Nothing says hail to the new year like a little Star Wars Fun

OK--so I was backed into a corner and had a bit of fun with cartooning some of my family in this make-shift 'Star Wars' Movie clip.

And since not only my kids but even my grandkids love Star Wars, I couldn't resist.

You may laugh---but hey!  I don't care. . . the force is with me. . .

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The Force at Christmas time

First of all, let me just say that in this new year of 2011 I will NOT be making any earth-shattering resolutions--I just hope to keep up with my life and not seriously injure anyone in the process.

That being said--I need to backtrack a bit and add some fun events which I had not yet opined on in late 2010--the most recent of which was this past Christmas.

It was a holly jolly one to be sure.  Full of wonder and love and mirth. . and this year especially the presence of THE FORCE was in full effect.

Thanks to my dear daughter's MUCH better camera (Santa, are you listening for next year perhaps??) I am 'borrowing' a few of her photos as well.  Now to show how this intergalactic event took place in my not-so-futuristic home.

Just the very idea that CHRISTMAS was ACTUALLY here, had my two older grandsons in hyper-drive:

And just about everyone had their game face on for the Christmas meal as you can see in the slide show.  (the only one 'grinchy' was G-Pa who was trying his best to look upset about carving the 'roast beast'

Everyone seemed to be in the holiday spirit (namely, in a good mood):

And Nana knew just what to get the munchins this year as they desperately wanted a 'Star Wars' Christmas:

After receiving my 'snuggle' from my oldest son--I had to admit, it made me feel a bit like a Jedi:

And speaking of oldest son--he was definitely quite proud of his 'uber-cool pacemaker thingy'--just like Iron Man:

G-Pa is always stylin' in what the kids give him to wear.  This year a new fishing hat and a Fantasy Football League Champion t-shirt:

May the wonder and beauty of Christmas (and the power of the force, of course) be with you through this new year. . . .

I'm glad I don't have this much swagger. . .

Seriously. . . I remember those days with 4 kids and a mini van and a house decorated in Fisher-Price with a touch of Lego for that special ambiance.

Now I get to sit back, relax and watch my daughter styling with her own offpring. . . only she's much more 'tricked out' that I was. Yep!  She has her own 'swagger wagon'.

So dear daughter--I'm dedicating this video to you and your whole pimpin' parenting generation. . . because, well, you're cooler than me. . . .

A most difficult Spelling Bee

Spelling Bees can be agonizingly stressful events.  Sometimes months, nay years of preparation are required before you can enter a contest such as this and expect a scintilla of success.

Thus, you might well imagine my surprise when an impromptu Spelling Bee was called for by two of my grandsons the other evening when the old 'G-Pa' and I were visiting. Those guilty of such a malicious pop quiz were no older than 6  (and 4).

The six year old decided to go at it with G-Pa, while the supposedly innocent and unassuming 4 year old ran amok on 'Nana'.  (me)

This is the 6 year old--and don't think his offering of a delectable peach is an act of kindness.  Nope!  It's meant to distract you and take you off your game.

This is the wicked, nasty, mean four-year-old and don't let that charming countenance or exuberant smile deceive you.  He was all business and competition when it came to the 'Spelling Bee'.

You can judge for yourself whether I had a right to complain or not.  Here is only part of the humiliation I suffered that evening:

4 year old:  Spell Balcano, Nana.

Me:  You mean volcano don't you?

4 year old:  No--it's BALcano--now spell it.

Oh what to do--what to do?  Apparently I just squeaked by with my rendition.  Then here is what came up next:

4 year old:  Now spell befeated.

Me:  BEfeated?

4 year old: Yep!  That's what I said.

Me:  Could you please use it in a sentence?

4 year old:  I befeated you at this Spelling Bee.

(and for the record--he most certainly did.)  I think I'll just stick with youngest grandson for a while.  I may have a chance against him. . . . . for now.

12 Days of Christmas

Well, it's the final countdown to the Holiday of the year!  And so I give you this little gem for your entertainment pleasure.

And please note:  You better be on your best behavior. . . Santa's Elves are watching you know.

Must everything be literal?

I have this friend. . . no wait. . . maybe she will want to be referred to as just a passing acquaintance after this--so let's just say this 'person I know' called me up to make sure I was still on for our scheduled appointment for that afternoon.

We had secret plans and secret meetings that we had to attend to.  (not really, but it sounds more interesting that way)

Anyway, the conversation went something like this:

Person I know:  Are you still on for this afternoon?

Me:  Yes--but I need to meet with a blind lady first.

Person I know:  Really?  I didn't know you were meeting a blind lady.

Me:  Yes, she's coming to my house around 3:00 in the afternoon--and it should only take an hour.

Person I know:  (Seemingly curious--but not quite willing to ask)  Well, do you want to call me after you are through with your meeting and then I can pick you up?

Me:  Sounds good--she should be done with the measurements by 4 or 4:30 at the latest.

Person I know:  (rather incredulous)  Why are you having a blind lady taking measurements?  And of WHAT?  Are you having a deaf man come to do a sound check next?

Me:  (Can't talk very well due to hysterical laughing)  She's not actually blind.  I'm having new blinds installed in the windows of my house.  She's coming over to measure them.  I call her the blind lady--because she's selling me blinds.

Person I know:  Ahhhh.  Got it.  (sounds of relief in her voice)

Me:  But that gives me an idea.

Person I know:  What?

Me:  I'm thinking I do need a sound check on my surround system.  I think I"ll look into it.

Person I know:  Well, just remember. . .

Me:  (interrupting) I think folks are way too literal.

Person I know:  You mean, taking everything you say at face value--and believing literally everything you say?

Me: SHUT UP!  That's exactly what I'm talking about.  Folks are taking everything literally when they should be more open and relaxed.  At least that's what the experts tell us, right?

Person I know:  (silence)

Me:  Right?

Person I know:  (silence)

Me;  RIGHT?

Person I know:  (silence)

Me:  Are you there?

Person I know:  Of course I'm here.

Me:  Why didn't you answer?

Person I know:  You told me to 'shut up'--so I did.

Me:  I didn't literally mean shut up.  You know, it's just an expression. Like 'sick' or 'talk to the hand' or.'off the hook' or . .

Person I know:  (interrupting) We're on the phone so I can't see your hand.

Me:  Oh 'just get off the phone' I know that!

Person I know:  (click)

Ummmm. . . I hope she's still gonna pick me up. . . .

The more things change. . . . well, you know. . .

Remember that old saying, "The more things change. . . the more things stay the same."???

Well these two pictures of my cute little grandsons definitely illustrate that in spades.

Here is a picture of Halloween past:

And now here is one from Halloween present:  (which would be just last month)

Which just goes to show you--that although the 'cutesy let's dress just alike as giraffe' costumes disappear, the 'brothers gotta hug  even if we are now super heroes' never changes.

Ahhhh. . . don't you just love the innocence of little kiddlies?

I keep telling my dear daughter to just wait for middle school.  Somehow I get the feeling that she wants to wait a good long time. . . .