Pt 2 of them (continued ver)

Chapter 238

Sam and Colby were gearing up for one of their most anticipated YouTube videos yet—exploring a notoriously haunted house. This time, it was a little different. Both of them had decided to bring their families along for the experience. Sam brought Katrina, Sofia, and Sarah, while Colby brought Malia, Caitlyn, Colleen, Liam, and Carter. Of course, with two families tagging along, packing was no small task.

Packing Essentials:

The haunted house adventure required both typical family items and some specific gear for the investigation. Sam and Colby, being pros at this, had their ghost-hunting equipment ready to go: EMF detectors, spirit boxes, cameras, flashlights, and backup batteries. But with their families in tow, the list grew exponentially.

For Carter and Liam (the youngest adventurers):

• Diapers and wipes: Both Colby and Malia knew Carter would need frequent changes.
• Carter's bottle: Colby made sure to pack extra formula and bottles, knowing Carter would fuss if he didn't have them.
• Snacks and baby food: Pouches of applesauce, crackers, and yogurt melts were carefully packed for Carter, while Liam's bag was filled with dinosaur-shaped snacks and juice boxes.
• Extra clothes: Malia packed at least three changes of clothes for Carter (including his favorite dinosaur-themed onesie) and two for Liam, just in case of spills or accidents.
• Strollers: Carter's stroller (the one where he could face Colby) was an absolute must for the trip, as they'd need it to keep him comfortable during breaks.
• Blankets and plushies: Carter's favorite plush dinosaur and Liam's stuffed tiger were packed to keep them calm during downtime.

For Caitlyn and Colleen:

• Matching pink backpacks with their essentials:
• Water bottles
• Coloring books and crayons
• Snacks (goldfish crackers and fruit snacks)
• Flashlights with unicorn stickers on them, so they could join in on the ghost-hunting fun in their own way.

For Sam and Katrina's kids, Sofia and Sarah:

• Sofia, being older, carried her own small backpack with her journal to document the adventure, her phone, and a small flashlight.
• Sarah had her favorite pink blanket and a snack cup filled with gummy bears to keep her occupied.

The Trip to the Haunted House

The two families piled into their respective SUVs. Carter, in his car seat, was nibbling on his bottle and occasionally babbling, while Liam kept trying to grab Caitlyn's flashlight. "Liam, stop," Caitlyn said firmly, holding it just out of his reach. Colleen was quietly coloring in her notebook, ignoring the chaos.

Meanwhile, in Sam's car, Sofia and Sarah were chatting excitedly about what ghosts they might see. "Do you think it's really haunted, Dad?" Sofia asked. Sam grinned. "You'll have to wait and see, kiddo."

Once they arrived at the haunted house, the adults got to work unloading the cars. Colby carried Carter, who was squirming and nibbling on the strap of his overalls. "Carter, buddy, we've got to get you a teether or something," Colby muttered, adjusting him on his hip.

The house was as creepy as expected, with its broken windows, overgrown yard, and creaky front porch. "Alright, everyone, stick together," Sam said, holding Katrina's hand as they entered. "And no wandering off," Colby added, looking pointedly at Liam, who was already eyeing the staircase.

The Haunted Exploration

Sam and Colby started setting up their cameras and ghost-hunting gear. Sofia and Caitlyn were thrilled to hold the flashlights and help "investigate," while Sarah stayed close to Katrina, clinging to her leg.

Carter, on the other hand, was a mix of curiosity and fussiness. Colby had set him down in his stroller, but Carter wasn't having it. He started squirming and whining, reaching for Colby. "Alright, alright, come here," Colby said, picking him up. Malia shot him a knowing look. "You're such a softie with him," she teased.

As the investigation began, the kids' reactions were priceless. Liam jumped at every little sound, clutching Colleen's arm dramatically. "It's a ghost!" he yelled when the wind blew a door shut. "Liam, it's just the wind," Caitlyn said, rolling her eyes.

Meanwhile, Carter was surprisingly calm, snuggling against Colby's chest with his bottle. But when a loud bang echoed through the house, even Carter let out a startled wail. "It's okay, buddy," Colby soothed, rocking him gently.

The adults tried to balance investigating with keeping the kids entertained. Malia and Katrina took turns wrangling the little ones, while Sam and Colby explored the darker parts of the house. Sofia and Caitlyn followed closely behind, shining their flashlights and asking questions about the ghost-hunting gear.

Wrapping Up the Adventure

By the end of the night, everyone was tired but in good spirits. The kids were full of stories about the "ghosts" they thought they saw, and Sam and Colby had plenty of footage for their video. Carter was fast asleep in Colby's arms, his bottle still clutched tightly in his hand.

As they packed up and headed home, Colby looked over at Malia and smiled. "Well, that was an adventure," he said. Malia laughed. "Let's just hope Carter doesn't have ghost dreams tonight."

Sam chimed in from his car. "Next time, maybe we leave the kids at home?"

"Maybe," Colby agreed, but he couldn't help feeling proud of how well his family had handled the spooky outing.