

Now some of you are thinking, "Didn't her parents teach her to be honest always in all things?" Of coarse they did and I know what the right thing to do is. I'm sure all my readers out there also know the right thing to do. BUT I want to know, What would you actually do?

Now your thinking they all look the same anyway, send them back. Well sure they all look the same, but I'm just out cycling in them. When I go out to run, it's always in a plain white T. I'm not in a fasion show displaying different colors and styles. Up until today I only had one jersey which is shredded on the right side from my wreck. So all the motorist who always see me out in my neon yellow all the time will now just see me in blue all the time thinking 'When does that shirt ever get washed?' But I will know that every day I'm really wearing a clean and fresh one. (only if satan gets the best of me, that is.)

So lets see who will win this one. What should I do? It in your hands/comments. I'm going to succumb to peer pressure here weather it's good or bad. Keep them or send them back? And why?

Rusty, This one's for you!

First off, let me say that the kids made it back from Cousins Camp and loved every minute of it. On the first day back Paxie asks to watch the CC video. (G-pa Hansen always puts together a highlight film of the event for all the G-kids who attend.) Paxton watches the one made from last CC often, even though she wasn't old enough at the time to attend.

Well, one small thing the cousins got this time around was a tempory tatoo. They all thought they were great (at least my kids did anyway). Sunday morning at church.... enter 12 'tough' looking kids with tat's on their arms!

So, let me get on with this. Caden accompanies Spencer to the hardware store one day and at checkout has both arms up on the counter. Spencer watches Caden look to where his tatoo is on his arm, which is hidden by his sleeve. Caden reaches over and pulls up his sleeve so his tatoo can be seen and puts his hand back down with both arms still laid out on the counter.

Throughout the week he has made several references to his tatoo, how much he likes it, doesn't want it washed off and so on. In one conversation he tells me, "Mom, I want to keep my tatoo on forever like Uncle Rusty." (Rusty is my older brother) He keeps bringing up how much he likes Rustys tat's and that the ones he now has on his own arm "Looks so coooool!"

So, when Caden comes home one day years down the road with his first real tatoo, I'm not sure who to thank more for the influence on his young and impressionable self. Uncle Rusty or Grandma Susie!!!

No class

So tonight we had the Elders over for dinner. One just got here last week, Elder #1. He's tall, medium build, likes basketball and this is what the conversation was about. The other Elder is short and lets just say a bit "round" and doesn't seem to have much interest in active things. Sometime ago, Spencer and other men (most of which are less active members) would play B-ball a couple nights a week at the church. Elder #1 wants to get it going again for fun on their P-day as well as establishing comradery with some less active members. Elder #2 says "I'll just sit on the stage and watch".

Spencer is giving them some names and describing the men to the Elders as to who may be interested in playing. At one point he mentions a guy and starts to describe him...."He's a big ole fat guy. He's huge...." at which point my head pops up and makes eye contact with Spencer. I'm thinking "what are you saying?" He realizes what he just said, a quick exchange between us and I turn my attention to the kids. Next thing I know the Elder #2 stands up, his chair flies back behind him, throws his napkin down on his plate and starts to lecture us about his "medical condition". We are feeling horrible and offer dessert to smooth things over. He accepts and calmly sits down with a smile at the bowl of ice cream I place before him!

Ok, so that last part was just my imagination. Out the corner of my eye I just see Elder #2 looking down at his plate, raising his next bite of food to mouth. I'm feeling bad and hoping it doesn't offend him in any way (as it wasn't meant to offend, just thoughtless words). It all ended nicely though and dinner/dessert was a hit.

The day has arrived

Finally the day has come. The day they have eagerly been waiting for. No, not me finally starting up a blog. I'm talking about the kids and "Cousin Camp"(CC). Everyday for the past two weeks, Caden and Paxton have been asking, "Is today CC?" And everyday I would crush their hopes, "No, it is in __ days."

Every two years Spencer's parents put on CC. All the cousins 3 and older get to spend Fri-Sun. at G-ma/G-pa Hansens house indulging in all the planned activities. Hiking, slip-n-slide, camping, crafts, games, cooking and all sorts of projects. This year there are 12 cousins attending. Thank goodness for the extra help of Aunts Lindsay and Rachel as well as Uncles Talmage and (fresh of his mission) Kimball.

Friday morning came and the kids were wild with excitement. They were packed and ready to go! 9am couldn't come fast enough. Here they are patiently waiting to leave.

Can you feel their excitement?

They all traveled up to Globe in two burbs with decorated windows warning other drivers that "Wild kids were on board" and "Honk for CC". Our drivers were a bit "wild" themselves! (I robbed these pictures from Jana's blog.)

And look Jana... poor Daisy, she like her other younger cousins not old enough to go yet was so upset.

She settled down real quick at the site of a bottle and the assurance that her day would come when she too could join the wild bunch for a coveted weekend at CC.