March 2016

"Okay," said Jason. "Are you guys ready to start packing?"

"Yeah!" exclaimed Maddie and Noah.

"Get your suitcases, then," said Lyla. "You're going to need a lot of winter clothes."

"I can't wait to go skiing," said Maddie. "I'm going to coast down the hills!"

"Me too!" said Noah.

As Jason and Lyla helped their children pack, Lyla said, "I think this trip will be good for all of us."

"Yeah," said Jason. "It'll give us a week to ourselves, and Maddie and Noah a week with their grandparents."

"Motherhood can be tiring," said Lyla. "Especially motherhood of a nine and a half year old girl and a seven and a half year old boy."

"I'm glad my parents decided to take Maddie and Noah on their ski trip with them, since it coincided with their spring break," added Jason.

Soon, Maddie and Noah's suitcases were packed and they would be ready to leave in the morning.

"You know, Jason," said Lyla, when they had a quiet moment, "I've been thinking lately."

"Thinking about what?" Jason asked.

"You know, we've talked about trying to have a third child once Maddie and Noah were a little older and our jobs were more stable, right?"

"Right," said Jason. "It might not be easy, though. With my injury..."

"I know," said Lyla. "But who knows, we might get lucky. After all, we did twice before."

"Well, Maddie was before my injury," said Jason.

"I know, but it was still easy," said Lyla. "I mean, after all, with Maddie all it took was half an hour to ourselves in an empty classroom during the Holiday Ball."

"And Noah, talk about a shock," added Jason. "But I think we should probably speak with a fertility doctor, just in case. I mean, Noah may have been a one-in-a-million-miracle. We shouldn't bank on that happening again."

Lyla told Jason, "I guess you're right. But while we wait to make that appointment, we will have a week to ourselves, so we could still start trying the old-fashioned way. It worked once before. Who knows?"

"Try what? What old-fashioned way?" asked Maddie, who had just come in the room.

"Nothing, Maddie, go back to bed," said Jason. "You and Noah need to sleep, because Grandma and Grandpa will be here early to go to the airport."

"I'm too excited," said Maddie. "Besides, we can sleep on the plane."

"But I get the window seat!" added Noah, who had also come in.

"How many times have we told you not to fight over who gets the window seat?" asked Jason. "Grandma and Grandpa will help you figure out who will sit where."

"Yes, Daddy," Maddie and Noah both said at the same time.

***
The next morning, Maddie and Noah were up very early. They were excited to be going on the ski trip with Jason's parents.

"Look, Daddy," said Noah. "Do you see my shirt?"

"Very nice," said Jason, looking. "SpongeBob Squarepants."

"No, Daddy," said Noah. "It's SpongeBob Skipants. Can't you read?"

"Yeah, can't you read his shirt?" Maddie added.

Jason took a closer look at Noah's shirt. It showed a skiing SpongeBob and did indeed say SpongeBob Skipants.

"Oh, right," said Jason. Just then, Jason's parents showed up.

"Hi," called Jason's mother.

"Grandma! Grandpa!" Maddie and Noah called.

"Are you ready to go skiing?" asked Jason's dad.

"Yes!"

Jason and Lyla gave a list of instructions.

"And don't worry," Lyla added. "Daddy and I will take good care of Brownie and Marshmallow." Brownie and Marshmallow were Maddie's guinea pigs. As a ninth birthday gift, she had been allowed to get a pair of guinea pigs. Jason and Lyla had asked the staff to make sure the guinea pigs were females. They were not going to risk being overrun with baby guinea pigs.

"Well," said Jason's father, "the Street family ski trip is underway." Ever since Jason was young, they had always taken a ski trip every year. Jason had never been big on skiing, though, even before his injury, and had enjoyed the graham crackers and hot chocolate in the lodge better.

"You better get going," added Lyla. "You don't want to miss your flight."

"You're right," said Jason's mother. "It might accidentally take off on time."

Noah piped up, "Grandpa Mitch, would that mean hell finally froze over?"

Jason's dad blushed as he said, "Noah, I shouldn't have said that."

"But would it?" Noah asked innocently.

"Come on," said Maddie. "Let's get going."

"Bye!" Jason and Lyla called.

"Bye!"

"Have a great time with Grandma and Grandpa!"

"We will!"

As Maddie and Noah left to go with their grandparents on their ski trip, Jason and Lyla got ready to enjoy a week to themselves. It was a rarity that they got that, and maybe they could even get lucky and conceive a third child as well. They felt Maddie and Noah needed a brother or sister. And they felt that the time was right for that now.

Author's Note: Please review!