peskypippi.comBecause I have a lot to say…

One recent Saturday morning, our two youngest children greeted us for some snuggling and giggling. This is one of my favorite weekend rituals.

Enjoy some of our silliness:

I’ve watched these over and over and can’t help but giggle and smile.

Some people take a walk in nature to find peace, quiet, and serenity

Some people. But not me.

When I bring my kids on a hike, it’s more like:

• Can acid blow up snow?
• What if I attached a rocket pack to a port-a-potty?
• Are there piranhas in the lake?
• Where do they mine emeralds?
• Who would win, a python or a bear?

And then:

“Can we stop and get Dairy Queen on our way home?”

But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The other day at work, a co-worker was describing how busy someone was and said, “He’s up to his ass in alligators.”

Yikes. What a great saying. I can relate.

But that wasn’t what I heard him say. Let me just tell you: it pays to listen carefully.

I thought he said, “Alligators are coming out of his ass.”

Double yikes. Now THAT would be a sight. And something I hope to never see or experience.

This reminds me of playing telephone tag as a kid. Where you whispered a word into someone’s ear. And then she whispered it into someone’s ear. And then she whispered it into someone else’s ear. And so on and so on until it turned into something totally different.

Giraffe => moustache => big ass.

It was hard to hear with all the giggling and whatnot.

Go on…play a retro game of telephone, will ya?

Oh, just making some faces with my boy. See how much fun we had with a camera?

See? Sometimes it’s the simple things…

Goofing around on the Internet with my children has become a fun, family activity. Here are some of our (and millions of others’) favorite videos on YouTube.

These little videos are a big cultural and social phenomenon. The original Chahlie-Bit-Me-It-Really-Huht (that’s “Charlie” and “hurt” with British accents) video from the U.K. has nearly 390,000,000 million views. Haven’t heard of it?

Then it’s time to crawl out from under that rock and partake in the social phenomenon and the fun. And prepare for some LOLing. Here are the six we will show Nana when she visits for Thanksgiving (because I’m guessing she may be one of the few who has not yet partaken):

• Charlie Bit Me

This internationally-famous little clip about two brothers with perfectly sweet British accents. My kids howl at the pain the baby inflicts on big brother (giving the baby power) and we doubly smile at the accents and imitate them all the time.

• The Crazy Nastyass Honey Badger

Love the narration. And it’s a great learning nature video. Did you know that the Guinness Book of World Records refers to the Honey Badger as “the most fearless animal in the animal kingdom?” After watching this, when I am on a rant at home, it’s code name “Honey Badger.” We all need to have our Honey-Badger-Mama moments. Watch out!

•  Sound of Music (flash mob dance in Belgium)

What is more positive than choreographed dancing in public? It’s a wonderful social phenomenon.

• Baby Laughing Hysterically at Ripping Paper

I mean, who doesn’t love a baby laughing? Especially over paper ripping? Face it, babies’ laughter is contagious. I remember when my children were babies and this sweet, sweet chuckling will forever be embedded in my mind. Darling!

•  Ultimate Tease

It’s the dog that talks and laments over his owner’s description of food, including bacon and cat treats.

•  Charlie the Unicorn

Another famous Charlie. But this one is a cynical (and depressed) unicorn, not a biting baby. Bizarre and out there, this animation is light-hearted—with one unicorn who isn’t–and end up “getting it” in the end. (Pun intended.)

Let me know if you have other family favorites!

Don’t shun the Internet with your children. There is a lot of good and fun out there. Partake with them.

You might be surprised at how many funny things you will seek out. And, yeah, I am a fan of slightly inappropriate material–as long as it’s funny. (See related post on how families should let loose.) If it will spur giggles and conversations with my children, then I am there.

Raising children is pretty funny, isn’t it?

And often, these little moments can turn into fun memories. As in, “Remember that funny video we watched where the Granny is shaking her boobs?” Ah, yes, I know that one! And here it is:

You just might find yourself singing along…with your kids…in the car…at the top of your lungs. Go Granny go!

How can you not have a sense of humor raising children? I laugh every day. I am grossed out every day. I am (a teensy bit) inappropriate every day.

Latest questions, comments, and other utterings in our house:

• “Mom, I think there’s a piece of sausage in my milk.”
• “No farting on the sofa. Take it outside.”
• “Are hot dogs made out of penises?” Google it.

Oh, and this one was from me. Just the other day:

• Where are my pants?!”

We taught our youngest the word I-N-A-P-P-R-O-P-R-I-A-T-E and explained what it means. How some behavior is inappropriate at school. Or how some words are inappropriate to say to others.

But if a tight family cannot be a little inappropriate in its own home, then where’s the fun in that?

Yeah. We talk about poop at our house. All the time. It’s funny. Everybody does it. Poop happens. One of our favorite books: Everyone Poops. That book is the best. You can see animals actually pooping. You can see poop in babies’ diapers. You learn that poop is all different sizes and shapes, even different smells. Love it!

Poop shouldn’t be a taboo subject at home. It should be a topic…at DINNER. Yep, we disgusted my sister-in-law once at dinner because we were talking about poop. She doesn’t have kids. Still doesn’t. Did we scare her off?

Maybe the family that talks about poop openly is more regular. I know one thing: just saying the word out loud makes me crack a smile. (Did I just say “crack?”)

One of my all-time favorite movie lines is in Harry Potter when Hagrid says, “Better out than in.”