Toys these days aren't what they used to be...

So, Gabe loves Transformers.  He likes the movie, the animated cartoons, the website and of course, the toys.  Last Christmas, he got some as gifts, and the joke then was that "I" got them... because he couldn't DO them.  He'd bring them to me, and I would DO them.  "I want it a robot", "I want it a truck", repeat.  All day.  The picture is of me, last Christmas, with Ironhide.

Recently he has been able to DO them himself.  This has been great because I don't have to.  That is, until I decide to get him a new one.  Yesterday, we went to Target because he "needed" a Prowl.  Of course, if Gabe's getting one, Josh has to get one too.  Gabe chose Prowl and Josh got Bulkhead.  We get out to the car and open the packages.  Within 2 seconds, Josh is screaming that he doesn't know how to do it, and Gabe is screaming and crying because these things are so cheaply made that the parts fall off all the time!  The stress level in the car rises as I remind them that I CAN'T help them while I'm DRIVING!  "But his leg fell off AGAIN!"  And on, and on.  The rest of the day.  

Why do I buy them?  Because I like my kids and want them to have them.  It would be easier if they didn't WANT them, but they do.  So, I suffer.  Now the initial pain of the new toys has worn off... Prowl's leg only fell off once today, and Gabe figured out how to fix him and transform him all by himself.  Josh also figured out how to transform his Bulkhead.

It's always a party over here.

Company Picnic

So, yesterday was the Microsoft company picnic. On Friday night, we had a little 'freak out' because Mike realized that the registration hadn't gone through correctly. We were really disappointed, thinking that we wouldn't be able to go. Last year it was a summer highlight. In the morning, we devised a backup plan, and decided to go ahead and see if we could get into the picnic. We prayed that it would work out, and that we wouldn't have disappointed kids (and parents) to deal with. God answered our prayers at the customer service table when Mike explained what happened... they scanned his badge... and said "Have fun!"

There were bounce houses, rock climbing wall, many inflatable slides, mini-ferris wheel, mini-golf, pony rides, games, motorcycle jumping... etc. All in the beautiful setting beside Mt. Si in North Bend, WA.  Julia and Gabe took a shot at the rock wall.  Julia got almost to the top, and Gabe didn't want to go up very far.

A few funny things were said:

- As Josh was eating his 5th ice cream bar of the day, the band was playing loudly nearby.  He looked up and said "This song rocks!"

- As Mike was consuming some pretty awesome ribs, his jaw dropped in utter disbelief and he said, "What the ...?  That guy is wearing a Google shirt!"  A guy standing nearby noticed it too, and came over to comment to Mike on it.  Being a Microsoft party, apparently that's pretty gutsy.  (What? Oh... blogger is Google?  Well, I'll just keep being a traitor on my Mac and Blogger.)

- About halfway home, Josh was contemplating the success of the day, and said, "I hardly got to go on the alligator one!"  My response was, "You can live the rest of the year in regret and try again next year."

That's about it!  The highlight for Mike and I was, of course, that (a.) everything is free, and (b.) that there are many food choices!

Well... Here goes.

I'm starting a blog.

More later.