Batman, Dracula and the Magic Pea...

Tim with Sofia -- strong genes, no?

My German-Irish-English genes -- not so strong apparently... :)

I'm trying to break Gabe of the deer-in-the-headlights look when a camera flashes. So far, no luck. :)

Gabe with his buddy in their first theatrical production -- Go Fish! His big line that we practiced for weeks was, "Heyyyy, does anyone have any jacks?"

Our friends the Junkies (aka the Jungkeits and Jack & Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas)... :)

Anna, Fia and Gabe hamming it up on the front porch

This is how Sofia likes to get "lipstip" on her lips.

Sofia wore several "costumes" before Halloween weekend was over.

Give me your scariest faces!

Sofia as Princess Belle and Gabe as a punk rocker

So, as I mentioned in the last post, Gabriel has been slightly obsessed with death and dying since Halloween. He has been drawing cemeteries left and right lately, and loves to ask: "Mom, who else should I put on a headstone?" It's really a tad freaky, and I make up silly names because apparently I'm a little superstitious... :) On Sunday, I took him to see a children's performance of Dracula with a couple of former colleagues. I knew Dracula would be too scary for Sofia, so although she pitched a fit (a la "Mom, I want you to stay home with meeeee" -- not "take me with you to the scary play"), it was lovely to enjoy some quality time with my son.

My friend Julie was looking through the program and announced, "Oh look! They're performing The Princess and The Magic Pea next." And Gabe's eyes got big and he asked rather loudly, "The Princess and the Magic Penis?" which sent Julie into a fit of giggles. So Gabe being the entertainer asked twice more while I was correcting him, "No, no, honey -- the Magic Pea -- you know, the vegetable -- a PEA." Obviously, he hasn't heard that story yet. The sixth graders in the row in front of us were all snickering.

I realized in scene 1 of the play that Gabe also does not know the story of Dracula. When the young, very articulate African American boy playing Dracula came onto the set, Gabe leaned over and whispered, "I know who he's supposed to be! President Barack Obama!" I winced. "Gabe, honey, this isn't modern day. The play is set way in the past. He's supposed to be Dracula." More snickers from the kids in front of us. Mental note: always read the book to Gabe before taking him to a play. He loves watching children's theater and when we arrived home, he told Sofia the whole story. He has also been "flying" around the house pretending to be a bat and hissing and pretending to bite us. I only hope there are no real bites on baby sister.

Today, Tim took him and Sofia with him to the post office to mail a package, and Gabe piped up with, "This is the second time I've been to the post office today, Dad." Tim went into lecture mode, telling him he shouldn't make up stories when the clerk told Tim that actually Gabriel and a whole line of his classmates had mailed letters earlier today. How cute is that? Gabe's teacher is something else. I can't wait to receive Gabe's letter in the mail!

Tonight, while I was reading Batman's Friends and Foes to Gabe, he exclaimed, "You know how I know Batman is real, Mom?" I asked, "How, sweetie?" And he said, "Because I've seen his spotlight in the sky before." Naturally, I said, "Oh, yeah, ME TOO!"

I don't have any Sofia stories, except to say that her morning clothing temper tantrums are driving me a bit batty (pun intended). I now tell her she can pick something else out to carry with her to school, and she can change at daycare. How's that for a mean mommy? haha! She is, however, super excited about her Bubbe and Grandpa coming to visit for her Chuck E. Cheese birthday party in a couple of weeks. Mom, you're going to have to give me advice on what to do with a diva because you love to tell me I was the same way at her age. I don't remember that whatsoever, but I guess a few pictures of me at that age surrounded by baby dolls and on the telephone are proof enough. Hopefully that means she'll grow out of it, like I did. (No comments from the peanut gallery...) ;)

I'm also posting some recent pix. Enjoy!