Notes from the Living Room

I was roused from a too-short sleep this morning by our boy, with whom I had promised to build Cyclone Defender first thing. There was renewed interest in this Lego Exo-Force battlebot yesterday when, during a family shopping outing, the little guy spent $6 from Auntie K. plus $2 of allowance (he actually dusted the entire X-room!) on Cyclone Defender's nemesis -- Claw Crusher, an evil battlebot with a robot for a pilot rather than a molded plastic man with purple hair.

He's had his eye on that prize for some time now. It was his original target the day we picked up Cyclone Defender, a booby prize of sorts since Claw Crusher was out of stock. As luck would have it, we got Wal*Mart's last one on yesterday's trip.

After we had successfully reconstructed Cyclone Defender, a battle on the living room floor ensued, complete with realistic laser sounds, the clashing of swords, and other such drama, all discussed by brother and sister in advance in "How about..." language.

"How about Claw Crusher grabs Cyclone Defender's shield with his claw?" brother asked.

"And how about Cyclone Defender shoots Claw Crusher to get free?" he added.

Then sister piped in. "And how about that's when the pink poodle comes out of her hiding place?" she said, retrieving the ferocious, six-inch beast so it could enter the action, snarling and growling for all her candy-colored self was worth.