My children have been playing TOGETHER for several hours now:  no fighting, crying or arguing.  Just laughter.

…I can only assume that the end is near, the well of souls is empty and Demi Moore is in labor (kudos to those who get that), that the meteor is nearing the planet and/or a republican will win the white house. 

Brody is working on a speech for school.  His chosen topic is Egypt; specifically Pharaohs, King Tut and Mummies.  He really enjoyed reading and researching for the report.  Wanting to encourage this interest in learning, we went to the DIA to see their Egyptian relics and to the Science Center to see the Mummies Imax movie.

We didn’t get to tour the whole museum (time and children) though it was very neat to stand in the French chapel where I proposed, with our two children.  Damn time flies.

Mo was a little freaked out by the mummy, so she and I walked around a bit and chit-chatted in the café while Dayna and Brod spent time in the Egyptian exhibit.  Brody even doodled a pic of one of the items and made some notes.  Brody and I then walked over to the Science Center to watch the Imax movie.

Mo, who really wasn’t enjoying looking at art, LOVED making art.  While we were at the movie, she and Dayna went to three different art galleries in the museum where kids could create their own art.  In one, they did African art on fabric, in another she sketched native American art and in the third it was ‘free form’ where she choose to draw a bunny.

I was pleased that the kids got to explore their interests and that no seven figure damage was incurred at the museum!

Lost a fingernail a few weeks ago.  Can I tell you how incredibly difficult it is to pick up paperclips without one! 

Friday night Brody had a couple buddies visit.  One stayed for dinner as his family was helping out at the local fish dinner. 

(There are two subtle clues to where this story is going in there!)

Brod’s friend is a really nice kid and a real pleasure to have over.  Very polite, always nice to Mo’ and never a problem.  As we sat down to dinner, he did a quick prayer the the cross thing on this chest.  Brod didn’t really say anything.  He also didn’t question when his friend said that he didn’t want to eat the meatballs as it was Friday. 

Yesterday, as Brody and I were returning from guitar lessons he finally asked.  Why didn’t his buddy eat meat (and why wasn’t fish considered a meat as it was also an animal) on the Friday’s before easter, but as far as he knew, Grandpa and Grandma did/could?

I can’t speak to the fish thing, however, it was an interesting opportunity to try and explain Denominations to a seven year old who has no real frame of reference.

I have to admit, I sometimes surprise myself in explaining complex things to the kids; thankfully, they are curious and will not accept ‘it’s too hard to explain’ as an answer.

I went with football.

Brody knows that there are many football teams and I reminded him that they all play football.  So I suggested that Nick and his family were on Team Catholic.  And as part of that team you do that thing on your body (I pointed out it was in the shape of a cross) and that leading up to easter they have lent.  Lent is where you acknowledge the suffering of jesus and gain empathy for the less fortunate by giving something up, like meat on Fridays – something the poor in the past couldn’t afford.  (I choose not to take the cheap shot and point out most celebrating lent give up something so banal as to make the whole exercise meaningless – I’ll save that for when he’s older)

I then compared that to my families Baptist roots who do not celebrate lent, but do full immersion baptisms versus a catholic infant baptism.

So they all play in the Jesus or Christian ‘league’, each ‘team’ just plays the game a little differently.

He actually seemed to understand.  I suggested that other world religions most likely have similar teams within their leagues.

He finished up by asking what were some of the other teams?  I mentioned Methodists, Lutherans, Seventh Day Adventists, Episcopals,….

He stopped me there and said ‘They sound like they would win.  Episcopals sound like a tough name;  I bet they win.’

I don’t know who will ‘win’ but I’m sure Great Grandma Britton, who was Episcopalian, would be pleased that he thinks so.

So I'm walking around work today and I start to notice something:  Birthmarks. 

Now that's not really a big deal, lots of people have birthmarks or vitiligo or even burns; it's not an unusual sight.  It just seemed that I was noticing more than ever.

After a few more minutes in the hall, I started to notice that they were all facial.  I began to wonder if a senior citizen tour bus had stopped short, causing all passengers to fall forward and smack their foreheads.  I started to observe that some birthmarks were kind of raised, or bumpy; obviously some mass outbreak was on the horizon and made a point to sing my ABCs TWICE when I next washed my hands.

I don't know what is going on, but keep an eye on your kids.

On a different note, Happy Ash Wednesday.

Big ‘Thank You!’ to Dad for coming up, spending the day with us and hanging the pics for Brod!  Mo also enjoyed playing ‘Go Fish’ a great deal.

Yes, as previously reported, Dad finally came through with de-nurseryification of Brody’s room.  We spent most of yesterday getting all his stuff back in (less what was donated to the Salvation Army or books that were ceremoniously passed from Brother to Sister).

Dayna and I went out last night to pick up some final items and I cannot tell you how difficult it is to find things (you see all the time) when you are looking for them.  I would also suggest closely measuring and considering all art / poster purchases…I am so P****d off that ½ of what I bought is a weird size.  All over town, couldn’t find a 12x16 or a 22x35.  Lesson learned! 

(Thank goodness for those floating frames!  Special caveat: floating frames are best for a single photo without mats…however if you’re trying to sqeeze a double matted commerative somethingorother in one, let me know, I can fill you in on the carpet tack tactic, though if used, it is not considered ‘museum quality’ framing and may diminish the value of your item).

So Brody now has his Harry Potter / Star Wars / Rock and Roll bedroom.  Sadly we failed to pick up the generous gift from Papa Bill of a framed Elvis record album; as such we weren’t able to hang the framed Ozzy album that will complement it (Grandpa may have done that on purpose). LOL

Click pictures to enlarge:  Please note as Brody attempts to compliment each grouping with props, facial expressions or both.  My favorite is his demonstration of what his new lampshade will look like on a new lamp (the flame shade compliments the framed Ghost Rider picture next to his drawing of Ghost Rider from a couple years ago).