Property of Eldridge: Held Against His Will!

When we went to the Rangers game in July and toured Cowboy Stadium, Taylor and I were desperately trying to see where our seats would be come December 24. You see, I bought Cowboy tickets the same time I bought the Taylor Swift concert tickets (Cowboys-Philadelphia Eagles). This would be a great surprise for Carey for Christmas! I have been planning since that time how the kidnapping would go down. We couldn't tell Brooklyn because, well she's not a good secret keeper, until the night before and then she was threatened with everything - most of all with the wrath of my anger if she spoiled it!

In the beginning, we were planning on going to the Hudman's (dear family friend, Phillip), for Christmas Eve again this year. Carey had been fretting about what "white elephant" gift he would take (I already had mine picked out - hehe!) I was taking the best macaroni and cheese (Stouffer's frozen - yum!) as our contribution to the meal. Phillip had already told Carey what time we should be there - good team player that Phillip! So we are all set, minus the "white elephant" gift for Carey. I casually mentioned to Carey Friday night that we should go eat breakfast as Cracker Barrel. I said that B wanted to go there anyway because of Poppy - (Poppy, Carey's dad, always gave us Cracker Barrel gift certificates for Christmas. We didn't have the heart to tell him that we had to drive an hour to eat at a Cracker Barrel.) We then decided to sponge roll B's hair so it will be curly for the "Hudman's." My thought behind this was one less person to get ready in the morning. And then I proceed to threaten Taylor with "if you don't get up and get ready to go eat breakfast in the morning, I'm going to have a fit." (all part of the act.) Whew! Almost there!

We are all shined and polished, the girl's pillow pets and blankets are in the back of Big Silver, his Cowboys hat and hoodie are wrapped and in the back as well. After "waiting on Taylor" (the norm) we are off to Cracker Barrel! Keeping my cool, eating my bacon and grits, drinking my water (trust me, I already had a Dr. Pepper), staying calm. CHECK PLEASE! Carey's paying and I'm giggling like crazy in Big Silver and Taylor's right there with me! And we're off - in the turn lane, laughing. Carey says, "Where are you going? Sonic??" Ha!! Onto the interstate! "Where are we going? Take me home! Now! Where are we going?" It was almost like that 'ol "are we there yet?" I proceed to tell him that he has been kidnapped and he can now open his first clue or set of instructions. It's a picture of an eye. He says "eye? Eye 20?" Nope! Let me go ahead and give the instructions (these were all given in red envelopes):

Picture of an eye
Words "4 the"
Piece of red card stock
Picture of an envelope
Words "in the"
Picture of a glove
Picture of a box

Simple? Not so much! He is driving me crazy and even though I had them spaced out to give him one every 20 minutes or so, I had to go ahead and give him the first 3. I told him when we got to Duke's on the other side of Canton, he could have another clue. Would you believe there are 3 Highway Patrol cars parked outside of Duke's? Carey is not shy, so in he goes with his clues, lays them down on the table and tells the officers that he was eating at Cracker Barrel and the next thing he knew he had been kidnapped and doesn't know where he is going. The officers probably thought this shift is going to be a nightmare if it's starting off like this, but they were helpful and tried to help him figure it out. They even suggested that he might be getting a new red truck! Now this next part is embarrassing and very out of character for me. It was one of those things that it happened before I knew it happened. After we shew Carey on into the restroom I tell the officers "Cowboys game" (they all in unison lean back and say "Ooohh!." I then proceed to lift my hoodie to prove to them that is where we're going. Why else would I have on a Dallas Cowboys t-shirt on?? Awkward, that I halfway flashed 3 Highway Patrols! (sorry you had to see that Taylor.)

And we're off again. By this time, he is laughing and trying to be serious all at the same time. He's threatening us with "I'm going to be really mad," "Taylor, our relationship will never be the same," "I hope all of ya'lls Christmas gifts break (ouch!)" He even "phoned a friend" (Phillip). Too much already and open all of your clues, PLEASE! Once he found the red envelope in the glove box, he was all smiles and couldn't believe we tricked him!!

Yes, my dear, we got you! Merry Christmas!