Surprise!

As a special surprise to celebrate the end of a prodcutive school year and usher in summer, we found a groupon for the Gateway Clipper's "Good Ship Lollipop."  The kids had NO idea it was coming.  Every so often when we take our little river walks one of them would wistfully say how they wished they could ride on a boat, because they had NEVER riden on a boat before.   So one beautiful morning we decided the time was right and told the kids we were going to take a little river walk that day.  We walked several miles just like we always did, but then found ourselves in new territory....at the docks.  That's when we broke it to them that we were taking a "Pirate ship" cruise! 

 For a while we stayed up top and listened to the guide tell us about the various highlights of the city and historical buildings and landmarks.  After a while this pirate guy appeared and made each of the kids a sword out of a balloon and gave them pirate hats and patches. Then he took them all inside and taught them to parry and thrust.  When they had all learned how to use a sword, they took the pirate oathe which included NEVER brushing your teeth! The kids really seemed to like that part.  Then lo and behold, our pirate friend pulled out a treasure map and they all searched high and low to find the treasure.  When they did find the treasure chest, they were each allowed to pick two small trinkets out of it to take home.  

 At the end of the cruise I had two seasoned pirates who had sworn an oathe never to brush their teeth again. 

 The kids were getting hungry at that point and were rumbling about food.  Time to for Surprise Part B.....I innocently suggested we go home for boring sandwiches and Josh spoke up and said casually, "I know this little restaurant called Joe's...." which brought a lot of whooping and hollering from Ryan because he has been begging for sea food for WEEKS ( Red Lobster to be precise) because he LOVES shrimp.  

The kids enjoyed a pile of shrimp and played with their priate booty.   It was a really fun way to usher in summer!