breaking wind and other stories

We've been having lots of fun at our house, but blogging without any pictures isn't very motivating. I need to develop the pictures from one of our disposable cameras soon-- but until then you are going to have to use your imaginations. A couple of funny things have happened recently.

Zack is as crazy as ever. He's got a few one-liners that have to be written down. It's been windy here and Zack hates the wind. I believe scout day camp (one of the windiest days ever!) scarred him for life. While out on a bike ride the other day, he started SCREAMING and couldn't ride his bike back home. I was not about to carry him or his bike, so I gave him a pep talk. I told him that he was a super hero and he had special powers against the wind. He was stronger than it and every time it came to blow him away, he could ride through it. I could see his shoulders puffing up with pride as I talked to him about how powerful he was. Eventually he was peddling fast and he started singing a song that went like this, "I am breaking wind.. it, it, it is fun." (it's much better with his made-up tune.) When he got home, he sang it for the rest of the family. Ben and Luke thought it was hilarious because "breaking wind" has another meaning... Boys love to talk about farts! Anyway the breaking-wind song is catchy and now all of us are singing it.

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Yesterday, Zack was anxious to play video games. As soon as his toys were cleaned up, he ran over to the video game cabinet and before he opened it he announced, "HEY GUYS! THIS IS WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS!" I love his enthusiasm for everything. I honestly don't know where he comes up with his material. He had to have heard that from somewhere, but when I asked him where he said, "Sometimes my brains just think of things!"

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On Saturday afternoon the boys were busy playing outside with their friends. Our neighbors are Hawaiian and have three boys as well... they are just about the cutest kids on the block. All six boys were out playing basketball, riding bikes, drawing with chalk on the sidewalk, etc. I came inside to put the baby down for a nap. Eventually my kids came inside, closed the garage and changed into their swimsuits to head out to the trampoline. A while later (I can't say how much longer, but I am making myself feel better by assuming it was about ten minutes) I went out into the garage to throw away some garbage. I turned on the light and low and behold! A little boy is playing in our dark garage! He is about 3-ish and wasn't crying or screaming for help. Instead he was turning around on a little sit and spin toy we have. I asked him if he was okay and he nodded his head. Then I opened the garage and without a word, he scurried on home. I am so grateful I went out there sooner rather than later. And I cannot believe he wasn't traumatized to be trapped in the neighbors dark garage. The sit and spin toy must be mighty entertaining!

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Yesterday I took my kids bowling at Red Rock Casino. It's only $1 a game on Mondays (they are canceling this awesome deal at the end of the month-- so we're going as often as we can.) We were lucky enough to bowl in a lane next to the sweetest elderly woman and her grown son. Dolly (whose real names is Diane, but she goes by Dolly when she's bowling) chatted my ear off about HER four sons... no daughters. She was so sweet and enthusiastic about my young boys and laughed every time they gave each other a high-five. She dotted over Simon and told me that boys are much better to have than girls.. (I would like to experience both for myself before I form my opinion :) I enjoyed talking with her and complimented her on her game. The lady knows how to bowl! She showed me her new bowling shoes and tried to introduce me to her single 40 year old son. I kept mentioning how much I loved my husband who was working hard. While we were busy talking, Luke was getting a little crazy throwing the ball down the lane and it got stuck in one of the gutters. This happened earlier with Zack's ball and a worker came to rescue us. So we waited... and waited, but a worker never came. I was about to put Simon in his stroller and go fetch it myself, when Dolly insisted on getting it. I should have put my foot down and never allowed her to do it, but she scurried out there to retrieve the ball.. It all happened in slow motion. I KNEW she was going to fall-- and I wanted to warn her, but for some reason, the words didn't come out. I watched her 68 year old, heavy-set body run out on the lane and her new shoes literally came out from under her and went over her head. It was SUCH a hard fall. I felt terrible. Inside I was crying, but outside I was laughing. I used Simon to guard my giggles... WHY can't I be an adult and NOT LAUGH when something terrible like this happens??? Her son ran out to help her and almost lost his footing while scooping her up. (those lanes are mighty slippery-- beware!) By the time Dolly came back, I had wiped the smile off my face and gave her a hug. I told her how bad I felt and she explained that she falls all the time-- she even fell the day before at PetSmart. That didn't make me feel any better. For the next hour, Dolly bowled and rubbed her sore behind. Each time she rubbed it, I giggled. I couldn't get the terrible picture out of my head... It was like a bad clip on America's Funniest Home Videos that they keep playing over and over and every time you see it, it gets funnier. Honestly, I was very relieved when it was time to go so I could laugh in private. I gave her another hug, told her I hope her youngest gets married soon (she's pretty anxious to get him out of the house...) and thanked her again for sacrificing herself to save my son's ball. She rubbed her bum and said she was okay. I am sure she was lying. And I guarantee her bum is feeling worse today.. poor, sweet Dolly.