Monday Quote: Updated

CJP: Shannon! Come quickly! I need to show you what's going on with this barque I built--we need to turn it around and steer North, because that's warmer than South! The giant barque will pull the tiny one--we have to turn the ship around!

Me: Ok! I can't wait to see -- be right there!

CJP: I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to my snake. 

Here's what that's about: We've started watching The Little Mermaid. The kids, of course, are mesmerized by two things. One, "Why is Ursula the Sea Witch so mean? Why is she not kind? Why does she trick Ariel?" and two, the giant thunderstorm at the beginning. Of course. There's lightning, thunder, a shipwreck, a rescue, a rescue boat...the whole works. They really just put up with all that "Under the Sea" crap to watch the storm on repeat. 

And then, because it's Cody, re-create it. First out of play dough, and then out of this: the giant car ramp that I pulled out of the attic yesterday. (Note to self and future parents: It was brilliant to put some of the bigger, but still fun toys away for a year -- they are new all over again. It is equally brilliant to donate some of the bigger, louder toys.)

So it's not really a car ramp anymore. It's a giant ship. 

Obviously.

And it's decorated in great detail. Notice Shannon wound down and around the ramp. And Bailey on top, with the "peace rose" on her head and a bow on her back. The drill sticking out the window. The small animals on the car lift. The magic wands. It's all according to some mad, perfect plan -- like his nightly ordering of his stuffies around him in bed -- and if you move anything (or if you're Cordelia, either look like you might or outright threaten to) he gets Very Upset. That is, when he's not shouting, "Stand fast! Secure the rigging! Ariel! How ya doin', kid!"

Today he took it to a new level. Here's the "rescue barque," attached with the lacing beads. And then...the tugboat pulling the rescue barque. Attached with a carabiner. 

But look: Look INSIDE the "rescue barque." Here are all the things that got rescued. (All of their tiny plastic animals -- thanks Granny!)

(We read On Noah's Ark about five times early early this morning and I think that is playing in here.)