Arrrrr ya feelin' like a 4-year-old?

Charlie's 4th b-day...









































Dad made another birthday cake masterpiece--this year a pirate ship. Both of our kiddos continue to be quite the buccaneers, brandishing their foam swords as they run up the stairs to the "crow's nest" a.k.a the top bunk of Charlie's bed. Bob and I were laughing as we picked up a large skull and crossbones balloon, thinking that actual pirates may find it quite ironic that piracy is a common theme for toddler birthdays. "Everybody grab an eye patch and pass the ice cream or you'll end up in Davy Jones' locker!" Ah blimey, just another irony of parenthood...

Grandma and Papa came up for the weekend and we continued last year's birthday tradition of lunch at Dogtown on Monroe (featuring hot dogs of every variety). On Sunday, we picked up one of Charlie's bestest little friends, Kyle, and met up with Charlie's cuz Aaron-- and went to see an Amerks game. I had to laugh as Kyle climbed in the car and handed Charlie a wrapped present saying, "Charlie, you're going to love this!" Of course, the present being a nerf sword-- Charlie did. The boys had a blast, not so much into watching the game but very into brandishing their balloon swords and soaking up the commotion (along with a slightly alarming amount of cotton candy and fruit punch).

Not sure where little boys learn this, but somehow each seems to know that the proper place to store your weapon is ninja-style at your back.















Some pirate phraseology for your enjoyment...[man I'd hate to be keelhauled!]...:
Avast ye - stop and check this out or pay attention

Batten down the hatches - put everything away on the ship and tie everything down because a storm is brewing

Bilge-sucking - insult

Blimey! - exhortation of surprise

Blow me down! - expression of shock of disbelief akin to "Holy Crap!"

Blow the man down - command to kill someone

Booty - treasure

Bucko - a buccaneer

Cat O'Nine Tails - a whip with nine strands

Crow's nest - small platform atop the mast where the lookout stands

Cutlass - short heavy curved bladed sword used by pirates

Davy Jones' Locker - fabled, mythical place at the bottom of the ocean where the evil spirit of Davy Jones brings sailor and pirates to die

Doubloons - other coins or found in pirate hoards and stashes

Feed the fish - will soon die

Hang 'im from the yardarm - punishment of those captured in battle

Heave Ho - give it some muscle and push it

Hempen Halter - a noose for hanging

Hornswaggle - to defraud or cheat out of money or belongings

Jacob's Ladder - the rope ladder one uses to climb aboard a sloop

Keelhaul - punishment in which a person where dragged underneath the pirate ship from side to side and was lacerated by the barnacles on the vessel

Landlubber - big, slow clumsy person who doesn't know how to sail

Mizzen - third mast from the bow of the ship on ships that have three or more masts

Old Salt - an experienced sailor