The Dawning Realization of Power

We had our annual barbecue for Kevin and the Triplet's birthday this weekend.  Like always, it's a lot of people consisting of friends and family that changes just a little bit each year.  This year, our niece was sick so her family didn't attend.  She is always in charge of the annual water balloons. Unfortunately, that part was left out of the party.

Until it wasn't.

I had bought a dozen water cannons for the kids at the dollar store.  They were left inside, unnoticed until  after the party.  When I gathered our stuff up in a big grocery bag, I left it next to Kevin on the deck.  What a rookie move on my part.

C2 (who is now sixteen and the most handsome boy who ever breathed, come at me bro) noticed the water cannons.  "What the?" and he smiles.  It's his superpower, and he knows it.

"No, dude, we're going to use those out at the lake. It's too late."

"Whose idea was THAT" he eyerolls in a comical way.

Five (baby nephew) wanders over because he is obsessed with C2 and also notices the water cannons.  Of course he takes one and says "What's DIS?"

Now C2 just smiles because he knows that the baby gets away with murder.  "Well, let me show you" he says.

They went to the ice chest and tried to fill the water cannon but there wasn't enough water. Well, there was just enough to show how it works.  That was all the baby needed.

After a few failed attempts, their grandma relented and got them a bucket.  And that's when the fight started.

It was a thing of beauty.  C2 showed the baby how to load the cannon, for real. Leaving himself unarmed. Foolish boy.

The baby lifted it up, started to push on it, and drilled C2 right in the chest with water.

The astonishment and dawning power that passed across the baby's face was EVERYTHING.  He belly laughed when C2 yelped and jumped away.  Immediately he's chasing his brother with the water, reloading and then swinging it like a knight when he ran out.

It didn't take long and the remaining four siblings were armed and ready. Then the parents and Uncle Kevin and Grandma.  (As the family photographer, I was unscathed. I'm no dummy)

Walking and talking is one of the milestones that everyone ooohs and aahhhs over.  A baby learning how to defend himself in a water battle is a right of passage in this family.

I wish I could post a better photo but their privacy is important.  

(If you know me in reals, you can see it on the social media.)