Thank You for Star Wars

When JR was saying his prayers one night, he began with his thank yous: "thank you for daddy, thank you for mommy, thank you for Zoe, thank you for JR [yes, that's right, he gives thanks for himself], thank you for Alex, thank you for Zachary."  And then came the new additions: "thank you for Star Wars, thank you for spaceships, thank you for light sabers, thank you for guns."

Captain J-Rex

Captain Rex

This new obsession has been brought on by our recent purchase of the cartoon series "Star Wars: the Clone Wars."  Our kids have special names for several characters.  There is "R2 Doo Tee" (aka R2D2), "Juan Kenobi" (aka Obi-Wan Kenobi), "My Soka" (aka Ahsoka Tano), "Uncle Grievous" (aka General Grevious").  They do get one right: "Master Yoda."  In fact, they yell through the fence at the neighbor boys "You're Master Yoda!"  They think being called a "Jedi" is an insult (we suspect because the "naughty" guys (as they call the bad guys) are always referring to "Jedi scum"); at dinner I'll frequently hear crying and then someone will sob, "Mommy, [he/she] called me a Jedi!"  JR has declared himself to be Captain Rex, which is apt, given that his nickname is J-Rex.  In the end, all we can say is, "Thank you for Star Wars."

Ode to Fox

Fox in Socks has been Zoe's best friend since she was one.  Fox went everywhere with Zoe.  That explains why Fox went from being a fluffy, red fox, to an emaciated, stuffing-gutted, dirty red fox.  At one, Zoe would cuddle Fox in her crib and fall fast asleep.  At two, she would randomly hold Fox in the face of strangers and shout "Fox!", leaving the strangers perplexed as to why this stinky red creature was being thurst at them.  At three, she would simply carry "baby Fox" around, placing it carefully in her car seat (straps on) when we would venture into the mall.  At four, Fox has been added to the missing persons registry.  It was last seen swinging with the baby dragon.  JR told Zoe that Fox went on a vacation, but then secretly told me that Foxy walked into the street and got run over by a car.  We honestly have no idea where Foxy went, but we want him to know that he is loved and missed.  And yes, we have identical replacements but they have been uniformly rejected--Faux Foxes are not for our Zoe.

Bye Bye Paci

Dearest Paci,

I don't know where you've gone, but I will miss you forever.  You were my dearest friend, always with me.  My mom says she's not sure what happened to them all (and I had about 20 because my daddy always kept me well stocked).  Incidentally, my daddy was out of town when the pacifiers all disappeared so I know that mommy is to blame.  She keeps referring to some mysterious "paci fairy" who took them, but I know better.  I cried for a day and still cry when I look at pictures of you.  But I now kindly give pacis to my baby brother Zach and think nostalgically of the good ol' days.

Love always,
Alex

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