Stanley's Last Day..

When I saw the post at Training Hearts about Stanely's virtual escapades, I thought it would oodles of fun to participate in. I'll be honest, we had the most routine of all weeks this last week. I'm still not sure what happened. So I was concerned that our visit wouldn't be as grand as Stanley's visit to here. I mean he got to meet royalty when he visited there.

Still in all, I think Stanley was pleased to visit us. Maybe our house seemed much like his own. He was certainly allowed to be a kid. *L* Bouncing on the couch and all.

Stanley sat with me while I did a bit of Bible Study while the little kids were asleep. Mini-Me's cast came off the same day. It was quite the treat for everyone. I wanted to ask Stanley if he knew Jesus, but he was a bit quiet on the subject, so I didn't push the conversation. He was all smiles about my study, though. Maybe he knew something he wasn't telling...or maybe he was just happy to be there. He certainly was the quietest Bible Study partner I've ever had.

While I did my study, the kids built a fort. Oddly enough, it looks a lot like computer jail. I guess it's the intent of the builder. Stanley had fun. They decorated, well, Mini-Me Decorated. They had a drawbridge pillow that went down and up. There were secret passages. It was a great fort. It got dismantled for dinner, and then reconstructed after. One is not welcome to sit on the outside "ledges" of the fort, as that blocks the view from within. You've been warned.

I got the bright idea today, after seeing all the scattered puzzle pieces, that I needed to clean out the game "closet". Really, it's also the linen closet, the medicine closet and the construction paper closet. Then I remembered all the games stuck at the top of the coat closet. So I got them ALL down....

After getting them all down and in the kitchen I discovered that I had games I don't want/need anymore. I'm the gameskeeper around here, just to clarify my position. I found a game that I haven't played in over 10 years. Even though it brings fond memories, it's got to go in order to make room for something new. (It will probably go to Goodwill as I'm a reforming "collector")(See: Packrat - definition two)

I discovered two games that my bigs could play NOW: Mancala and Chinese Checkers. So we got them out, dusted them off and learned how to play. We taught Stanley, too. You never know where he might turn up. He needs all the knowledge he can get.

Here they are laughing at something I said. Really.

Stanley got the joke, after all he has a younger brother, too.

The board is all set up and Mini-Me makes her move:

After this rousing game, it was nap time for the littles.

Then it was time for a heated and confusing match of Chinese Checkers.

I amaze myself when I just assume that my kids understand what I'm talking about.

Chinese Checkers involves moving your pegs (or marbles) from your starting triangle to the triangle across the board. You can jump opponents pieces but you don't capture them.

AND you have to jump in a straight line, no arcs.

These were slightly difficult concepts to grasp after learning to play ordinary, old fashioned checkers. You know, the one on the square board.

We had a good time, though.

Stanley thinks it's time to move on. So we're going to wrap him carefully in a box and send him to Africa to visit our friend in Uganda. Hopefully, he won't eat her chocolate on the way there. I'll be sure to pack him some sandwiches for the trip.

Farewell Stanley, Good Journey

A "Normal" Day just for Stanley

Monday's are not usually "normal" around here. I'm not sure why, either. They just aren't. They're usually chaotic and full of unusual struggles. Just for Stanley we had a normal day.

In my last Stanley post, I neglected to link to Training Hearts' post about Stanley. I'll make this right. Sorry about forgetting last time. I wrote in a hurry. Which, I've also noticed, leads me to type in short sentences.

At least they're complete sentences. I hope.
I digress. Sorry.

Back to our Monday that was normal just for Stanley.

The Professor had to work late and we had Spaghetti for dinner. It was yummy. I like spaghetti. It's one of my favorites. Stanley and Mini-Me seemed to enjoy it, too.



After dinner, there was a jumping on the couch marathon. I waffle between two opinions with the jumping on the couch. Part of me says "No, you'll break the couch" and another part of me says "Is this a battle that really needs to be fought?"

So Here they are - pausing to take a picture. I think Stanley had fun.

We all gathered on the aforementioned couch to read about Stanley's adventures. You can see him right next to my ear. I guess he really wanted to see.
We got many laughs out of Stanley's escapades. He becomes flat after a bulletin board falls on him during the night. His family is very quick to adjust to his "condition" He talks his mother into using his size to retrieve something from a hole in the street. "Hey, lady, is your yo-yo stuck?" His father rolls him up like a roll of wallpaper. And the chapter about the sneak thieves gave us many laughs.

We read the story of him getting flat again - and decided that the first one was funnier. Though, the second was not without humor. We just found the first one funnier. (We are wondering about Stanley's other books and will probably seek them out at the library.)


All in all, we recommend the books and a visit from Stanley. He was quite a good houseguest. He was very quiet and kept mostly to himself. It has been fun having him here.

Hide and seek with Stanley

When Stanley arrived, he was promptly introduced to all members of the family.

For some reason, Mini-E decided that she needed to give him a talking to. And a poke in the eye.

He and J-man got off to a good start. J-man can even say "Stanley". A fact that pleases my mommy heart very much.

Stanley and J-man sat in the big blue chair and watched a repeat showing of Go, Diego, Go! Save the Jaguar (for the bazillionth time). I think, for Stanely, it fell a little flat.

After all, he's a fellow of letters. He needs more mental stimulation. More -- action!! Something like a rousing game of Hide and Seek!! Lately, though, instead of just a regular game of hide-n-seek, it's more of an orienteering event. One person hides something and then draws a map to where the object can be found. Think Treasure hunt. G-man absolutely LOVES this game. He can navigate the house by way of a pencil drawing.

I'm very impressed.

He and Stanley got to go first.

Time to Hide.

Time to draw the map. Where's Stanley?

Peek-a-boo! Hiding behind a curtain.

Mini-E found him first.

After her aforementioned eye-poking, I mean - lecture, Stanley was a bit apprehensive.

I think he was afraid she's eat him.

He was right to be afraid.

Now- It's Mini-Me's turn..

Shhh! It's a secret!

Since Stanley is flat, he can hide anywhere - even under the white board.
G found him very quickly via the map that Mini-Me managed to draw with her left hand.

All in all, it was a rousing Game of hide-n-seek.

J-man still sees Stanley, who's watching and waiting for something exciting to happen, and he'll holler, "look! There's Stanley, Right there!"

Yep.

I'm afraid that Stanley came to visit at a most boring time, though. Things in the laundry pile are a bit normal.

I think Stanley might just be bored.

flat bored.

Look Who came to visit...

Unfortunately, he didn't arrive soon enough to go to the pediatrician with us - but hopefully he'll be around for a few days. I can't exactly get the code to work for my side bar. However, I've got Stanley hyper-linked above.

Stay tuned for updates about Stanley's visit.

Maybe he'll be here long enough to see Mini-Me's cast come off.