Under Wear?

Every year, Lars grows at the end of summer. I know, because I bought back-to-school clothes in the July sales four years in a row and was annoyed each time to find the pants were too short (think flood-ready) by August. So, I haven't been surprised to observe Lars is taller each week lately. I have been surprised by how skinny his legs look! He's never been a skinny kid - even when he's stretched out in the past, he's always maintained a solid frame. This year, though, he's gotten skinny. I know it's not just my perception, either, and here's why:

The other day, the kids had broken a cardinal rule at home so hadn't gotten to have anything for themselves when Chris and I stopped at Starbucks for coffee. Ross was uncharacteristically accepting his frappucino-free plight with the grim look of someone who knows he has no chance. Lars was storming around the parking lot, alternately yelping and fuming, trying to stay both on the sidewalk and out of sight of either Chris or I (completely impossible but he gave it a very good try). Eventually, he realized he was going to have to get in the car, so he threw his entire effort into storming purposefully across the lot (between Chris and I, so not unsafe). Halfway across, his pants - selected for his usual solid frame - slid down to his knees, revealing boxers covered in rainbow-colored lizards. Undaunted, Lars shuffle-stormed the last bit toward the car and hurled himself into his seat, pants still half-mast. We let him slam the door, because VW has good sound muffling and we were hoping he wouldn't hear us collapsing with laughter by the rear bumper. Thankfully, Chris didn't spill either of our lattes, although it was touch-and-go there for a minute.