It's Raining Cheeseburgers

The boys and I saw Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs today in 3D and I now think everything should be made in 3D. It was so cool! I believe the last 3D movie I saw in the theater was Jaws 3 which would now barely qualify as 3D. It's odd to think that the boys don't even know about the earlier 3D versions just like they don't know what an album is. Anyway, the movie itself was entertaining and funny. It's always nice when a little humor is thrown in for the parents like comparing the weather to an amuse-bouche. I laughed aloud many times and the kids really enjoyed it too. Of course, we were already fans of the book so it was fun to see how that story was expanded and used for the movie. If you're going to see this movie it is definitely worth the extra bucks to see the 3D version.

p.s. For those curious...the boys barely made it into Mary Poppins before they were completely distracted by a game they made up involving the monopoly board and dice. I think the movie lost them with the suffragist song. It's not looking good for The Sound of Music.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

After a discussion earlier last week about long words, the boys have become fascinated with saying supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

This is interesting to me because:

a. They refused to watch Mary Poppins when I bought it after it came out on DVD

and

2. They have never been interested in the music - even if it was Harry Connick, Jr.'s version

I played them the song on YouTube and they went right to work learning how to say it. I believe Noah said it took him about 20 minutes to remember how to say it. Now Joshua has it down too and he is repeatedly singing parts of it over and over. He puts a different tune and emphasis on some of the words and uses a little different phrasing...

"Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, if you say it loud enough you'll be quite atrocious (he sings it out: aaaa-troooooooo-cious)"

I think that might be more accurate than the original lyrics. Actually, listening to him sing this in the shower was the cutest thing I've heard today.

They can't wait to watch the movie after school tomorrow. Finally! Next up, Sound of Music!

Things I've Heard

It has been a real adjustment going back to work full time and I am finding that if I have a few moments of free time I just want to sit in a vegetative state staring at the TV or play mindless games on Facebook. Now, over a month in, I am slightly less exhausted. I have high hopes of cooking meals that don't involve hotdogs this week and blogging more often. To begin, I offer you snippets of conversations from the past few weeks.

Noah started identifying sarcasm. I'm noticing that I use it frequently since he is continually saying, "Let me guess, you're being sarcastic?" I now have started ending things by saying, "And yes, I'm being sarcastic." He's usually right on with his sarcasm claim except for the few times he confuses it with my ambivilant responses.

Joshua asked if the plate and cup I was using were bought together. I said, "Yes, they're a cup and saucer." He replied, "Does that mean there's an alien in the cup?"

Noah: What's the strongest non-human thing?

Me: God.

Noah: Besides God?

Me: I don't know.

Noah: Gravity. Gravity is the power of a black hole and black holes can trap the speed of light.

- Noah makes my head hurt.

Noah and Ian at the store...

N: Listen, I can fart with my hands.

I: I can fart under my arm.

N: I can fart with my arm too.

I: I can fart with my legs.

N: You can?! I've never done that!

- The talent runs deep in our family.

Noah's Christmas List to Date:

• skateboard
• smartboard
• plane ticket to Wipeout
• violin - He refers to this as the unexpected thing on his list. Apparently, plane tickets to try out for reality shows are to be expected. If this list sticks he is going to find Santa extremely disappointing this year.

When Noah told me he would like to have a little sister I said that we weren't planning on having any more kids. This led to uncomfortable territory when he said he didn't get how you planned it. Yikes. I'm not ready for that conversation yet.

Finally, the latest was not a conversation but the reaction I got from Noah when saying goodbye at Kids Club this week - he shrugged me off! It was probably a good thing I was running behind, as usual, so I couldn't break down sobbing on the floor and really embarrass him.

- In case you're thinking I'm not paying enough attention to Joshua by his lack of coverage here, I must defend myself by telling you that Noah NEVER stops talking. It is only because his loud, piercing voice sears into my brain that I am able to remember any of what he says. Joshua is funny in a less "in your face" sort of way.

Mancala Challenge

While the boys were playing mancala we heard this funny from Joshua, "Not on my watch. (short pause) Do I even have a watch?" While Noah kept saying, "It's all about making your move in this game."

I was surprised to discover that their mancala game was much improved. Apparently, I was not all about my moves because Noah and Joshua both beat me and then Joshua went on to beat Noah. I think Noah was stunned to be beaten by his younger brother. Was it wrong that I was jumping up and down and doing cartwheels on the inside?

Sandwich Loaf Anyone?

I have been organizing the non-fiction shelves in my library. This was just supposed to be a quick rearrangement of the books so they were more evenly spaced and I could get shelf labels on, but outdated material is impossible to ignore. Several interesting books have been discovered but this was my favorite today.

I actually laughed aloud when I saw the cover. I didn't realize it could get better until viewing the step by step instructions for creating this snack.

Layer 1: butter and baked mushroom caps

Layer 2: butter (both sides of bread), ham strips and pistachios

Layer 3: butter (both sides of bread) and asparagus

Layer 4: Butter bread

To complete: Coat outside of loaf with butter. YUM!

With football season fast approaching you will have the perfect excuse to try out this fabulous new recipe.

Can you believe the copyright is only 1980?

First Day of School For Some

With a beaming smile, Joshua was off for the first day of 1st Grade. I was gone before anyone got up so it was up to Rich to get him to school on time and take the "first day of school" photo (although I did pack the lunch, had him set clothes out the night before and had his backpack ready by the stairs). I adore Joshua's new toothless grin.

Unfortunately, Noah did not make it to school due to his severe poison ivy or poison oak. His face is swollen with rash and the bumpy blisters on his hands are still very painful. He was extremely disappointed to miss the first day at his new school. He was upset to miss the engineering class he's been waiting for and that they were serving his favorite lunch (hot dogs & tri taters with s'mores). I tried to comfort him and reminded him that he would go to engineering the next time and that they'd serve that lunch again. His tearful response, "But not on the same day."

I also had my first day of school but no photo or hot dog for me. Still a good day.

Happy Birthday Noah!!!

The little boy that was bursting to start life and came seven weeks early, is eight today. He hasn't slowed down since. We celebrate you Noah. Happy Birthday!

Where's the Tooth Fairy?

Joshua lost his third tooth yesterday and he was just as excited as with the first. Cousins were notified and the tooth was promptly placed in a tooth pillow that I used when I was a kid (He recently found this in my trunk and claimed it for himself along with a "Be Happy" needlepoint pillow I made in 3rd grade.).

Unfortunately, the tooth fairy was tired last night and was once again late to arrive. Joshua made this discovery when he awoke at 6:07 this morning and checked for his dollar. He had left a note requesting $100 so I think he was surprised to find his tooth and no money at all. The tooth fairy got busy and was able to make the exchange unseen while Joshua was in the bathroom. She's so quick!

With two loose top teeth and Noah trying to wiggle another one out, the tooth fairy needs to get it together.

Cousin Time

The latest photos of time spent with cousins...these are the moments of summer I love!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Reading: It's a Good Thing

From the kitchen this morning I heard the sweetest conversation between Noah and Joshua that negates all of the brother bickering I've been hearing of late. 

Together they were looking at a library book about space. First, I heard excitement over finding a picture of the star Betelgeuse - they had just heard detailed information about this star from a  Louis Giglio video we watched on YouTube last week. 

Next I heard this:

Noah: It's in a constellation. Do you know what a constellation is?

Joshua: No.

Noah: You know how we looked at the Big Dipper? That's a constellation.

Joshua replied with an understanding "oh."

They continued to pour over the pictures and text. They compared planets to each other and discussed dwarf planets. I think we've finally pushed through to the good place of no TV week. Okay, very limited TV week.