Midnight Launch

Have you ever heard of a Midnight Launch? It's when the latest and greatest video games are released. They sometimes have a midnight launch, meaning you can pre-order the game then show up at midnight and be one of the first to get the game.

Well, the boys really wanted to do this for a new game that had just came out, one of which may or may not be rated M for mature audiences. I just feel like the best mom in the world when I purchase one of these games and with my sweet little boys both of my young men standing behind me and they ask if you are okay with the fact that the game is rated M for blood, violence, language... so on and so on. I smile politely and say "yes I am" cringing all the way down to my toes.

Anyway we agreed to let them go to one Midnight launch even though it was on a school night. So last night we did. Mark took them at 10pm to get a ticket that would hold there place in line when they came back at midnight. I went to bed for a couple of hours and then took them back at midnight so that Mark could go to bed.

I really was apprehensive as to what I would find. What kind of people come to these things? Surely no parent in their right mind would show up with school age kids at this ungodly hour. Especially to purchase a rated M war game. Would it be a bunch of 20 something video game geeks/nerds  connoisseurs of the video game world, being raucous and rowdy?

When we pulled up to the video game store Connor must have noticed the weary look on my face as I tried to peer in the windows to see what kind of crowd I would be dealing with.... 2-3 hours past my usual bedtime.... on a school/work night.... because he interrupted my thoughts with a low soothing tone he looked around at me and sad "Mom" "Just remember, they are just as afraid of you as you are of them". HA!  Very funny.

As it turned out it was a pretty nice crowd of 20 something young men who were very polite to the suburban 40 something 30 something oh never mind, lady who is out way past her bedtime with 2 school age boys. I was relieved to see one other Mom with a boy about Connor's age. I guess that makes two of us that won't be getting the world's best mom award again this year. Darn!

Latest Thrift store finds

When I first introduced the boys to thrift store shopping they really were not in to it at all. Connor thought they all smelled like "death and cigarettes". I have to admit I kind of agree with him. I never really mind though because I enjoy bargain hunting. A couple of Halloween's ago Connor needed something to wear with his Gorilla mask. We found a funny shirt, tie and a suit coat that was a few sizes to big. He thought that was pretty cool......


Then one day I talked Alex into going into one downtown and I have to admit it was a little scary. Alex thought for sure we were going to be mugged or we would come out and our car would be gone (he is so white bread). Anyway when Connor heard us talking about it he wanted to go check it out. Then we found another (Thrift store) a little closer to home, a little cleaner and seemingly safer, haha Well, Connor discovered the old used electronics section and he has been hooked ever since. He has purchased an old Sega game system and an old Nintendo 64 system. He loves searching for old video games and such.

So it's kind of fun having a Thrift store buddy... Mark is not into it at all by the way.

Alex has found some "treasures" as well. He has bought a few rolls of electrical tape for .99 a roll, even though I'm sure grandpa has plenty, he wanted his own so he could do whatever he wants with it. I have walked into their room and found, for example the ladder for their bunk bed all wrapped in electrical tape. I guess it's cheap entertainment if nothing else. Alex also wrote his name on the wall with the tape. And would you believe his latest treasure find was Christmas lights!

I'm not sure Grandpa was aware of the tape or the lights..... hope it's not too much of a shock Grandpa, haha
I promise that if we ever  WHEN we move out we will put everything back the way it was. It will be like we were never here... really, I'm serious... no trace....   kind of like in the movie Risky Business :)  We will put everything back in it's place but if you look really close............................................................... You may find a "crack" or "trace" of us here or there.

The boys playing video games

Halloween

Well Halloween was definitely more toned down this year than normal. I took some pictures of carving the pumpkins but I think we deleted some by accident. I did get some pictures of the finished products.

This is Grandpa's. We named it Shrek but you can't really tell in this picture. It has ears.

Alex carved this one with Grandpa's help. It says "Tiny Towers" which is the name of a game he loves on his Ipod.

This is Connor's. It's the Mac Apple. He really wants an I phone :)

Mark and I did this one... actually just Mark

Alex and his friend Trick or treated together. They were reggae/hippy guys. They had cool sunglasses too.

We had a different Halloween. It's usually a big deal and we all go together. This year Alex went with his friend and Connor went with his. Connor didn't really dress up. He did go to the Dollar Tree the night before Halloween and got a pirate hat (that was way too small by the way) a toy shield and toy sword. Don't ask me what he was thinking, haha He roamed our old neighborhood with friends and had a fun time meeting up with other kids he knew from school. I think this may have been our last Trick or Treating Halloween :(

Wordless Wednesday