Kids – Page 4 – Writing Wrongs

The Wii generation

Yes, we’ve finally succumbed and bought a Wii yesterday. So far, the kids love it. Andrew worked up enough of a sweat that he had to change from jeans into shorts. Miss B (which is Kyra’s Mii avatar name too) is exceptionally good at Wii bowling and … wait for it … boxing.

Andrew’s created enough avatars (Miis) to field his own baseball team (another game included with purchase). They both love how interactive it is and it’s fun just to watch them.

We went to Game Stop yesterday evening to scout out what else was available for the Wii. While Bob and Andrew scoured the pre-owned games, Miss B discovered a moth. She chased it all through the store, determined to capture it and set it free. She was on its trail right up until it flew behind the cash register desk.

A few moments later, she came up to me, shoulders slumped, head bowed.

“Mommy,” she said, “they killed the moth.”

Yes, that’s right. The sales guys behind the register desk killed the moth. Dudes, didn’t you notice the little girl following it throughout your store? It’s not a video game and you don’t get points for killing it.

We left without buying anything.

Okay, so we had no intention of spending more money yesterday; we were just window shopping. Still.

We’re seriously considering Wii Fit. If you already have a robust workout routine, I’m not sure it would do that much. But it looks fun and a way to get started–with plenty of activities for kids with cabin fever come mid-winter.

So, that’s our Wii news. Anyone else have one? Have any good game suggestions?

The obligatory summer festival post

Yesterday was the annual summer festival, which is pretty much everyone’s favorite day around here. Well, it used to be. If you view the photographic evidence, you might think otherwise:

morose — It's like I'm forcing them to have fun.

Andrew learns that life's lessons are not found at the bottom of a lemonade cup.

So, was a good time eventually had by all? More after the cut:

Continue reading “The obligatory summer festival post”

Bears and books

bear

I’m posting this picture simply because I find it amusing. This is what happens when “the boys” go shopping together. Clearly, Andrew is in pain.

So, it was the last day of school on Friday. Miss B and I debated what to give her teacher. Andrew suggested I give her a copy of The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading. I thought that would be … I don’t know, weird? Ego-centric. We went with a gift card from Barnes and Noble.

As luck would have it, we met Miss B’s teacher in the hall as we walked into school. Kyra gave her the present and the drawing she’d made. Her teacher seemed very pleased and said, “Now I can go buy some books!”

Kyra said, “Even my mommy’s book.”

Ha. So no matter what I do, my kids are still determined to be my publicist.

In which we break some child labor laws

Over at the Geek Girl site, we’re hosting a big launch contest, which if you’re not related to me (or Darcy) you should really enter. You can win a prize bag for yourself (including the new iPod shuffle) and your best friend. Dude!

We’ve been getting a lot of great entries and I’ve been posting some to the site, but I decided a little color would be good. Since Miss B was already drawing pictures of herself and her BFF, I asked if she could provide some more.

So she did:

Bff

bff4

bff2

bff3

bff

My only problem now? She’s gone on strike. Apparently she’s completely tapped out on BFF situations to draw. After all, you can’t force art.

In a cat’s eye

So yesterday, we took Oreo (the cat) to the vet. Her eye looked infected. In fact, Andrew woke me from a sound sleep the other night by yelling:

There’s something wrong with Oreo’s eye!

Except, what I heard was:

Somehow Oreo died!

I charged down the hall, wide awake, heart pounding, only to find the cat, just fine, on his bed.

Miss B wanted to come along to the vet since she’s thinking about being a animal doctor. Actually, she has a very detailed career plan. It goes something like this:

For two years, rescue injured seals, nurse them back to health, and release them back into the ocean. (She must have seen something on the Discovery channel about this, it’s so precise.)
For two years, work at the Animal Humane Society. (Why two years for both? I don’t know.)
Then, she’ll work as a veterinarian, taking care of all kinds of animals.

So, I was pleased that the vet tech and the vet herself were women. Plus, a high school girl was there doing job shadowing for a school project.

The vet put stain in kitty’s eye then viewed it with a black light to check for torn cornea. Actually, we all got to view kitty’s freaky glowing eye. A good time was had by all except kitty. Turns out it’s just an infection that we can treat with ointment.

Which, in theory, sounds simple. Have you ever put ointment in a cat’s eye? Sure, they make it look easy at the vet. This morning, it took me and Andrew to do it. And of course, kitty immediately proceeded to wipe it out of her eye.

Tonight, I’m getting the aspiring vet to help me.

Things I’m doing on this rainy Sunday (in no particular order)

Updating the Geek Girl site.
Creating the promotion spreadsheet of doom. I didn’t actually name the file that, but I’m thinking of changing it.
Scanning pictures of my (possibly illegal) trip into East Germany back in the day. Geek girl’s guide to the Eastern Bloc anyone? Anyone?
Convincing Andrew to be a sport and let his sister be president of the glass animals. Apparently all voting takes place when she isn’t in the room.
Writing trying to write avoiding the press release.
Thinking about the Tuscan Trifle Tiramisu gelato in the freezer. It’s made in Italy, so you know it’s got to be good. And it was totally on sale yesterday.

Walk for Animals–the final countdown

walk1 Next Saturday is the Animal Humane Society Walk for Animals. I’ve been checking (somewhat compulsively) the extended forecast. Right now, next Saturday is sandwiched between to rainy days. Let’s hope for sun! Especially since I’m going to be walking with him.

For thirty five years, our local Animal Humane Society has sponsored the Walk for Animals. Since we adopted Oreo from there last September, Andrew thought this would be a neat way to give back.

Andrew’s goal is to raise $500.00. If you’d like to help, click the link below.

Andrew’s donation page at Walk for Animals. (Click the Support Andrew button on the page.)

And thanks!

Or would you rather be a (cat)fish?

Last night, Miss B commandeered my camera and went on a photo safari. Below are a few that she took. Be glad I’m sparing you the blurry one of my running shoes.

catfish

A few days ago, she decided our tank needed another fish. So she made one out of paper and taped it to the glass. I mean, buying another fish. How mundane.

fishtank

We have a mirror in the back of the tank, which is how she got this shot. That’s her big, pink fish floating above her head there. Her homemade “catfish,” as she calls it, is down below.

catfloor