Apparently I am more stupid than a cell phone...

So, I was trying to use my aforementioned tech-savvy sister's cell phone while we were driving home from a fantastic episode of sledding. Her phone has this touch pad that requires a bit of finesse for proper operation. I was bumbling around, attempting to get the phone to respond to my inexperienced touch when I muttered: "stupid phone."

From the back seat, Miss A piped up (with a bit of a know-it-all tone) "Is the phone really stupid Mom? Or do you just not know how to use it?"

This brief mother/daughter exchange has made me sadly aware of two things.

One, Miss A is only nine but on the brink of becoming a pre-teen who knows more than me about most electronic things and likely will soon think she knows more about everything else.

Two, there is a distinct possibility that I am more stupid than the phone.

Apparently my kids sometime DO listen...

Over the Christmas break we have been partying it up in Utah (translation: trying to fit in all the friends and family that we need to see and going a bit crazy while trying to perform the delicate balancing act of making everyone feel loved and appreciated).

This morning I was talking to my Mom, not realizing that Mr. N was listening as he was deep in imaginative play with his new Lego Castle.

Me: Mom, what is in this box?
Mom: A Dart Board that some mutual fund gave Dad. (business gift)
Me: Hasn't it been sitting here for a long time?
Mom: Yes, I haven't ever opened it. Where am I going to put a dart board?
Me: How about the D.I.? (comment made due to the fact that we have been recently discussing how much stuff she has in her house that should be donated to some chartiable facility)
Mom: Well, Dad said that it is the nicest Dart Board that he's ever seen.
Me: I wasn't aware that Dad was keeping tabs on the quality of Dart Boards that he happens to come across.

Mom goes upstairs, I stay down. Mr. N follows his grandma into the kitchen. With his intricate knowledge of all things Harry Potter and Star Wars and a slightly muffled sense of hearing, he asks her...

N: Where is the Dark Lord, Grandma?
Grandma: (only slightly paying attention) Downstairs.
N: Can I see?
Grandma: I don't think so, it's kind of dangerous.
N: Why do you have a Dark Lord?
Grandma: (still not paying complete attention) Someone gave it to Grandpa.
N: Please could I see it?
Grandma: Well, it's taped up in a box.
N: The Dark Lord is taped up in a box in your basement?

I could have sworn that my kids never listen to anything I say. Apparently that only applies to 'clean your room', 'pick up your toys', 'put on your shoes' etc.

Apparently Mr. Z has a flair for revenge...

Recently, Mr. Z has been struggling with the formulation of appropriate responses to situations he deems unfair.

His sense of vengeance has been honed and he swiftly passes verbal judgement on perpetrators whose acts seem unscrupulous, unreasonable, or just plain unfair.

For example, when Shaggy was about to be beat up by bullies on 'Scooby Doo', his response was:

"Well, I'd beat them up!"

Upon leaving church a few weeks ago, Mr. Z came out of his primary class with a troubled look.

Mr. Z: "Did you hear about those guys who hung up Jesus?" (obviously put out by the heresy.)

Me: "Yes, I heard about those guys."

Mr. Z: "Well, I'd hang them up!"

Apparently I am technologically disabled...

So, I am attempting to join the ranks of those who have passed before me into the realm of technology. Having graduated from college without ever utilizing the Internet, and shortly there-after deciding to stay at home with babies, I have missed out on the past decade of technological advances. And so, with the help of my techno-savvy/college-aged sister, I am launching my blog. How I will do it with out her sitting by my side, telling me which icons to click, is anybody's guess. I may be e-mailing her a lot as I attempt to keep my family and friends apprised of the exciting life and times of the Fishler clan. But heaven help me if we are both on-line at the same time and she tries to engage me in some sort of instant messaging, I don't know if I can handle that!

And so, my objective for this blogging exercise is to share with you the fantastically funny things that my kids do and say. Laughter makes life better, and I would like to share some of mine with you.