Tea for Two

Cooper walked into the playroom where Topher was playing a few minutes ago. I heard the following exchange take place.

Topher: Cooper! Are you almost ready for my tea party?

Cooper: Maybe. Will you get some Sleepytime Vanilla tea ready for me?

Topher: (in a disappointed tone) Oh, I can't. I already got pepperoni tea.

Slow Motion

The kids had fun running and jumping off the deck this week. One of them asked me to take slow motion videos of them so they could see what it looked like. Somehow this turned into practicing death scenes...I'm not sure how we got there. Cooper was part of the fun too, he just isn't in this video. Watch until the end so you can see Topher's contribution.

All Dressed Up

We unpacked the costumes.

Party On

Yesterday Sophie decided that she wanted to have a tea party. She gathered all the tea party toys she could find, put together some snacks, and invited everyone. We enjoyed crackers, cheese, French onion dip, and imagination tea (hot water, so we could each imagine our favorite flavor). Topher especially loved that the party included an absorbent tablecloth; I think the cloth got more of his water than he did.

The Office

Usually the kids play orphans or wilderness or sorcerers (or something along those lines).

Last week they decided to play office.

I guess when you've been stuck at home for over seven months going anywhere else sounds exciting.

Magical Visitors

 We finished our first full week of cyber school with a visit from a queen,

a warrior princess,

and a dragon.

In Case of a Crash Landing

Phoebe and Sophie helped Topher decorate his new rocket ship last week, then they pulled and pushed him around the house. Fun was had by all. And, based on the driving, the helmet was a must.

Peppermint Patty

Yesterday Bryan, Topher, Sophie, and I got to see Phoebe perform in two Thanksgiving themed reader's theaters. She played a senator in the first and did a great job. She played Peppermint Patty of Peanuts fame in the second. She stole every scene she was in. She had fantastic stage presence and hilarious line execution.

Bryan recorded both performances, so if any grandparent (or anyone else) would like to see those, let me know and we'll share them. Otherwise, enjoy these short clips that I filmed at home last night. These are the two phone calls that Peppermint Patty makes to Charlie Brown. She's even still in costume.

Fort-itude

Dining With Royalty

Sophie set up this fancy spread while I was prepping dinner this afternoon before the kids got home from school. I asked what she was doing and she informed me that she was having a date. Who was her dining partner, you ask? Prince Eric, from The Little Mermaid.

"But don't worry Mom, we don't kiss on the lips in this movie."

Where Do Your Loyalties Lie?

The kids were pretending, fully costumed, that they were colonists during the time of the American Revolution. I was listening to their in-character conversation, and heard this.

Cooper: I'm an American solider.

Phoebe: Then why do you have an English accent?

Cooper: Why do YOU have an accent?

Phoebe: Because I'm a Tory. Do you know what that means?

Me: Do you know what that means?

Phoebe: Yes, it means those that fear the coming revolution.

Oh. Cool. Well, carry on then...

Young Skywalker

Last night as I tucked her in, Sophie informed me that she had named the baby doll in her arms.

"Goodnight Darth Vader. Are you okay, Darth Vader? Are you hungry? Oh, Darth Vader, you want a blanket? Mama, this baby name Darth Vader. Say goodnight to Darth Vader."

I of course said goodnight to the bald, naked baby doll that was lovingly wrapped in a My Little Pony blanket. We'll do our best to keep her from the dark side.

Sportsing

Tonight instead of getting their pajamas on, the boys decided to play balloon volleyball. To enhance the experience they both put on athletic shorts and took off their shirts. Bryan had gone to drive the Missionaries home after our dinner appointment, so I was on my own to enforce the bedtime routine. Rather than becoming angry, I decided to mostly ignore them and focus on calmly getting Sophie ready for bed.

After five minutes of the game, a very sweaty Peter walked into the girls' room with a white hand towel slung around the back of his neck. He grinned at me and said, "We're not done yet, this is just intermission."

I'm not sure what the break in a volleyball game is called, but I don't think it's intermission. Then again, I'm sure that's what I would have called it too. Maybe we should spend more time learning about sports and less time watching movies and plays...

Nah.

The Joy of Lip Syncing