Category: JSL

Gaming Addicts

Fun, Games, Geeky Pursuits, JSL, NHL, Video Games

IMGP5575I think I’m raising a pair of video game addicts.

A couple of weeks ago, we went to visit my parents.  While there, they insisted on buying the boys a gift.  I tried to steer NHL to a Transformer figure since he loves the show, but both he and JSL wanted more video games for the Nintendo DS.  At first, I’ll admit that I was against it.  We have plenty of games and I didn’t think NHL needed another one.  After awhile, though, I accepted it.  Especially after we found Lego Indiana Jones for the Nintendo DS.

NHL loves the Lego series.  He has (and has finished) both of the Lego Harry Potter games and has the Lego Star Wars game as well.  Since we recently introduced him to Indiana Jones (specifically, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark), we figured he might like this.  (Plus, I wouldn’t need to help him changing this "toy" from a vehicle to robot and back.)

JSL, meanwhile, really needed some games.  Most of the games we have for the Nintendo DS are for NHL’s skill level (if not higher).  JSL can try these, but he’s probably just going to wind up frustrated.  He wound up getting a dinosaur game that is perfect for his age level.

As soon as possible, the boys loaded up their new games and began playing.  Then, they swapped games and played each other’s games.  They’ve been playing them (or begging to play them) ever since.

That’s not it, though.  Even before this, the boys would keep asking me when a certain game was going to be released.  They counted down the days and, when it finally arrived, they waited impatiently while I downloaded and installed the playable demo.  They were hooked on the previous versions, are hooked on this version, and will likely get hooked on the mobile versions once we get our smartphones.

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Yes, my boys are in love with the Angry Birds.  They’ve tossed the birds at pigs in many environments.  Now they need to take into account orbital mechanics to defeat the piiiigs in spaaace.  (Oops, sorry.  Wrong piggies.)

With all of the video games they like playing, it’s no wonder that I suspect that I’m raising a pair of gaming geeks.  I don’t know where they get it from.  Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to play some Lego Indiana Jones on the Nintendo DS.

The Forever Swing

Fun, JSL, NHL, Outside, Play

While visiting my parents over the weekend, we took the boys to a playground.  As they had a blast, I began to think about the animated GIF capabilities of PhotoScape, our Picnik replacement.  (Yes, I’m a geek.)

So, since I’m too tired from the trip home to write out a coherent post, here’s an animated shot of my boys doing one of their favorite things in the world: Swinging at the playground.  I call this one, The Forever Swing.

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Of course, NHL should get some swinging in, so here’s The Forever Swing, Part 2: Forever More.

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Doesn’t that look like fun?

Aloha Friday: Three and a Half Four Eyes

Aloha Friday, Harry Potter, JSL, NHL, Photos

Over the past few weeks, NHL has been complaining about headaches.  At first, we thought he was just trying to get out of doing homework.  Eventually, though, we began to wonder if he was actually having trouble seeing.  An eye doctor’s appointment confirmed our suspicions: NHL needed glasses.

We tried on a few pairs, but NHL quickly decided that he had a favorite.  Can you tell why?

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Here’s a hint:

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Just call him NHL Potter!  Expelliarmus!

Of course, JSL started to feel left out.  After all, I have glasses, B has glasses and now NHL has glasses.  So he got his own pair.

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They might not be real, but they keep him happy.

My Aloha Friday question for today is: Do your kids wear glasses?

P.S. If you haven’t already, try out my Twitter applications: FollowerHQ and Rout.

Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha Friday by Kailani at An Island Life

Aloha #129

Snakes and Lizards and Cockroaches, Oh My!

Animals, Bug, JSL, Photos

IMGP5193This past Saturday, we braved heavy crowds and insane parking to attend the Hannaford Kidz Expo in the Empire State Plaza.  There were many interesting booths with various fun options for the kids.  I couldn’t possibly blog about them all, so I wanted to focus on one of them today: Reptile Adventure.

B wrote about them previously when they stopped by a local library.  That time, NHL went with B to see the various creatures that Reptile Adventure had to show.  This time, however, NHL was a bit overwhelmed.  Perhaps it was the crowds or the anticipation of seeing the Radio Disney booth.  In any event, he didn’t want to be anywhere near snakes or lizards.

Thankfully, JSL didn’t seem to mind much.  So while B took NHL out of the room to calm down, JSL and I marveled at the various creatures they had.  I’ll admit that I didn’t get as good a look as I would have liked.  There were a lot of people walking through and I wanted to make sure that JSL stuck by me.  Still, JSL and I each got to touch a snake and we each loved seeing the turtles, lizards, snakes and even the hissing cockroaches.

IMGP5196Yeah, about those cockroaches.  When we first walked in, we saw a Reptile Adventure employee sitting down with a big snake around her neck and a hissing cockroach walking up one arm.  This was easily the biggest bug I’ve ever seen.  It was at least four inches long.  To be perfectly honest, I just looked them up on Wikipedia for that length.  My eyeball estimate was going to be 8 inches but Wikipedia says they grow to 2 to 4 inches.  Perhaps my estimating skills can be forgiven seeing as they are HUGE!

IMGP5189Moving on from the cockroaches, we saw this turtle and a buddy of his relaxing near the entrance.  It looks like someone got him some reading material.  I’m not sure if it’s ironic or not for a turtle to be reading the "Race Day" section.

 

 

IMGP5190This fella (or ma’am… I really couldn’t tell) was on top of his cage.  I had to lift JSL up so he could see him.  I couldn’t tell if we were more fascinated by this spiky lizard or if he was more fascinated by us.

 

 

IMGP5191Then, there were the snakes.  They had small snakes and large snakes.  Each of these, at some point, was able to be touched by kids (and grown ups) to see how they feel.  By the way, I assumed that snakes would feel slimy, though in hindsight I’m not sure why.  They don’t.  Smooth, yes, but not slimy.

JSL was hesitant at first, but finally decided to try petting the small one in the photo to the left.  I didn’t get a good photo of that, but, luckily, JSL decided to pet this larger snake as well.  He did a great job on both.  (And, yes, Reptile Adventure provided a station for you to clean your hands afterwards.)

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All in all, my only gripe about the Reptile Adventure room is that I couldn’t spend more time there taking photos of every creature they have.  The nature photographer in me can get frustrated by the lack of wildlife in my day-to-day life.  (Though the boys can be wild enough.)  We left wanting more (and JSL left wanting a stuffed snake).  Hopefully, we can see more of Reptile Adventure soon.

More about the Kidz Expo in general and the Radio Disney book specifically in the coming days.

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