A New Hope

This weekend, the kids attended a Star Wars themed birthday party. The party was great--the birthday kid's parents had planned all kinds of fun and games, had music playing, a light-saber shaped cake, even re-labeled the sodas "Yoda Soda" and "Vadar Juice." It was for a friend of Aidan's, but Annika and Aaron came, too, and all three were running about in their brown Jedi robes with foam light sabers saving the galaxy. All in all, very cute. Since then, Aidan has told his story of battling Darth Vadar to at least 3 people already, including the new family in church who happened to sit behind us today.

So, the kids are all hyped up for Star Wars. Even I am feeling nostalgic for the ol' Lucas magic. Plus, tonight Tony's out of town and I'm looking for a low-key way to keep them occupied, so into the DVD player went Episode 4. Crazy thing about this generation--there's so much existing knowledge that I actually had to prep my kids by explaining that this story takes place AFTER the Clone Wars and is about Luke Skywalker, Anakin's son. Throughout, Aidan asked questions like why they are called "storm troopers" rather than "clone troopers" and what happened to the Republic. There were several creatures on Tatooine that he wanted to know "what species are those?" and my own nerd knowledge failed me. Tony will have to fill in on his return.

They are the absolute perfect age, though. When Obi Wan first walks up all be-robed, and they're asking "who's that?," then start putting it together and all, it's pretty cool. Annika remembers a bit more of the back story and enjoys being "in the know" but still doesn't know everything that's coming; Aaron runs around during the first 40 minutes or so, but is intrigued enough to eventually climb on my lap and watch it to the end. Aidan, of course, can hardly contain his interest. In the final flight battle, he has me pause it so he can go get one of his ships "just real quick."

Watching it was tremendously fun for me because, while they know a lot of Star Wars stuff, the kiddies are experiencing the excitement of the movie itself from innocence. They don't know that Han's going to come out of nowhere at the end and cover Luke so he can hit the Death Star. I don't think even Annika remembers about Luke and Leia being siblings, so they can watch Luke's crush on Leia without thinking--hmm, a little wierd. I totally want to watch the rest of the movies now, because the good bits ("Get this walking carpet out of my way!") are all new to them, and even the stuff I don't like so much as an adult will be enjoyable because they will love it. They will totally dig the ewoks--I did when I was 9 and I don't have a problem admitting it. When we watch Epsiode 1, Aidan won't care if that kid is a lame actor, he will be so busy identifying with Anakin behind the controls of the pod-racer. I imagine they will even enjoy (Force be with us) Jar Jar Binks.

Okay, one more jem: in the first part of the movie, Aidan wonders aloud why Luke doesn't bust out his light saber to fight off the Sand People; he calls out to the movie a couple of times for "more light saber action." When it gets to the point where Obi Wan is sneaking around the Death Star and Vadar senses him, and heads off to find his former master for a final showdown, Aidan responds "Yeah, that's what I'm talkin' about! Light saber battle!"



The moment when the red and blue blades crossed--in what he calls "the big X"--was pure magic for him.

Perhaps I married Vadar--perhaps I just married a big sci-fi loving dork. But unquestionably, my young ones have much of their father in them. And so the Force passes to another generation.
--Queen Amidala

Ding Ding!

Alright ladies and gents, this post could be perceived as somewhat off-color so consider yourself warned. Yesterday Aidan and Annika were playing in the front room, throwing squishy blocks at each other with as much speed as could be mustered by their little kid arms. Annika wound up a particularly strong shot and inevitably struck Aidan in is groinal area. He looked up at Annika and with his mastery of anatomical terms declared, "Hey, you almost hit me in my penis!" To which his older sister replied, "Ewwwwwwwww, gross Aidan...I would prefer if you used the term ding ding." Which would be funny enough by itself. After Aidan processed the request for a moment, he looked up at Annika and said, "OK Sissy, you almost hit me in my ding ding penis." And then he ran off to his bedroom with a gigantic grin.

Reason number 342...

...that I am the luckiest man alive. On the way home from the doctor's earlier this week, I let the young lads enjoy some tasty, sugar filled "fruit" snacks in the back of the van. These particular globs of multi-colored gelatinous confections were shaped somewhat vaguely like characters from the world of Spongebob Squarepants. As I was listening to the new Decemberists album (super excellent, by the way) I hear Aidan talking to himself in the high pitched voice he uses to immitate cartoon voices. After turning down my rock and roll so as to better hear what is being said, I realize that Aidan having the fruit snacks plead before their lives before chomping down gleefully on them. To quote him as he held up a yellow Spongebob sugar bomb, "Nooooooooo! Please don't eat me, I am a lovable cartoon character...why are you doing this?" And then, "Chomp! Alright Squidward, you're next." Seriously, I love this kid.

Is this thing on?

So apparently it has been months and months betwixt blog type postings for me here. I sure hope this doesn't mean the old heroin habit has gotten out of hand. Again. I think that in order to make sure I am still a functional addict, I will attempt the unheard of Once-A-Week-Post. I cannot promise any earth shaking revelations or well thought out opinions, but I can probably assure you that there will be letters typed in a progressive manner so as to form potentially grammatically correct sentences. Or not. We shall see. For now I will leave all who care with a hearty "Merry BDP Christmas" and a plan to return here again shortly with perhaps a more substantive post.

Sing Along, everyone!

The sounds of music have been filling the air lately, and I don't mean the Julie Andrews musical (no disrespect intended--I totally visited most of the shooting locations for that movie, by the way. I have an awesome picture of the gazebo in which "Sixteen going on Seventeen" was sung. But I digress).
Yes, you may have figured out by the goofy reference above that it is Amy posting, not Tony. I have a couple glorious weeks of vacation from work, and so I am finally making a contribution at home. Or rather, a contribution online. My messy piled up clothes still attest to my limited contributions at home. Though I did lots of baking last week. I have a great recipe for peanut butter covered chocolate bon bons. YUM! Oops--digressing again.
So, music! While I married into musical talent, my musical appreciation was fostered in my youth and has only been growing over the years. And the past month has given lots of excuses for musical enjoyment. Read as I break down why Christmas time means great music (in no particular order):
#1) Christmastime means busting out the TSO--for those of you uninitiated, that's "Trans-Siberian Orchestra." Yeah, they play all kinds of rockin' Christmas music. In all seriousness, "O Holy Night" is, for me, more touching as a soaring guitar solo than when even an amazing soprano like Charlotte Church sings it. But it seems wierd to play as we drive around in March.
#2) Christmastime means Tony plays Christmas carols on the guitar while we gather 'round as a family to sing them. Yes, I sing too. Maybe that's less cause for rejoicing. But nothing beats the kiddies dancing around the living room in the light of the Christmas tree, belting out all five verses of "We Three Kings" and Aaron, like his brother did before him, actually becomes my Little Drummer Boy.
#3) Christmastime means Aidan's birthday (just a few days before) which, this year, meant a gift of music selected just for him from Aunt Sarah and Uncle Aaron. Aidan has been kind enough to share with the family.
#4) More gifts of music--Christmastime this year meant Annika getting a "real," full sized guitar from Papa and Vava.
#5) Christmastime meant watching Tony set up a stereo in his nephew Tony's room on Christmas Day. I forgot how cute he is when assembling stereo equipment!
#6) Christmastime means more time at home to play "Rockband" as a family--a gift last year from the Rediskes that has proven to be addictively good fun for the whole family. Furthermore, Santa knew how much we would enjoy "Rockband 2"--with more songs and the "no fail" setting--and so he got it for us for Christmas. Yeah!
#7) Christmastime meant my Mom getting out the big metal chimes and all the Pierce collective ringing them in sequence to create Christmas carol magic.
#8) Christmastime meant my loving husband reluctantly indulged me by bringing his guitar to family festivities and he and my brother played carols in a beautiful guitar duet.
#9) Christmastime meant Chris Rediske would be compiling "Honest Pete's" collection of the best music of 2008, which 2-disc set we just received in the mail today!
#10) Christmastime this year also brought "Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog" to our home in DVD form (having previously been enjoyed as a download). Tony and I laughed aloud watching "Commentary! The Musical." While the kids are still a bit young to enjoy the complete beauty of this dark comedy, they do like the music. Nothing quite like your five-year-old singing "A Man's Gotta Do What a Man's Gotta Do" from the back of your minivan, and then weeping when the song changes because he wants more Dr. Horrible.

Yes, Christmastime means good music. Let's ring in another year!

Shiny!

For all my fellow Browncoats (fans o' Firefly), you gots to check out this here link to the 'verse. http://www.fireflyshipworks.com/2008/11/map-of-the-verse/

YES WE CAN!

more later...