When did they get to be so funny!

Happenings of the week came to a head on Thursday! But we must start at the very beginning, which is always a very good place to start.

As you remember, my weekend came with a pat on the back to myself for being the cool Aunt.....You may also remember that we had Humorous Andrew, Helpful Esther, and Unhealthy Avery......

Unhealthy Avery got worse and blessed us all with an appendectomy! I mean, we go all out in this family......But do not fear....his recovery is going well.....he was eating ice cream by Monday night!

But the week progressed, as did the very toasty weather......Leading up to a pleasant Thursday at the zoo. Now, if you never think of me again, at least remember this about me when you hear my name: I LOVE to go to the zoo. It brings out the kid in me! There is something fascinating about those poor pinned up animals that feel as though they must perform for us lowly human beings in order to be noticed. They have no clue that we actually paid money to come see them, whether they were sleeping or doing jumping jacks!

Julen gets the award for daytime humor. From the moment we knocked on his door to the moment we stepped out of the car, he was screaming and clapping his hands. He knew where he was going....and the rest of us had better be on board.....or else! I do believe his favorite is the walrus.....he has this dog-like way of communicating with the big oaf.....He barks at it while it swims back and forth.....I am sure he will die of embarrassment someday at the pictures we capture! He was also thrilled to play on the playground slide.....coming down numerous times.........What joy there is in a piece of oversized plastic! Amazing.

I must say....the tigers were cool. The bats grossed me out! The penguins put on quite a show during feeding time......There was one hot shot who felt like he deserved all the food.....that was interesting.

Needless to say.....we were all pretty shot on the car ride home....I mean, looking at zoo animals just about does one in! But boy did the nephews pull out all the stops when we got home.....When did they get to be so funny! Avery does his best not to laugh due to a few incisions that remind him of his recent surgery......he has definitely put a new defintion to the term "silent laughter"--mouth hangs open immensely, slight tension in the neck muscles, air escaping in intervals, face contorted into a painful humorous state, no sound is emitted!

Oh yes, and then there was the spitting contest.........Avery's version: lips pursed, air compressed, spit flying. Andrew's comeback: mouth open, tongue wagging, air moving, spit flying.....

Oh wait.....then there was the back porch deck humor.....we heard all of the "your mom" jokes, plus a few blonde ones......Avery took out a piece of gum on the floor with his BB gun....Andrew gave his rendition of the seal trainer playing with the seal. Oh yes, and let us not forget the flyswatting contest.....

I thought last Friday was rough on the abs! Last night was even worse......my laugher is definitely picking up power! I am sure I am losing multiple calories in this humorous endeavor.

Did I also mention that I found out Avery has been playing with my Mace/Pepper spray.....apparently it colorful nature is orange......So beware all of you jailbirds....if you get hit with this stuff, you are marked for life!

Being a Cool Aunt

There are very few times that I get to have my nephews and niece all to myself. But I was the lucky one this past weekend! As we started toward Anderson, I found myself wondering what a 28 year old single girl did with three kids---2 teenage boys and one little girl. "BE NORMAL"...I told myself. Ok.....so I proceeded to do normal things.

We got home, and I let them do their things....Avery, who was not feeling well, went directly to the couch. Andrew went upstairs to check out the movies I had rented from the library. Esther stuck by my side, begging to help with dinner. How could I refuse!!!

So we puttered around the house for a few minutes.....then, with 2 out of the 3 begging for dinner....I proceeded to make us a simple, but winner of a meal--grilled chicken, steamed greenbeans, mac and cheese, and leftover corn and baked beans. It was a smorgousboard!

Andrew made the call to have dinner upstairs, Avery continued to sleep, and Esther continued to ask, "Now what can I do?"

So dinner was prepared slightly after 5......all ate while watching a Combat....then we went our separate ways to play. Avery watched movies, Andrew shot hoops, and Esther and I played volleyball and trampoline.

And boy did we bounce....I haven't laughed so hard in a long time! She sure wore me out! But I did recover in time for Avery to ask if we could all watch Madagascar's Escape to Africa. And yes....for the next hour and a half all three laughed and "sang"--I like to move it move!

Round two of movies found the kiddos insisting that I watch 4 episodes of Stargate. I agreed as long as Esther did not commentate. Then came the snacks. We each had our own popcorn, and they ate candy.

Midnight brought bed----and boy did we drop dead! Only to arise the next morning--me at 8, Esther at 9:30, Andrew at 10:30, and sickly Ave at 11:30. So from 9-12:30 I was fixing breakfast, or rather brunch, or rather lunch, or whatever it was for them.

But of course I cannot leave out the fascinating conversations. Esther wants to be a pediatrician. Oh, and just for the record...I will never have to watch another Stargate Episode.....Esther told me about each one. And what does one discuss with 2 teenage boys? Guns of course! And we did! :) For a whole hour. Then off to more movies and outside play.

By the time their mom got here at 2....I was worn out! :) But what a weekend worth having! :) I officially moved up to the cool aunt status.....And why is that? Well, I rented Madagascar and Air Force One......What can I say! Oh, and they each got 4 sodas between Friday and Saturday! :)