So Serious It's Laughable

It was hard to keep a straight face around here today. This afternoon I heard the wind chimes jangling rather vigorously outside. There was a nice breeze, but definitely not anything particularly lively. This meant one thing. Son1 was up on a chair again, dangerously wobbling, clanging those wind chimes. I wasn't up for a trip to the hospital for stitches. I raced down the stairs and found Son1 jangling the wind chimes from atop a chair. He has been told not to do this before. He heard me open the screen door, snapped his hands down to his sides, flashed the widest grin and said, "Oh , HI!!!" I asked him what he was doing. "I'm ringing the bell!" I explained that he wasn't ringing a bell. "Yes I am ringing a bell. See?" And he turned to jangle the wind chimes again. My camera happened to be within reach.I told him he could fall and had to get down from the chair. Then I explained that this was not a bell, and that you don't jangle wind chimes, let alone wobbling from a chair. I had never explained exactly that these were wind chimes before. "Wind chimes," he whispered carefully, like he was concentrating, and then again as a matter of fact, "wind chimes." I explained about the wind, and how it makes the wind chimes jangle. I pointed out that we had a nice breeze, but that the wind was not blowing so hard to make the chimes ring very loudly, only softly. He looked at me intently, and said, "No, it's [the wind] broken." I busted up laughing, and he looked at me sheepishly. What was so funny?

Later in the evening, Hubby and Son1 played a little Wii together until bed time. After Son1 was tucked into bed, Hubby and I had ourselves a little Wii date. We love playing Brain Academy speed matches against one another. All of a sudden we heard the pitter pattering of three year old feet from upstairs, definitely out of bed. We just didn't stop playing. We were in a little competitive groove. Some minutes later, I sent Hubby up to regulate. Just as he turned to make his way up the stairs, we were surprised to find Son1 standing at the bottom of the stairs! We just looked at him before either one of us spoke. "HI!!!! I got dressed!" Sure enough, he had taken his PJs off, pulled on a new shirt, shorts, and even had new underwear on. No, he hadn't had a potty accident. He was ready to go somewhere. I asked him where he was going. He looked at me like it was obvious. "I'm coming downstairs. I want to play." Hubby recalled that he had turned off the only overhead light in his room, attached to the ceiling fan cord. So, Son1 had gotten dressed in the dark, with all of his clothing going in the right direction. We were so impressed that we weren't even upset. He wasn't kidding. In his mind, he got his clothes on just so he could join us to play Wii. We complimented him on his blind dressing skills, and Hubby marched him right back up the stairs for bed time.

Well, so much for discipline today. Son1 was so serious and earnest all at the same time, that we didn't really have too much to say besides, "Get down from that chair," and then a little later, "it's time for you to get back in your bed."

We Got a Wii

Best to get Wiis from Costco. They are sold with a bundle package. I got the inside scoop from the Costco manager. Wiis were shipped from Los Angeles to Honolulu on December 12. They take 7 to 10 days to arrive. If I really wanted one, I could be at the store each morning when it opened. They would come in on the night shipment, and generally they are totally sold out in less than 10 minutes. 24 were set to arrive on the next shipment. I was willing to schedule the baby's morning nap around the opening of the store this week, but Hubby told me not to go out of my way. That was on the December 18. Here is what happened NEXT.

Friday 12/21, 9am: Friend's wife from work gets a Wii at Best Buy, where 30 are available in Pearl City. She gets back in line. Oh, I'll just get one for Mr. Farmer. 3 left. Sorry. 1 per customer. Hubby misses out.

Friday 12/21. 1:30pm: Hubby stops at Best Buy. People looking for Wiis walk out empty handed. So does Hubby.

Friday 12/21. 2:00pm: Hubby leaves Costco. No Wiis have come in all week. This means that the shipment on 12/12 has not come in, either.

Saturday 12/22 8:43am. Today marks 10 days after Wiis have left Los Angeles to Honolulu for Hawaii shelves. Farmer family is getting ready for the morning. I tell Hubby that Costco opens in 17 minutes. He jumps in the shower. I tell him if he wants a Wii he better MOVE FASTER.

Saturday 12/22 8:46am. Hubby is showered and ready to go.

Saturday 12/22 8:48am. Son1 is showered. Locked and loaded to go in his car seat, ready for gymnastics. Hubby is sans wallet. Mission to find wallet is ON.

Saturday 12/22 8:51am. Hubby and Son1 pull out of the driveway on the way to Costco.

Saturday 12/22 9:01am. Hubby and Son1 are standing in line at Costco for a Wii. Parking lot is totally full. No signs of any Wiis. Hubby asks if any Wiis are available. Everyone says they don't know. Yet many in line ahead of him are Costco employees he recognizes (we are there that often) and not on the clock. Hmmm. Why were so many in line? Hubby takes his place in line, #12. Yes, #12 one minute after store opens.

Saturday 12/22 9:12am. Palette dropped, containing 24 Wiis. Products are prescanned and ready to charge to patrons' Costco American Express cards.

Saturday 12/22 9:16am. No more Wiis.

Saturday 12/22 10am. Son1 is at gymnastics. Wii is in trusted car, hiding under a blanket.