The Family that Plays Together

David and I have always been the type of parents who LOVE to play with our boys. We don't play with them because we should. We play with them because we think that they are fun, and we enjoy spending time with them. It is actually purely selfish.

It started when they were just babies with peek-a-boo and tickle monster. We later endured that horrific phase of CandyLands and Chutes & Ladders--eternal inane games made tolerable ONLY through the delight of our children. Once the world of cardboard spinners was fading in our rear view mirror, we found ourselves spending entire weekends building Lego masterpieces...a pastime that remains a part of our lives still. We have added board games like Settlers of Catan, RISK, Clue, and Monopoly, as well as numerous card games to the family repertoire.

Beyond games, we play music together on a regular basis. Loud music. Fun music. Worship music. And virtual music...as in Rock Band on the Wii. Which brings me to playing video games! We have had bowling tournaments, tennis matches, and all varieties of battles through the Play Station, the Wii, and the computer.

We play outside just as much: tossing a football, taking a hike, skiing, snowboarding, or kicking a soccer ball. We just LOVE to play together.

And then there is the OTHER side of playing together. The dark side. The sneaky side. The shared love that we all have for a good prank. This is, perhaps, the arena where we come alive as a family. Our sweet spot, if you will. Oh how we thrill to the classic toilet papering escapade. We can spend hours dreaming up ideas, imaging how much fun it would be to saran-wrap someone's front door, to leave a live goat tied to friend's car, or to serenade an unsuspecting stranger.

In fact, I think I knew I was going to marry David on the day he and two friends solemnly placed their hands over their hearts and began singing the Star Spangled Banner in three part harmony while waiting in line for lunch at college. I quickly noticed that their patriotic demonstration was due to the fact that they were standing behind a girl who had mistakenly worn red and white striped underwear underneath white linen slacks. "Oh say can you see?" Takes on a whole new meaning at a moment like that. I knew I was in love.

So given that kind of parentage, it shouldn't be any big surprise that earlier this week, when all the Junior High girls were spending the night at the principal's house, our boys felt the need to Carpe Diem, if you know what I mean. David and I believe that it is part of our parental duty to school our boys in the fine art of prank-pulling. To that end, we willingly aided and abetted them in their endeavor.

Lest you are concerned (as were some dear friends of mine) that we are contributing to the delinquency of minors, I can assure you that we do our best to ensure that no animals are harmed, no laws are broken, and no friendships are destroyed. We do have some standards, after all. Fun need not be a felony. In fact, it could provide a community service. Indeed, this prank surely did.

You know all those annoying signs that clutter medians, street corners, and embankments? We picked up a few of those. NO! Of course we weren't STEALING them. We had no intention of keeping them. We simply planned to REDISTRIBUTE them. To another part of town, or say, someone's lawn.

Just a few.

Okay 30.

And some spare school t-shirts and boxers.

Since we were BUSTED when we did it (the silly girls were sleeping--or should I say NOT sleeping--outside on the porch!) David and the boys went back the next morning to survey our handiwork. I think it is a thing of beauty.

Williamson Rules for Proper Sign Redistribution were followed. They include:

1. Never remove a sign from private property. For Sale signs are off limits.
2. We are an equal opportunity sign redistribution outfit. We do not discriminate based on political party, sign color, or quality of graphics.
3. If you have been "signed," good signing etiquette requires that you add to the collection and continue the redistribution process.
4. It is absolutely FORBIDDEN to commit redistribution retribution. (No backsies! Pay it forward)
5. ALL signing must be done in a spirit of love and mutual admiration. Don't sign angry.
6. Bonus points for funky yard art (Gnomes and Flamingos) and Avista Accessories.
7. Strict adherence to Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for men."

P.S. We love you, Mrs. Bauer!

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