Sam-Imagination

This is going to sound childish…but do you know the Spongebob episode where he and Patrick order the big screen television and then toss it aside because they really just wanted the box?  Squidward things they are crazy because they could have this beautiful television, but all they want is the box.  The reason: so they can use their imagination…or as Spongebob says as he spreads his hands above his head and a rainbow and sparkles appear “IMAGINAAAAAAAATION”

 

It’s one of my top three favorite Spongebob episodes, because the stuff Squidward hears happening in the box is unbelievable: a shootout with cops, an avalanche complete with rescue choppers and an alien pirate war that drags on for hours.

 

Every time Squidward hears something he runs out and opens the box and finds Patrick and Spongebob simply sitting inside with goofy smiles.  He asks how they did it and Spongebob gives him the rainbow/imagination explanation.  Funny as hell…but it’s one of those you have to see to really enjoy.

 

The reason I bring it up is because this afternoon I heard the same commotion going on inside Maddie’s closet. 

 

She got a new Hannah Montana flashlight as part of a Hannah Montana sleepover set.  I finally bought batteries today and she and Parker and Jack grabbed the flashlight and made for the closet in her room.  Three little kids in a closet the size of…well, a closet. 

 

I heard so much coming from inside the closet.  Laughing and talking and instructions and stuff being moved around and kids bouncing off the door…basically everything but the avalanche.  Every now and then one of the kids would emerge to tell of a scrape or clothes falling off a hanger or to drag some other toy inside, but other than that there was a party going on in that closet.

 

It reminded me of the Spongebob episode but also made me want to be a kid again…that along with some other issues I have going on right now that make me long for the innocence and carefree life of a kid.  It made me want to throw open the door and cram myself in there with them and see what adventures they were creating.  Maybe this weekend I’ll grab a flashlight and a few beers and jump in my closet and see what happens.  Everyone’s invited…it’s a big closet…just BYOB and flashlights.  I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Emilie: Edward the Elf (on a shelf!)

Or in this case Edward the Elf was on a table!  Can you find Edward?  Anthony did with no problem!

There he is!!!!

Doesn’t he look like he’s up to no good??? Anyway, I hope his report to Santa last night was a good one!

Click here to buy your own Elf on a Shelf or check your nearest bookstore.

Sam-Mr. Booty

Parker’s latest craze is saying the word “booty” whenever and wherever possible.

 

As far as I know this doesn’t come from me because I know I don’t play excessive amounts of K.C. and the Sunshine band.  I’m pretty sure it doesn’t come from his mom or day care or any of the usual suspects.  My money is on the simple fact that Parker is a boy and saying words like “booty” or “weenie” or “booger” rank right up there as one of the best things in life for a three year old boy.

 

Examples you say?

 

His favorite overuse of “booty” is riding in the car.  He makes up nonsense songs in which the only word is “booty”.  No particularly recognizable melody, just booty lyrics.

 

The bigger annoyance for me and the other kids just about every time is the simple repetition of the word “booty”.  It’s so bad it’s almost like a form of brainwashing torture.  You just hear “booty, booty, booty, booty” over and over until you snap.  It makes me yell, it makes Jack scream, Maddie will cry…Sammy and Will of course think it’s funny.

 

And he’s also mastered the varied delivery technique when he says the word.  You get it screamed.  You get a simple quiet delivery.  Don’t forget the pensive “booty?” as a question.  There’s “booty” as a taunt.  In fact I must give him props for the many ways in which he has found to deliver it.  It reminds me of an actor searching for the right delivery of “to be or not to be”.

 

He’s even worked it into bath time.  He likes to be a big boy and bathe himself.  I oblige but control soap dispensing because a full bottle a night was getting expensive.  I pump a little and tell him to wash his hair…he does.  Pump more and do your arms and belly…no problem.  Then the part I hate because it is the same predictable routine every night, without fail.  Pump and “wash your butt” is followed by a spin around until his butt faces me and as he sticks it out and glances over his shoulder he begins to bounce up and down while rubbing soap on his butt repeating “booty, booty booty…” until I beg him to stop.

 

Annoyed yet? Or laughing?

 

Well this past week the new addition is working “booty” into the Christmas songs he learned for his school play.  There’s the “Wonderful Love of Booty” in which Jesus is replaced by booty and there is “Jesus Has a Booty”.  Both funny titles in and of themselves, but not what the writers had intended, I’m sure.

 

With mom surgically out of commission for the next 6 weeks, I’ve got the twins full time and I guess I’ll be in for my fair share of “booty”…wait…if I read that right it actually sounds pretty promising.

 

Happy Bootydays!

Emilie: Running 6 miles…wait…WHAT?!

So Jodi and I have started “long runs” each week now.  One run a week has to be 1 mile to 1.5 miles longer than your “base” miles for the week.  SO last week my base was 4.5, so I thought to myself…what’s another 1.5 miles for a “long” run???  Uhhhh… A LOT.  Then the next day we have to run a “recovery run”.  It’s a 1 – 1.5 shorter than your base….so 3 miles for me.  That was THE hardest 3 miles of my life.

These runs are really testing me and I love it.  It really makes me push myself – mentally.  I feel like I can physically do this, but it’s the mental part that pushes me to the brink.  And I LOVE IT.

So go get some new shoes and start pounding the pavement. You’ll feel great.  I promise.

Santa and his little brown suit

Holiday shopping is something that finally after 20 years has become more of what I have hoped for.

Step 1 – Listen well.

Step 2 – Write it down

Step 3 – Order it early.

Step 4- Vow to keep December stress free.

It’s really surprising to me how much we save by not “stress shopping.” Buying early means planning, and it really does cut the cost.

Plus it’s cool to see the brown truck, and the striped truck show up in front of the house in September. It’s also cool to leisurely walk the mall with the kids at my own pace, and not in a frantic mood.