"Chichen-Itza Pizza" You can't tell me that's not clever!

We have never done Stars on Ice, we have never seen Big Bird "Live: On stage!," and we have never paid to go anywhere as a family of 5 in case of a meltdown. Until now.

We heard the Backyardigans were coming to the Salem Civic Center (about 30 min away) and we knew the time was right. They always say "You''ll know when it is time." Turns out "they" were right. We LOVE the Backyardigans. They are witty, they have great music, and those animal-people can dance like only I have dreamed about moving. (It's the cd the kids ask for and I have to pretend to be annoyed by, but secretly "Cowgirls! Cowboys!" is the best song.) Recognizing F is almost too old to go and enjoy this sort of event, we scrounged up the dumb $120 and went.

Right before it began, Jack whispered, "Do you think they are going to lip sync?" Insensed he would even suggest that, I responded, "No way!" He continued, "Oh, that was just a joke. Of course they are going to lip sync." The lights dimmed, the music started, the Uniqua and Tyrone jumpe dout in their cheesy costumes, and as the first chord was belted out and Uniqua's voice cracked...we knew. We were in for the real deal.

No cameras were allowed in, so sorry no great pics. I tried a few with my camera phone, but F kept yelling at me to put it away because I was "breaking the rules and he didn't want to get kicked out!" So while the cheese factor was 100%, and the seats were crummy (we bought the cheap seats--you expected nothing less I am sure), we had a fantastic time!

I mean, Uniqua as the Evil Lady in Pink, with songs sung by Cyndi Lauper. You can't get a cartoon better than that!

If you are unfamiliar with the Backyardigans, may I suggest you go to http://www.nickjr.com/playtime/cats/radio/index.jhtml and hear some for yourself. Its no Pandora, but it's good!

And to make it even better, mom was at Best Buy a few days earlier and as she was checking out, they had a clearance bin (it's genetic)and she bought the kids each a "Pablo" Ty Beanie Baby. We gave them to the boys on the day of the show and they played with them all day, including to the event. When we got there, they were selling as the sounvenir, the EXACT same Ty "Pablo." They were $12 at the show. How much did my mom pay? (If I have already told you, don't reveal and spoil the fun!)

Stay on Your Grizzly!

For the sake of privacy, I won't go into too much detail here. Suffice it to say that someone I love dearly has been dealt an awful blow of sorts. I wanted to cheer you up and all I could think about was people's obsession to have cats hang in strange poses. I believe you will get the metaphor.

Here is the first random one that I chose.

This is apparently a poster that people actually buy.

This seems more like a poster that I would think about buying (no offense to cat lovers BTW).

Then there is actual "hang in there kitty" bling.

Then for some reason, this guy is lumped in with a bunch of cat photos. So, I want you to know that we love you and pray for your well being. And, most importantly,
STAY ON YOUR GRIZZLY!

Go! Team Clearance

S is convinced he is on a soccer team, in spite of the fact he is only 2. G knows he will play his first season of soccer in the Fall, so he too is obssessed (though not as much as S). And F, growing way too fast to keep him in clothes that fit, just needed a new pair of cleats for his upcoming 11th season. Out getting videos last night we walked past the sidewalk sale of our local discount Show Shoe and found cleats for $15.72. TOTAL! We outfitted our team for less than the cost us of feeding the team at Taco Bell.

Of course for the pic, of the entire basement floor, they had to stand near the stain on the carpet. Welcome to our house of boys!

Cabin Fever

I have caught it! I am desperate to buy a cabin so we can just escape on the weekends. It must be within an hours drive, about $75,000, 3 bedrooms, and near absolutely nothing! I can't stop talking about it to everyone--bugging Jack the most about it. I need it! But.

So on Weds afternoon our friends the Stickleys (THANKS SHARON AND BOB!!) called and said they had rented one at Claytor Lake (about 8 minutes from our house) and wouldn't be staying through the weekend. It was already paid for, would we be interested? Jack jumped and came home to tell me he got me a cabin--for a weekend!

Here are some highlights...

The boys being able to roam freely and walk to the recycle bins alone--please note our Ralph Lauren cutoffs. Stylin' trashy is totally in now.

COMBOS-pizza flavor, the only kind worth buying & Glo-Stick tag

"Fishing" and the dock in general

Swimming with snakes (literally--Jack thought the lifegaurd was coming to nab us for not having S in a swim diaper, but no--to warn us to get out because of the snake...)

Chillin' on the patio with Pringles Sour Cream and Onion--again, the only kind worth buying (are you sensing a pattern?). G wanted me to capture the digestive process, & chocolate war paint

Just general relaxing and playing (especially monkey-in-the-middle) and running with NO tv, video games, or boundaries! It was great!!

Regrettably, the only down side was that this has fueled my cabin fever (as if it even needed fueling), so I am putting it out to the world...anyone want to invest in our cabin with us?

"Look kids, it's the Good Year Blimp!"

But it really was...You know you are small town when everyone hits the telephone at once to tell everyone else to step outside, the Good Year Blimp is just above! I got more than one call to hear the big news. And BIG news it was--it was so cool!
In spite of how silly it made us feel afterwards to have such a grandious reaction, we felt pretty big and bad when it was right above us! Test your eyesight...can you see G blending into the fence?And hey, when's the last time the Good Year Blimp was in your backyard?