Quite a busy night. . .

I asked Paul what he dreamed about last night.  He said he didn't have a nightmare, because he doesn't have nightmares on Thursdays.  He was a knight on a horse traveling to a castle to rescue his skeleton friend, Seliss.  Only, there were ghosts who wanted to kill him, so he had to find the golden magical key which would unlock the door to the tower where Seliss was, and would also kill all the ghosts.  But the castle was surrounded by a round wall (indicated by drawing a circle in the air as he spoke) with NO. DOORS.  Only a ladder to a hidden door, with no doorknobs, which could only be seen when the second sun was setting at dawn, and made the door appear.  If it was mid morning, it was TOO LATE.

At this point, he was Keyser Söze-ing like crazy, and looking down at the Tanagram game he was playing, said that the only way to find where the door would appear is to follow the scary cat.  Know why the cat's scary?  Because it's the cat's SHADOW.  The cat is invisible - only air.  And you can only find the cat if you follow the. . .ghosteley flamingo!

By this point, and I hated to interrupt his narrative, we were running severely late to school and had to do shoes/coat/lunchbox in a mad flurry.  I thanked Paul for his story, and he kissed my nose and said that it wasn't a story, it was his DREAM, and could I tell it to him later?

Deep thoughts, with a schmeer

So, we've been reading "Bagels from Benny,"  a really lovely story from the PJ Library.  It's about how a boy inadvertently helps a stranger in need when he tries to thank G-d for helping his Grandpa bake the best bagels in the city. (It's got a nice moral, even for all y'all secular humanists out there.  And bagels.)

Anyway, as Paul was washing his hands tonight (meticulously moving the soap bottle to where he could reach it, taking a pump of soap, then replacing the bottle on the higher ledge), he turned to me and asked,

"Why did G-d make the Earth?"

I don't know, but that's a really good question.

"I think I know.  I think she needed People, and people need food."

I think that's a great answer, Paul.






(The pronoun was totally unprompted, but made me especially happy.)

Achievement: Unlocked

"I like having my hair all crazy, like I was in a tormato."

Negotiations and love songs

Paul: Can I have a kiss?
Joss: OK (turns and gives Paul a kiss)
Paul: Thank you.  Can I give you a kiss?
Joss: Nooooo.  I don't like them.
Paul: You don't like kisses anymore?
Joss: No.

{Both resume watching Star Wars}

Movie Time

(Paul sits down on Shawn's lap on the couch).

Shawn: Paul, do you know other people named Paul?
Paul: Yes. Two people. One is my friend Edie's dad. The other if a famous director. His name is Paul Jason, and he makes movies that nobody has seen because they're for grownups. The first move he made was "How the Ghost and Bat went from Not Evil to Evil." But he died in the 70's, when you were little. Before you were born.
Shawn: Oh. That's probably why I never heard of him. Have I seen any of his movies?
Paul: No, because he's not real, so his movies are not real. Once there was a ghost and bat and they lived in a spooky house with a spider. And then suddenly, a witch came in the place where the spider was. And then turned the ghost and the bat evil. Then they turned outside and turned everybody else wicked. And then the ghost and the bat went home before they were even home, and good witch came into focus where their house was. And turned them back to good. And then they went home. The End.

New Year's Snow

Sunday before New Years was a bright, sunny, post-snow day.

Sleep tight, boys.

Oh, sweet boy. . .

Daddy: Pete and Repeat were on a boat.  Pete fell out.  Who was left?
Paul: (thinks a moment) I don't know, Daddy, who?

Paul reading Runny Babbit by Shel Silverstein

Baking cookies with Joss

While Shawn and Paul went to help with an annual clean-up day at the shul, Joss and I were left to our own devices. . . So we baked cookies!
Watch "Baking cookies with Joss" on YouTube

Joss is a Pirate.

Watch "Joss is a pirate." on YouTube

Me: What is a Pirate?
Joss: Arrrrrggghhhhh.

Three guesses

(Beren slept in Joss's room overnight. Paul comes into our bedroom at 5:30 am, waking me up.)

P: Where's Mommy?
S: I'll give you three guesses.
P: (Totally serious) Did you eat her?
S: What? No. Try again.
P: Did she go on vacation?
S: No. I'll give you a clue. She is sleeping with someone else who likes to sleep with Mommy.
P: Uncle Eric?
S:Um...

Paul free-styles the Alphabet Song

It's Jazz, baby. It's all Jazz. . .



I regret that I did not video capture the number immediately preceding this one - it was an ode to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and full of "yeah!" and happy noises.

Well. OK, then.

Paul and Joss are fighting, as they do.  I pick Joss up, and his breath smells like candy.

Mommy: Joss, what's in your mouth?
Joss: Um, I don't know.  Something.
M: Is that candy?
J: Yeah, it's a gummi. (holds out his hand to show me another gummi.)
M: Who gave you permission to have candy?
J: (thinks about it, looks at me wide-eyed) I did!

Invisible Animals

[At the end of storytime, going to sleep. Paul is still sitting up.]

Paul: I think I smell something.
Dad: You do?
P: I think it smells like wet dog. Only stronger.
D: I don't smell anything. Is it your blanket?
P: I think it is an invisible animal.
D: Really?
P: I know what it is. An invisible wet dog is walking down the street.
D: Oh.

Another Old Saw

He just had an itch on his nose, is all.

Trick or treat!

Halloween trick or treating came late for us, but better late than never!

Extra Day in Tampa - Let's Go to Busch Gardens

Hurricane Sandy left us stranded in a resort on Tampa Bay for an extra two days. It was a hardship, but we found solace in a surprise trip to Busch Gardens!

Paul loves to see the characters in the Sesame Street Happy Safari. Joss? He's a bit more cautious. He may wave, though.

I took Joss on Cookie Monster's Canapy ride. Trapped in the nets! 

Sanctuary! Sanctuary!

Poor man's Dumbo ride: Snuffy's pals.

Joss and his ride.

What is it with this place and nets?

Let me know where you are.

On the train!

Unexpected fun with our cousins!

The Red Barons! Where is the WWII Flying Ace?

On the hog.

Bye Bye!

Aunt Margie's Wedding! (from Paul's & Joss's Perspective)

The family went down to Clearwater, FL to celebrate Aunt Margie's & Uncle Jason's wedding! Paul and Joss were ringbearers and did a great job at it. Here is the wedding - from their perspective.

Corsage for Ringbearer #1

Late for the procession!

Where do we walk? 

This way?

Grandpa & Grandma are here too?

Mommy & Daddy!

The best part of the wedding? Bubbles! 

 

A fist full of lox 

The happy couple 

Dancing with Grandma!

Joss LOVES martinis

The Handsome Boys

Penguin Dance!

Ghosts!

Little Conga Line

Safta & Mommy

Cousins Conga



Let them eat cake!

Welcome to SeaWorld!

Before the wedding, the kids and I met up with grandma and grandpa to visit SeaWorld in Orlando!
 

Shamu's Happy Harbor was Awesome!

Freefall!

There are animals here?

Anglerfish and Jellyfish

Let's feed an ibis!

Swishy Jelly Fun!

Riding the Walrus

Man admiring man (admiring man admiring man)

Hurricane Sandy Rainbow