a couple of laughs

Patrick (my brother), was talking about somebody's chubby little baby. He called it a "fat baby."

Miranda (in a huff): "Patrick! You shouldn't say that!"

Patrick: "Why?"

Miranda (still in a mad voice): "Because he's a child of God!"

Patrick: "Yes. But he's a fat child of God."


Then yesterday, my siblings and parents and the marrieds and kids were all in the front room. Fernando and I had both recently changed stinky diapers by Sammy. Then Fernando, upon whiffing something foul, said,
"Dude, did you go poops again?"

Katie, not looking up: "Yeah...." pause... "Wait, were you talking to Sam?"

spidey

Last night Sammy couldn't (wouldn't?) sleep from around 3:30 until 6 something when I finally got up with him and Miranda who had woken up as a result. He's asleep now at 10:12 am on the floor in the family room so I guess he'll be okay. But that is beside the point of this post. This is the point:

Sam loves Spiderman.

I know this for several reasons:

1. He always asks to watch the DVD of either spiderman 1 (which is no longer working because of his constant carrying around of it) featuring the green goblin or spiderman 2 (working...for now) featuring Doc Octopus or whatever his proper name is--we call him Octopus Man--instead of asking to watch movies more 2-year-old-ish like even Cars or Bolt (which he also loves).

2. He and Miranda act out a play of Spiderman. It is by far the coolest play. It begins with Sammy as Peter Parker just walking around (literally he turns around in one spot) until he gets bit by a spider (Miranda...who informed us she is filling this role only until our new baby is born, whom she has also cast as Harry the friend/enemy of Peter/Spidey)(Which gave her another reason to be glad we are having a boy so it sounds great to me).
Then he wakes up and notices his strength increasing--really REALLY good acting here by Sammy--spikes forming on his fingers to help him climb, climbing skills he demonstrates on the couch and wall, and, not to forget, the ability to shoot webs out of his wrists.
The play continues with the Green Goblin (me) capturing MJ (Miranda again) and Spiderman thwarting me with his webs. Then Octopus Man (Fernando) captures MJ and Spiderman defeats him too (whereupon Spiderman gives out a gleeful un-manly squeal in this version) and proceeds to embrace the much taller but gorgeous MJ as the grand finale. I love this play.

3. If his constant requests to either watch the movie or perform the play (at a variety of venues, I might add) did not confirm his love for Spiderman, his recounting of the play to me at least 40 times last night as I tried to get him to sleep demonstrated the depth of his committment to the character. I think you might see Spidey back on this blog at Halloween.

4. He asked to be painted as Spiderman of course at our block party a few weeks ago and one of the sweet young women did a great job. He loved it. Even if it did leave his face pink for days.


Miranda asked to have a princess crown (also a big surprise ;)

but spent most of her time dancing like a gypsy with some other neighborhood girls for the decent, respectable members of our neighborhood. Oh well. You can't keep that kind of talent hidden.

All in all I have to say that luckily I have realized that I am a mom who actually enjoys the magnification of imaginary play and characterization to this level where it takes over our lives day after day. This realization is probably not a big revelation to those who know me but still, it helps when I am up going through the script at 4 am with my 2 year old Spiderman.

cuuutest

Sorry to be the braggy aunt, but isn't he the cutest?!!!
(You have to click on the word "he"...sorry...I can't copy the pictures here.)
(Too much technical stuff, plus my link didn't show up well...APOLOGIES.)

slimy yet satisfying

After a rainy day, the kids were wandering outside with Pa and Grandma Cynthia and about a-half-an-hour later they came in and dragged Fernando and I outside to see their "collection" of pets.

We knew they loved snails. We just didn't know how much...