"we're going on a vacation!"

a few weeks ago (conference weekend) cole and ali came down from upstairs with their bags packed. cole announced that they were going on a vacation. I looked in his backpack to see what he had decided to pack. He had his PJ's and some toys he couldn't imagine leaving town without. ali was wearing her PJ's already so she just needed to pack toys in her bag apparently. Justin walked in the door just in time to see all of this happening. He asked cole what they were doing,

"we're going on a vacation!"

"oh where are you going?"

"on an airplane"

"oh, how are you going to pay for an airplane ticket?"

"I have money!" and he proceeded to pull out a handful of quarters, nickles, and dimes he had previously packed.

Justin said "well, I guess you are all ready, go ahead."

cole had this adorable look of "really!?" pasted across his face. and they headed out the door. Ali just kept saying the whole time, "we are going on vacation!"

she had fully believed her brother from the moment he brought up the idea that she was indeed going on vacation with her big brother.

so they headed out. little did they know daddy followed them the entire way. they walked around the neighborhood, but as much as they tried to avoid it they eventually came to a spot where a street had to be crossed. they stood frozen. after a few minutes Justin showed himself and asked what they were doing.

"we are waiting for someone to hold our hand so we can cross the street."

he had to try so hard not to bust out laughing at the sheer cuteness.

after a moment cole turned and headed back down the sidewalk and ali followed. they got about 1/2 way down the sidewalk when justin called them to come back home, saying that mommy missed them. ali turned looked at dad, thought for a moment and turned her back on him to hurry and catch up with cole. stinker.

he eventually prodded them home. where we proceeded to have a talk about only going on vacations after mom and dad have given their permission. (to avoid future excursions on their own since we said yes this time.)
it was too cute. ali would follow cole anywhere and fully trusts that he will take care of her. and cole is a pretty adorable and convincing big bro, I would probably believe him too.