Even Iron Man has Trouble with Girls

February 15 2011

Posted in: The Kids · Tags: boys, holiday, Jedi, school

I sent my oldest son off with a pack of Superhero Squad Valentine cards for his classmates this morning.

Because nothing says love like the Incredible Hulk, Wolverine, and Captain America.

A pack of Valentine cards that I had to talk him into getting in the first place by assuring, “Look! These aren’t mushy at all!”.

He still wasn’t happy about it.

Since school was closed yesterday due to selective parent/teacher conferences, they were having their party today, along with a celebration for the 100th day of school. I tried, I really did, to get him to do something, anything, for the 100th day. “We could draw a picture! We could bring in 100 suckers! I’ve got a great idea, how about 100 stickers!”. He flat-out refused. Fine, I finally agreed, but “you should really bring in Valentine cards for your classmates”. “Not Carrie-Ann!”, he stated in resolution, “she’s mean to me”.

He didn’t want to do that either, though, until I took him to the store with me. There, we dug through the selection of mass-produced sentiments of care until we came across the Superheros. “It’s either this or Hello Kitty”, became an easy decision once that ultimatum was delivered. Upon return home, we sat at his desk and wrote each name in the scrawl of 1st grade.

“But I’m still not making one for Carrie-Ann”, he repeated adamantly. And we didn’t.

I snuck a few extra in his backpack, though. Just in case.

These are my Valentines

February 14 2011

Posted in: The Kids · Tags: good, photos

Sunday Shoo!

February 13 2011

Posted in: General · Tags: teh internetz

After a bit of a dry spell, where we were all burnt out from the holidays and just life in general, From the Monkey Bars is back up and ready to go with a new design! Come by and check it out!

My recent articles at FtMB:

20 Easy Things to do on Valentine’s Day with your Kid
Digging for Gold – My 4 year old picks his nose and it’s gross. Help!

You can also follow us on twitter and facebook!

Lunch Lies

February 11 2011

Posted in: Daily · Tags: of course, sibling love

We scatter about for the brunt of our meals. Dinner is spent at the table, together, but breakfast and lunch are fair game. Buzz prefers to eat his in one of the bedrooms and Abby has taken to giving him company. Except most of the time, especially when chips are involved, this turns into nothing more than a food fight, with a mess of crumbs everywhere.

Having already cleaned up their toy chest that was dumped out, a pile of papers, a sink full of dishes, and all lingering kid things multiple times that day, I really wasn’t in the mood to vacuum a million crunched Dorito pieces. Then again, I also wasn’t in the mood to hear a 2 year old’s plaintive wails. So I let her eat where she wanted, which was anywhere her brother was.

“Don’t make a mess”, I stressed in mama roar, handing them their full plates. “If you make a mess I’m going to be mad.”

A few minutes went by as I managed to lose myself in a few bites of my own lunch. In that time, I heard a couple thumps on the walls, and many giggles.

“Did you make a mess?”, I asked hesitantly, perfectly content to sit in the safety of ignorance on the couch.

My question was met by silence. And more silence. Until Abby’s tiny voice rose up in a hushed, “Uh, no”. Which really means only one thing, uh, of course they did.

Merry Christmas to All

February 10 2011

Posted in: The Kids · Tags: Buzz, winter

We were geared up, stifled really, and waiting by the door for the last few minutes to tick by before we could depart to meet Jedi at his bus stop. When it’s so cold outside, I try to time it as close as I can, though we were ready for the extremities. Firetruck scarf, Darth Vader hat, mittens, gloves, Spiderman boots, faux-fur hoods.

There was still a few minutes left, though, so we stood at the glass door, impatiently glaring out into the packed snow. Cars pass in front and seconds churn while siblings bickered in full winter regalia back and forth.

All of a sudden, Buzz runs off to his room.

“Buzz, we’re about to leave!”, I remind, hoping he didn’t retreat to discard his many layers.

I had nothing to fear in that regard, though, as he even added on more to his outfit. Perched on top of his still-in-place insulated hood was a Santa Claus hat, the fuzzy dangling ball on the end batting from his face. Of course, as soon as Abby notices, she wants to wear hers, too.

So that’s how we wound up strolling past the other neighborhood parents like a holiday 2 months past its prime, with Buzz yelling “Ho Ho HO Merry Christmas!” at everyone we saw. Because we’re just that festive. I’m sure it didn’t look strange in the slightest.