Stop In the Name of Love

Dear Buddy,

It was your birthday this week. We’ve spaced out your gifts so you’ve been getting a couple a day between your actual birthday and your official party this weekend. It’s been fun. Here are the highlights so far:

Darth Vader is now an Avenger.

So many Starwars books!

You also got a cool pair of Darth Vader gloves (gauntlets! Thank you, costume design class) and the new Starwars movie.

Now, my sister had been asking me what she could get you and I ran through a few things. I mentioned your love for signs. My sister suggested a cool ‘dinosaur crossing’ sign.

I said, “that’s great and I’m sure most kids would really like it, but Buddy’s more of a stop sign guy.”

She said, “seriously? He wants a stop sign?”

Yes. Yes he does. And that’s what you got:

Stopper (left) and Stoppy (right)

Read to Stopper, Mimi!

I think your Aunt won your birthday 😉

P.s. After that last picture you ran out of the house (bad idea!) and attempted to introduce Stopper to his ‘cousin’ stop sign at the end of our block. “Mom, they need to talk!” You insisted as I dragged your precocious butt away from the street. And that is why we have a hotel lock high up on the front door. Flight risk.

Down the Crafting Rabbit Hole; Or, What You Can Make Out of One Twin Top Sheet

Dear Kids,

Yesterday I went down the crafting rabbit hole. Today was no different.

Behold! What you can make out of ONE twin-sized flat sheet…

1) Lining for a Darth Vader cave

2) Skirt

3) Three scarves

4) Pillow

5) Cape

6) Ewok poncho for teddy bear

7) Purse

Thanks to my mom for rocking the Star Wars skirt and teaching me the ways of the sewing machine 🙂

Follow-up: I’ve Got My Eyes On You

Dear Buddy,

Recently you let us know that you felt your bed was watching you via the many knots in your knotty pine bed. Bummer.

So, I decided to take care of that for you…

…you seem to like it.  🙂

The Fourth Is Strong with This One

Dear Buddy,

You are a Star Wars fan. You like Star Wars Rebels, Lego Star Wars, and Angry Bird Star Wars (app). If there is a permutation of Star Wars, chances are you will like it.

Yours is a Star Wars bike. It makes tie fighter and laser sounds!

You are an even bigger Darth Vader fan. I think mostly because of the black mask and cape. Basically he looks like Batman to you only he has a light saber, so he can kick Batman’s butt. I’m not entirely sure if you know he’s a bad guy. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t make a lick of difference to you.

Good morning, mother.

So, when May 4^th (Star Wars Day) rolled around recently, I seriously considered showing you Star Wars the movie for the first time. After all, you are four years old now; I’m practically depriving you if I wait any longer, right?

Your father and I decided it was time, so on May 5^th we popped up some popcorn, found our old Episode IV: A New Hope DVD, and waited for the magic to happen…

You were glued to the screen. Just a few minutes in it happened: Darth Vader appeared.

“Darth Vader!” you shouted like a good little groupie. Darth breathed heavily in and out. “He’s saying my name!” Because your actual name does sound a lot like his mechanical breathing machine (which is obviously why we choose it).

The rest of the movie went well, even if it didn’t hold your attention 100%. Kitten and Daddy actually left to make an ice cream run at one point, but you and I stayed so we didn’t miss a single light saber battle.

Every time someone fired up their light saber, you scrambled for yours and tried to sword fight with your sister, or the dog, or the TV. Your sister was amused until you smacked her across the fingers, the dog was not amused in the slightest, and no one was amused when you came dangerously close to not only finishing the movie, but the TV altogether.

All-in-all a good time was had by all! The force is still strong with this one 🙂

Thanks, Mom!

The Force Is Strong with This One (Or: Good Morning, Mother)

Dear Buddy,

This is how I woke up this morning:

This is not the mother you are looking for…