Today is Mojo's birthday. Thus begins that happy time of each year during which both Cookie and Mojo have the same odometer reading. And during the next four days I will say to them at least a hundred times, "you're both nine years old, y'know."

Yeah, they're going to get tired of me fast, if they haven't already.

Mojo's caper this week involved an in-class assignment: type a story on the computer and attach clipart. He did exactly that, composing an epic tale of a master criminal, the Easter Bunny, two penguins, Santa, a (random) New Years baby, and a ninja -- all locked in an epic conflict ultimately overshadowed by time's inexorable march upon man (which the ninja actually overcame -- by using his paintball gun to chase away the attacking New Years baby).

That little classroom assignment was sent home with a note directing that he rewrite the story "without ninjas or violence." Oh, and it had to be signed by a parent.

I gotta stop showing him clips from Youtube. (It also can't help that last week we went to the mall to get paintball masks -- because as soon as Cookie turns 10, we're heading to the paintball park!)