A Peek Into The Wardrobe

Daddy Steve: Mikko and Tyler are busy contemplating their 'dream' of filling the wardrobe box full of water.  No one really understands why they are so enamored with this scheme, or what they would actually do with it once filled.  Such is the nature of dreams...

Mikko: This would be so cool if we dumped out all the clothes and filled it with water!

Tyler: Yeah!  You know, I never realized it was so big.  I bet we could put a thousand gallons in here.

Mikko: Maybe even a million!

Ezra: You do realized that this isn't our wardrobe box?  It belongs to the girls.

Tyler: But why would they need such a big box?  They always say that they don't have hardly anything to wear.

Ezra: Ha-ha.  Help me lift the cover and you'll see.

Mikko: Wow! Look at all of those clothes!

Tyler: I had no idea they had so many!

Ezra: Haven't you ever noticed how often they change outfits?

Mikko & Tyler: No.

Mikko: Gosh, that blows my mind.  How do they decide what to wear?  And what are all these?

Ezra: Underpants.

Tyler: Why so many?!?

Ezra: To match each dress.

Tyler: Unbelievable!

Ezra: Wait 'til you see this...

Mikko: Holy Cow!  Look at all those shoes!

Ezra: They gotta have a pair to match every outfit.

Tyler: My shoes match all my clothes.

Mikko: It's overwhelming.  How do they ever get dressed in the morning?

Tyler: I would just wear my pajamas all day.

A little later...

Tyler: Hello, ladies.  We just want you to know how much respect we have for you.

Mikko: Yeah, we had no idea being a girl was so complicated.

Daisy: What on earth were they talking about?\

Holly Belle: Don't even try to figure it out.

Meeting Royalty (Meeting The New Boy II)

Daddy John: The rumors are true: a new boy has arrived at Gregoropolis!  He'd barely walked in the door and set his bags down before BR, Pete Dakota, and Stephen Orange were there to meet him.

Prince Nicholas: Hello fellows!  I am Prince Johann Paul Nicholas Sahara.  But, please, you can call me Nicholas.

Benjamin Roy: Hi, Nicholas!  I'm BR, this is Pete Dakota and Stephen Orange.  Welcome to Gregoropolis!  How was your trip?

Nicholas: Thank you, BR.  It's smashing to meet you lads.  The trip was frightfully long and I am so pleased to be at my new home.

(Pete Dakota, to himself: That's some hat...)

So as not to overwhelm poor Nicholas, the boys gave him some space to take a little nap and change clothes.  BR and Pete changed clothes themselves and Stephen Orange, remembering what it was like to be the new boy, suggested they meet with him one at a time.

Pete decides the best way to get to know someone is with...food!

Pete: Hi, Nicholas.  Would you like to have some pizza with me?

Nicholas: Smashing!  I've never had it before.  I've lived quite a sheltered life up 'til now.  

Pete: Really?

Nicholas: Oh yes.  In fact, these are my very first pairs of denim trousers and trainers!  I've only ever had my royal suit to wear.

Pete: >giggle< ...and that hat.

Nicholas: >groan<..and that dreadful hat.

Nicholas: So, this is pizza you say.  Quite good.

Pete: It's pepperoni, my favorite.

Nicholas: Say, Peter, I noticed you wearing a kilt earlier.  I've also a kilt, but never had a chance to wear it.  Maybe we could find a day to each wear them?

Pete: That's a...smashing idea!

Nicholas then caught up with BR, about to take Annabelle for her walk.

Nicholas: Ah, Benjamin, here you are.

Nicholas: Who is this charming creature?

BR: This is my dog, Annabelle.  She's very friendly, she won't bite.

Nicholas: Shall we go for walkies, girl?

BR: Do you have any pets, Nicholas?

Nicholas: Sadly, no.  Wasn't ever allowed to have any.  The life of a prince was never as glamorous as one would think it to be.

The boys (and Annabelle) continued their walk and BR filled Nicholas in on the other kids and goings-on in Gregoropolis.  Soon it was time to feed Annabelle, so Nicholas went to meet with Stephen Orange in the lounge...

Nicholas: Now, Daddy John says you'd like to become a marine biologist one day.

Stephen Orange: Yes, I love everything about sea life and the oceans.  

Nicholas: This is a delightful aquarium.

Stephen: I'd like to have a larger one, but Daddy John says this all I can have right now, especially with the other thing I just got.

Nicholas: Whatever can you mean?

Stephen: Come with me and I'll show you.

Nicholas: Whatever is this?!?

Stephen: It's a baby hammerhead shark.  It's not mine!  I've got it on loan from the university; Daddy John and I had to fill out tons of paperwork to be approved for research.

Nicholas: Great Richard the III's ghost!  Just look at it.

Stephen: The hammerhead's distinctive head shape, or 'cephalofoil', gives it the evolutionary advantage of seeing around telephone poles.

Nicholas: How fascinating!

Stephen: That was a joke.

Nicholas: >ha-ha<  Very droll, sir!  And Benjamin said you didn't have a sense of humor.

Stephen: ...

Nicholas: Oh, dear...

Looks like Prince Johann Paul Nicholas Sahara, or Nicholas, is going to fit right in with the gang at Gregoropolis!

La Vida Es Sueño

Benjamin Roy: Hi Pete, how was soccer practice?

Pete Dakota: Wow, I'm beat.  The coach really put us through our paces.

BR: Come sit down and rest up.

Pete Dakota: Whew, that's better.  What are you up to?

BR: Oh, I was just listening to some music and surfing the 'Net.  Stephen Orange isn't working on anything, so I got some actual computer time.

Pete: That's cool.  Is it Barbie and Skipper's turn to make lunch today?

BR: What?

Pete: What what?

BR: What did you say?  Who are Barbie and Skipper?

Pete: What?  I asked if Holly Belle and Daphne making lunch.  Who are Barbie and Skipper?

BR: Yeah, who are they?!

Pete: What are you talking about, Ken?

BR: KEN?!?  BEN, not Ken!

Pete: What?  I said Kenjamin!

BR: I'm telling Daddy Big Jim on you!

BR: >GASP<  What the heck was that?!?!

DADDEEEEE JOHNNNNN!!!!!!!!

A Cold Week

Daddy Steve:  It was an absolutely frigid week here in Gregoropolis.  How frigid, you ask?  On Tuesday night the low was -28°F, with a wind chill of -50°F (that would be -33.3C and -45.5°C). By any measurement, that's darn cold!

"Am I inside or am I outside?" ponders Holly Belle.  The truth is that stately Gregoropolis Manor is really a drafty old barn.  When the temp plummets, many parts of the house, such as the front hall, feel more like the outdoors than the indoors.

Holly Belle:  It's good timing that we got this warm outerwear set at the Sasha Festival last year!

To combat the frigid invasion, we keep the doors shut and use rugs to block drafts.

And the portable electric heater follows us from room to room.

The kids stay warm by snuggling under fleece blankets...

Duncan: What if it never warms up?

Oliver: I'm sure it will.  By July.

...and drinking lots of hot tea and cocoa.

Kaveh: Is Earl Grey okay?

James: Thanks, as long as it's hot.

The cold weather brings out a lot of...interesting fashion choices.  Back when Daddy Steve and Daddy John started school, many girls still wore dresses to class.  However, when it was very cold they would often wear slacks or jeans underneath.  Daphne and Harriet thought they would give it a try.

Daphne: It's not haute couture, but at least we're keeping warm.

Harriet: We can be fashionable in the springtime.

Rhoda: Well, I see you two are finally dressing sensibly!