Future Batmen of the world

With Halloween being only 9 1/2 weeks away, you can imagine we've had plenty of conversations about what everyone will dress up as  this year for the big holiday.

I'm trying to encourage the boys to be Transformers since I bought those costumes last year on clearance at the end of the season, but no matter how hard I try, their time old classics of Batman and Robin, Superman and Spider Man, or Captain America or Iron Man seem all much more interesting.

In some conversation several weeks ago, which I don't remember nor claim to actually have happened, the boys claim I told them that Batarangs and grappling hooks are real.  I guess in my conversation of unconsciousness, I stated that the real ones are only for adults so they wouldn't be able to get one until they are like dad (this statement actually leads me to believe the conversation must have happened because I would say something like this).  The boys took my comment to mean that although they couldn't get a real grappling hook or Batarang, Dad could get one and thus that means they would have access to touch and play with it. 

As a result of that conversation the boys are convinced Dad needs to be Batman and they can be Batman (Michael) and Robin (Gabriel).  As they tried to convince me today, their plan is prefect because Dad can get the "real" tools and then they can use them with their costumes.  While  I continue to remind them that the "real" tools are very sharp and they'd probably hurt themselves or someone else, they continue to have some answer to address my concern. Take in point Gabriel's defense remarks to my statement about possibly hurting another little kid if he has the real Batarangs at Halloween. "Mom, although I will try not to hurt anyone, its okay if I accidentally hurt another kid, we can just take them to the hospital and the doctor will fix them."  My response, "Gabriel it is not okay to do things to hurt someone, even if it is an accident, plus going to the hospital is expensive."   Gabriel's response, "Mom, it is really okay, I have a lot of money."  My retort,, "Really Gabriel, how much money do you have because just to walk into the emergency room at the hospital it is $125.00"  His response, "See Mom's it is perfect, I have $150.00 so see, there is no problem.  Now can we please get the real grappling hooks?"  Me:  "No." 

So following the conversation about the hospital the boys decided we needed to spend the afternoon looking up costumes online.  They found a $499.00 Batman costume for Dad that, "WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO GET FOR HIM!" (which we will absolutely NOT be getting) and they each picked out their costumes too.  And then we went to Amazon where we found the real Batarangs and grappling hooks, which then became their focus for the next several hours.  "Mom, if I stop arguing with my brother and stop talking back to you will you get me these."  I could tell by their bargaining, they were really desperate. 

After finally telling them I would talk it over with dad, and get back to them, they went on their own to create their own grappling hooks.  That's when out in the street in front of our house they found a broken tire strap, and some string in their garage to make their own "Batman tool" While I told them they could play outside while I made dinner, I observed them trying to climb the pool fence,

 

which of course I put the stop too as they mastered actually getting over the barrier and then I saw them trying to boost one another up to get onto the roof. 

Yes that is Michael behind that pillar, climbing up the pole like Spider Man.

At this point, Mom had to intervene and kill all the fun again. As I went outside to see Michael climbing up the back pillar to get onto the roof, Gabriel said, "Never mind him Mom, that's just Spider Monkey."  I responded, "Great to hear Gabriel. That's good it isn't Michael because I don't take Spider Monkey's to the hospital when they fall."  And then I returned back in the house to resume dinner.  I guess they got my point because I noticed they left the pillar climbing moved onto pulling out twigs from one of our only living plants in our backyard. 

As I called them in for dinner they proudly announced, "Mom, are you happy?  We are pulling all the branches out of the plant in the backyard.  You don't want that to be alive anymore right?" 

Man these boys, they have more energy, creativity and determination than I could only dream of having.  Now that I've filled Dad in on all the latest requests and demands, we are taking votes as to when they'll ask us for our final decision about getting them the real Batman tools.  My guess 6:01 a.m. tomorrow morning when they get out of their beds.

Until next time,
Angie