The Ford F-150 Power Wheels Fiasco (Lee's Version of Events)

1. Graysen is baptised. All is well.
2. We come home and eat snacks. Chuck and Deb talk to the Taylors. All is well.
3. The Taylors leave. All is well.
4. Everyone is bored. No one can decide what to do. All is not well.
5. Graysen and Caleb begin "riding" plastic buckets around the house. I remark that this is probably not good for our floors and ask Laura what happended to their ride-on toys.
6. Laura replies that they were sold.
7. I suggest that we buy a couple of cheap ride-on toys so they don't scratch the floors with make-shift items.
8. Being able to entertain myself, I put on headphones and read a book. Chuck falls asleep sitting up.
9. I take off the headphones. Chuck wakes up. We are informed by Laura and Debbie that we will immediately buy a $300 two-seat Dodge Viper Power Wheels knock-off for the boys to ride outside. The cost will be split. Caleb has already been trained to identify his new car on Wal-Mart's website. Caleb is excited about his new Viper. Chuck and I are afraid to say no.
10. Chucks says, "This is what I get for falling asleep..."
11. Chuck and Debbie decide that if they are spending money on this, the Viper must be running before they leave.
12. Someone asks Laura if she looked at the reviews for the Viper on the Wal-mart website. She has not.
13. Laura reads the reviews. The first ten say, "DO NOT BUY," and explain how the Viper breaks immediately after purchase.
14. Caleb is still excited about his Viper. Laura and Debbie are not so excited about the Viper anymore.
15. Laura and Debbie scramble to find another vehicle that is $300 and is available in the store. After much browsing and several phone calls, they determine that a Ford F-150 Power Wheel is available at a Wal-Mart in Greenville. Laura and Debbie are excited about the F-150. Caleb is still excited about his Viper.
16. I inform Caleb that Geoffrey can ride in the back of the F-150. Caleb is now excited about the F-150.
17. I look at the instructions for the Ford F-150 on the Internet and learn that the truck requires 18 hours to charge at first--more time than Chuck and Debbie will be in town. Chuck and Debbie decide that they can at least push the boys before they go.
18. The mini-van caravan proceeds to the Wal-mart in Greenville.
19. Everyone is astonished to see that the Ford F-150 Power Wheel truck is $350 dollars rather than $300.
20. Laura freaks out. A store employee is located.
21. The employee informs us that online pricing is different than in-store pricing. Laura fails to accept this and argues. The argument is unsuccessful.
22. Chuck and Debbie say that it is "up to Laura" to decide whether to spend more. I recognize this as a dangerous situation and suggest that we buy it online.
23. Laura agrees. Debbie agrees. Chuck wants to talk to the manager.
24. Laura and Debbie do not give Chuck permission to go talk to the manager. (Whew!)
25. Caleb still believes we are taking home a Ford F-150.
26. Laura gives Caleb a little matchbox F-150 and says we'll buy the big truck later. Caleb is concerned.
27. Laura gives Caleb her credit card as proof that the truck will be ordered on the Internet. Caleb is satisfied.
28. Caleb has to go pee pee, so I take Caleb to the bathroom. He refuses to go because toliet paper is in the toilet.
29. Laura and Debbie decide that we haven't checked enough Wal-Marts.
30. The mini-van caravan proceeds to the Wal-Mart in Boiling Springs.
31. The Ford F-150 at the Boiling Springs Wal-Mart has two prices on it, $350 and $330.
32. Laura ponders whether to spend more than the original $300. I again recognize this as a dangerous situation and suggest that we buy it online.
33. We go to dinner. It goes surprisingly well.
34. We go home. Laura orders the F-150.
35. Laura gets bored. All is not well again.
36. Laura and Debbie go to Target to buy Thank you cards. Laura and Debbie call from Target to ask if they can buy the two $20 ride on toys for the boys that I orginally suggested. We will split the cost. Chuck and I are afraid to say no.
37. Laura and Debbie return home. They boys love the $20 ride on toys.
38. We play Wii. Good times.
39. We go to sleep.
40. I wake up.
41. Chuck and Debbie wake up.
42. Caleb wakes up and plays with this $20 ride-on toy. He may or may not remember that he's getting a Ford F-150 Power Wheel.