Tidying up the literature

Yesterday, I was reading a book that I wasn't sure whether I liked or not (actually, today I finished the book and I'm still not sure if I liked it or not).

It had one paragraph that I did not appreciate very much.  Since I own the book, I decided to edit out that paragraph so no one else would be faced with it.  Since it was just one paragraph about something someone saw I decided to cover up the words with address labels which happened to be just the right size.  The labels block out the words without bleeding through to the other side like a marker or pen would do.  It worked perfectly.

Josh commented on how I should jot down a phrase there to fill the space.  That seemed like a good idea, so I did (along the lines of his very astute suggestion).

There.  All better.

I like a clean book.

One SUPER family home evening activity

(I didn't realize it until after I'd written it, but this is also a very list-oriented post.  I do love lists, I guess it shows.)

 Last night, Aubrey was in charge of our family home evening activity.  The rules of the activity are as follows:

1. The activity must take less than 10 minutes (this is because people tend to choose things like "Monopoly tournament" or "practice building fires in the back yard"...both of which are fun, but tend to really stretch out an already crowded evening on a school night...p.s. their parents are spoil sports).

2. The activity must be able to be done in the family room.

3. Any mess created will be cleaned by the planner of the activity to return the room to its former level of tidiness.

So, Aubs had a plan that fit the requirements that would also let every be creative and delve into the arts (well, that's a stretch, but still) and it went like this:

1. Each person is given a slip of paper and writes down a ridiculous super power that a super hero might have (something that seems NOT particularly super) and puts it into a bowl.

2.  Everyone chooses a super power paper and draws a picture of a way that hero's power just might come in handy even if it is odd.

It was so much fun.  We had a great time laughing and teasing and it was interesting to see how people interpreted the strange powers into traits that could be functional in life.

Our DeMoux-created super powers included:

1. Can turn into a tree and just sit there.

2. Can always find the match to laundry socks.

3. Makes grass grow.

4. Can draw pictures with light bulbs.

5. Has super speed every time he/she sneezes.

6. Has the ability to make his/her nostrils ignite into flames.

7. Can sharpen pencils at will.

8. Has the ability to control the thoughts and actions of any sloth he/she comes in contact with.

Good times, good times.

Shoe thief (that's me)

My 13 year old son and I have about the same size feet.  He also happens to have gotten a really great pair of tennis shoes ('cause you apparently aren't allowed to say "sneakers" anymore) for Christmas. These babies happen to fit me (and him) perfectly.  Which is where the trouble started.

Because they fit us both, that means if he leaves his shoes out where I can get to them I sometimes put them on and waltz around the house in them to harass him (as one does).  Sometimes I don't say anything I just prance into the room and casually put lots and lots of stuff away around him until he notices and then chases me down the pry the shoes off my feet (which is entertaining to the nth degree for sure...I laugh the entire time...and there really is an easy fix, put your shoes away and I will leave them alone).

It's a good natured bit of drama, but he does tend to come running if someone calls to him I am starting to put his shoes on, or even that I am looking at them too long.  He sprints into the room save his leather pals from his mother any time the need arises.

And then, yesterday, I needed to go get the mail so I mentioned that I needed to go find my shoes since it was raining and wet outside.

But my son, with the sweetest smile you have ever seen on a teenage boy, excused himself for a moment, went to his room and then brought me his new Christmas shoes.

I always knew he loved me (even if he does things that make my eyes leak sometimes).  What a great kid.

The kicks in question.

Tooth Fairy Trauma

Sometimes the Tooth Fairy is a slacker (at least at our house).

She is also pretty trixy.  Sometimes she "hides" a child's money in his or her room and no one can find it until Mom comes in to help look (imagine you can see my face so you realize I am winking conspiratorially at you right now).  Mom has a knack for finding hidden Tooth Fairy funds for sure (more winking).  It gets pretty crazy.

In case you don't read emergent/phonetic speller this particular note says, "Please come, Tooth Fairy.  I really hope you come.  -Ellie's tooth."  (DO note the appropriate use of the apostrophe in "Ellie's"...that's my girl!!...even if she did accidentally spell her own name wrong)

Thankfully the Tooth Fairy is very responsive to tactics like this one and although she may have missed her one simple job as relates to homeless denticles the first night (maybe the start of a new year is a big time for Tooth Fairies) she did manage to get the job done on night II.  Ellie even got a note of apology from her winged friend along with her cash.  She was pretty pleased.

All's well that ends well.

Foul things from the Garage

Sometimes our teenagers forget to close the garage door when they leave for school.

So they get a ticket.

And they have to PAAAAAAY!!! (like actual money)

'Cause we are the meanest parents ever.

For reals.

Be glad we aren't your parents.

For reals (again).

Word.

Actual embittered teenager annoyed at being held accountable for his/her garage foul up.