I Have Four Months to Pull It Together

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"Mom? I know what I want to have for my birthday party."

"Already? What do you have in mind?"

"A zombies and ninjas party."

"I don't think I've seen a party like that before, Bob. How would that look?"

"It would look good."

A Close One

"How long until we're home, Dad?"

"We'll be home in a couple of minutes."

"Hey, Dad?"

"Hold on that guy's not stopping that guy's not ---"

"Dad!"

"Whoa."

"That was a close one."

"Yeah, that guy was on his cell phone and blew right through the stop sign."

"You're a good driver, Dad."

"Thanks, Pal."

"Fifty points to Gryffindor."

Smacksy Sunday Links

Loving this. Via my friend Jen.

Also loving this. Via our friend Jane.

And then... Our phenomenal friend Ellie is fighting cancer. What started out as a group of girls putting together something silly to cheer her up, became a sweet story of timing and friendship across the miles. Go here to read the story, see the video, and give Ellie some love. She is an amazing lady.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Mid-Air

Pops' hat goes flying into the pool, courtesy of a rascally Bob Rosenberg.

The Beauty Spell

"Check out this sunset, Bob."

"It's really orangey-pink."

"It is."

"You know, Mom? When I see something beautiful like that it hypnotizes me and I look at it and I look at it and I can't stop looking at it."

That Is Correct

You're right. That is a Clay Ninja Penguin With a Bell.

Florida Withdrawals

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"I can't believe we're home already, Mom."

"Me neither."

"Does time go by faster in Florida?"

"Yes, I think it does."

"Why? Because it's fun?"

"Exactly."

The Dig

"Mom! Look at this fossil I found in the sand!"

"That's cool, Buddy."

"What kind of dinosaur is it from?"

"It's not from a dinosaur, it's from some kind of little sea creature."

"Oh. Will you come show me where the dinosaur ones are?"

The Best Parts About Florida By Bob Rosenberg

1. Pool
2. Pilot's wings pin from the airplane pilot
3. Beach
4. More pool
5. Waves
6. Room service
7. Lots of elevators
8. Visiting Great Uncle Abe in the hospital living center place
9. Great Grandma's lemon meringue pie
10. Sandcastles with Pops
11. Mom went swimming in a swimsuit called a tankini
12. Dad taught me how to do an underwater somersault flip
13. I found fossils on the beach
14. I did lots of visiting and hugs
15. I watched a movie at the hotel from my bed. Really. I mean it.

Smacksy Sunday Links

Bob and his Darth Vader luggage

A whole site of bicycle chic.

How to make Nutella "ice cream." Yes, please.

And a puppy being greeted by a herd of cows.

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Prepared for Take Off

While the pilot checks Facebook, Bob takes control of the plane.

Français

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"Mom? Does writing in French look different than writing in English?"

"A little."

"The letters are different?"

"Sort of."

"You mean like they're different colors?"

Dinner is Served and Served

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"Bob? I've got some macaroni and cheese here for you."

"I'm going to need two dinners tonight."

"Why is that?"

"Mom, this man is hungry."

One Last Thing

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"Good night, Bob."

"Good night, Mom... Oh wait! Mom! Mom! Mom!"

"What is it?"

"Did you know that cooked carrots are sort of sweet?"

"I think that's true."

"It's really true. Good night, Mom."

"Good night, Bob."

My Day of Lucky By Bob Rosenberg

1. I got to have a play-date at my house with friend Ringo. Real lucky.

2. Me and Ringo gave each other Christmas presents and I got some Legos and a magic wand and some other good things and those were all luckies.

3. I wore the monkey-in-a-Santa-hat pajamas all day until it was time to go to swim class. Lucky!

4. It was super cold so my swim teacher let us go in the Jacuzzi pool where there's bubbles and jets and everything. Also lucky.

5. I heard my favorite song on the radio and you can't make the radio do what you want because it just does what it wants and I heard my favorite so that was awesome lucky.

6. We had pizza for dinner. This was the luckiest day of my ever. So far.

Wisdom

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"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. "
- Martin Luther King Jr.

Happy Birthday, Dr. King.

Smacksy Sunday Links

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I love books. I love bookstores. I love this.

An artist creates these sculptures from old books.

A Sunday move if ever I've seen one.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Hugs

When a cat gets a bear hug.

Suggestions

"Mom? How come you never go swimming?"

"It's not my favorite thing. I like watching you swim though."

"Do you even have a swim suit?"

"I do."

"You should wear it."

"I'll take that into consideration."

"You should also go running instead of just doing walking around."

"Thanks for your input."

The Dismantler

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"Mom? When are they going to take down those bleachers from the Rose Parade?"

"Soon, I would think."

"That looks like a big job."

"Yep."

"The guy they get to do that better know karate."

Plus One

"Mom? Did you know ninjas are my favorite things in the whole world?"

"Are they?"

"Well, actually you're my favorite thing times infinity plus one but I like ninjas second."

When You Gotta

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"Mom? I've gotta go."

"Can you hold it? We'll be home in a minute."

"I can't hold it."

"Let me pull the car over, we'll find a tree or something."

"I can't do it out there. It's not a pee."

"Here's a plastic bag. You can go in that."

"People will see me!"

"Just stay in the back seat. No one can see you. It'll be fun. Like camping."

"How is this like camping, Mom? This is not like camping. I never want to go camping."

2:16am

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"Mama! Wake up! I had a bad dream."

"Oh, honey. What was it about?"

"It was about a snake."

"And it was scary?"

"Yeah."

"But you like snakes."

"It wasn't the snake part of him that was scary, it was his evil laugh."

Smacksy Sunday Links

Self Portrait by Vi

This is great - watch 'til the end. And while we're on the subject there's also this goodness.

Pure happiness and surprise.

Mine was The House of the Rising Sun by The Animals. What was yours?

Happy Sunday.

Smacksy Saturday Photo: Retro Bob

One of my favorite photos of me with Small Bob.
We are in Berlin. He is eating my scarf.

Bob!

"There you are!"

"Mom! I couldn't find you all over the store!"

"I know I couldn't find you either! I was so worried! Did you hear me calling you?"

"I was calling you too!"

"Poor, honey."

"Mom, I was going to ask someone who works in the store to help me find you because that's a good idea but then I decided to start crying instead."

The Return of Tiny Grandpa Boy

"Mom? When was the last time I went to the dentist?"

"I think it was August, Bob. Why do you ask?"

"I thought it was about time I got my teeth cleaned again."

"The dentist will send a reminder card in about a month. Can you wait until then?"

"I guess so." (Sigh.)

He Was Thinking...

"Mom? I was thinking about something."

"What's that, Bob?"

"I really don't like the word no."

"I see."

"So could you not use it on me anymore?"

"What do you think I'm going to say."

"Um... Yes?"

New Year

"You're looking a little tired, Bob."

"I really wore myself out last year."

Whistler

"Hey Dad! I can actually whistle Bungalow Bill!"

"You can?"

"Yeah but without the song part, just the blowing - and I'm not even seven or eight yet!"

"You're very advanced."

"I know."

Smacksy Sunday Links

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A lovely article about a teacher.

Three minutes and five seconds of extreme beauty.

And bath time for baby sloths.

Happy New Year.