Thursday, July 31, 2008

Nooooo....I'm not Reid

These capes I made the crazies for Christmas have turned out to be the best present ever. They are the most used...least forgotten...toy in our house. You can always find them at the top of our toy box if they're not around the kids necks.


Does anyone remember this? Well Alter Ego Parker has a brother following in his footsteps. I can't remember the last time Reid was just Reid. It's like he has seriously forgotten that was ever his name. I can ask him repeatedly to do something and he doesn't even acknowledge me....he doesn't flinch. He doesn't look up. He doesn't respond in any way. But when I call him by his superhero name, he'll do what I ask...whether it be to brush his teeth, stop hitting his brother, eat his lunch, or clean up his toys. It's tough. I don't always know who he is. Finally he'll say NOOOOOO. I'm not Reid. I'm ________. Fill in the blank with whatever random superhero he's personifying.

I can't even comprehend how he does that. We play superheroes regularly at our house. I'm usually Storm or Wonder Woman or Elastagirl. The world of superheroes is seriously lacking females. I can't, for the life of me, remember to answer to my superhero name. I forget to respond until they call me Mom.

Watching Parker and Reid play superheroes together is a real trip. They never forget to call each other by their superhero names. They're hilarious. And they are both WAY into Marvel comics characters. So they become the most abstract superheroes (and sometimes bad guys) ever. Under our roof, you can frequently find people (or mutants) like Magneto, Ironman, Spiderman, Titanium Man, Crimson Dynamo, Wolverine, Xavier, Iceman, Green Goblin, Superman, Captain America, Mr. Fantastic, Pyro, Wolverine, Cyclops, Batman, Robin, Incredible Hulk and the list goes on. And when they're not being superheros, they are usual some one like Peter Parker, Bruce Wayne or Clark Kent. In fact, Parker had a sub in his Sunbeam class one Sunday. He told the teacher his name was Peter Parker. My boys are nuts.

Last night they came running down the stairs shirtless while our home teachers were over. They were screaming like banshees that were both Incredible Hulk. (Then one of them called Reid a "little man" and I found him crying on the kitchen floor a few minutes later. He has a major complex about being called "little." He's BIG.)

Reid has a hard time starting a word with the letter 'S'. He'll tell me he's Uperman. (Pronounced OO-perman.) I'll repeat him with "OK Uperman." Then he responds, "No, not Uperman...Uperman." He can hear the difference, but can't say it and I think it's hilarious.

With all the alter egos my boys take on, nothing has ever topped the time Parker was Al Roker.

18 comments:

Heidi said...

thats hilarious! I have a friend that says that with her sons name. His name is Connor, and he says connoe, He has a hard time with his r's. so funny!

Lauri said...

I never know there were so many super heroes out there until I came to visit you. Those kiddos could list them off like no other...names that I have never heard of and can't pronounce. Hilarious!

Eric said...

So funny! That's the joy in having lots of boys close together. Kids have the cutest imaginations. Ethan has been a princess for so long (poor Ethan), he never really got into being a superhero like your boys.

jeanine said...

Your boys are so hilarious! I think I know most of those super heroes/villans that you listed. William loves them too.
(And you're right... nothing tops Parker being Al Roker...)

ps. William got the postcard from Parker and LOVES it. He was even super excited to show it to the missionaries when they were over for dinner!

Cynthia said...

Ooperman - that's a good one. Will there be enough names left for Grey when he is a bit older?

Unknown said...

That makes me miss having little boys at my house. My baby boy is 10!!!! Great pictures and story!!

Lisha said...

I remember the Al Roker story. Too funny! You are so lucky to have such entertaining kids.

Kelly said...

I didn't know there were so many super hers either! I guess I'll learn all of them sooner or later. Your boys are such "boys"! It's so cute. I think Derek will be exactly the same. Right now he's into sword fighting. He got it from Mulan. So whenever he watches Mulan, he has to take his shirt off like a warrior and grab a sword and fight. I wish you lived here and our boys could play together. I sense that they would get along great!

Traci Elizabeth said...

I love it. Its so funny how boys just automatically lean towards superheros, and girls automatically lean towards princesses. Just in the blood.

I have no idea who 90% of those super heros are, when Boston gets older your boys are going to have to teach him a few things.

You were right. I do love having a boy. I think I was just scared of the unknown. But you were right, they are great.

Kelly said...

That is so adorable!! Boys are so creative, sometimes more than girls, I think! Alex was always a cowboy, wearing the whole gear for days at a time!! My kids love halloween, because they become someone else, and since they are a little older, they don't dress up as much, but I really loved when they did!!
Your boys never cease to make me smile when I check your posts!!
We miss them!

Jessica said...

Very cute. Your boys take after you with their creative imaginations. We are yet to have super heroes in our house and don't know if we ever will with my two girls. We will have to come hang out with the Smith's to learn how to play. I love that Reid can't say his S's. Jenna can't say her L's. She totally thinks she is saying it also. She especially has a hard time saying her friend Lily's name. When Jenna turned three Lily asked her mom, Now Jenna will be able to say my name right. It is cute in the meantime and they will grow out of it soon.

Amanda B. said...

I am sure Al Roker would be proud- he is a pretty cool guy, after all! :) Your kids are awesome- how fun and what great imaginations- those will always serve them well. Good for you for playing along so easily- I think I lack a bit in this department. How fun! :)

Shalece said...

That is so cute. What imaginations. Tyson too will tell me, 'Mom I'm not Tyson, I'm _______(usually a power ranger, spiderman, or batman mostly). It's hilarious.

Danielle said...

Ha!! The last comment about Al Roker was priceless. One time my kids had the alter ego of Tom Bergeron-they were on a big America's Funniest Home Videos Kick...=)

Genn said...

Cute post. Your boys crack me up. I would love to get to meet them some day... Boys are so different from girls. I thought about that yesterday while I babysat Derek. The two were playing and doing all the same things, but Derek's way of doing them was so much more rough and masculine than Hannah's girly ways. I guess that continues on through adulthood too. Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus.

Kris said...

Al Roker! Now THAT'S a hoot!

Kris said...

Al Roker! Now THAT'S a hoot!

Unknown said...

That last sentence made my stomach hurt from laughing so hard. Those boys are the greatest.