"Worst Free Comic Book Day Ever!"- Comic Book Guy

Click me.

This weekend, without a doubt, was the nerdiest weekend I've ever had. That's saying something for a woman who has spent several hours of her life waiting in line for Star Wars films. As some of you know, Avengers opened this weekend. I took my own Steve Rogers with me, in full costume. 

I dare you to find the superhero that isn't printed on cardboard.

We had free tickets from buying certain items at Vons. We arrived at the theater and I was taken aback by the HUGE line that led to the box office. Josiah received several high fives & enthusiastic "Cap! I didn't know you were going to be here." He took it all in stride & even let me know that he "has fans". We cheered our heroes on & laughed heartily at the Joss Whedon script. It was a perfect beginning to Summer movies. 

Watch out Chris Evans.

Saturday morning I wanted to go to the "big library" aka Pasadena Main Library. It's a beautiful building and parts of it seem like the library that the Beast gave to Belle. While we were there, a librarian offered the kids a free comic book "for free comic book day". The kids picked out Adventure Time comics and were then told they could head outside to meet some artists & animators. Josiah shot out of the building. Animators? Adventure time? Avengers? Yes please. The artists could not have been nicer (check out Reed Gunther, a swell comic book drawn and written by brothers) & drew the kids characters that they asked for. Finn & Jake for Josiah, Marcelline, Rainicorn and Princess Bubblegum for Mae.

Who knew animators were so cute and young?

The artists were gracious enough to give the kids a few freebies that they also signed.

Mae was oddly shy about the whole situation. She ended up wandering off to play in the courtyard after receiving her Marcelline drawing. Josiah stayed at the table and asked for a Captain America drawing from a comic book artist who actually illustrates some of  the Avenger's comics. A very helpful and enthusiastic employee from the local comic book store let us know that Spider-man was going to make an appearance around 2 PM at the store.

Who can say no to Peter Parker?

That's how I, Leigh Brewer, ended up in a comic book store for an hour. 

Cap and I feel the same about the comic book store.

It seems our web-slinging hero was running late. The Brewer family, along with a few others stood off to the side, watching nerds of every race, creed and fandom have their comics signed. I've never spent any time in a comic book store. To be thrown into one on the busiest day of the year was intriguing. Were these the same people that liked stuff that I liked, in a more intense way? *I had cracked a Doctor Who joke earlier.* The store smelled like my brother Aaron's room. I feel that this makes sense. I perused a Milhouse: Bart Simpson's Pal comics. I mostly watched people. Mae finally had enough, we left and went to a vegan gelatto place in the same strip mall (KindKreme). Josiah and Cameron arrived a few minutes later, Josiah glowing after meeting a certain web-slinger from NYC.

What could be better when you're a five year old boy?

Mae instantly claimed "I want to meet Spider-man too!" I asked her "Are you sure? You're not going to be scared when you finally see him, right?" She reminded me that she had gone toe-to-toe with Stormtroopers. "Alright. Let's go." She ran ahead of me, plowed into the throngs of nerd culture, Spidey-senses tingling. 

We found him.

"Ma'am, is this your daughter? I found her wandering the streets of New York."

...she wanted none of it. Spider-man was great. Kind, funny & told her that she could be a Superhero someday. She slinked away from him quickly. I mentioned that this picture would make it into her future wedding slide show. Spider-man asked if I wanted him to film a special message for that day. Heehee. 

Nerds don't get lines. People kept cutting to the front, awkwardly. 

I will leave you with the lyrics to Josiah's Spiderman theme song:

Spiderman, Spiderman

Spin some webs, everyday. 

Rock and Roll Easter!

Easter happened. Really, honestly it did. I have pictures to prove it! We spent our first Easter "alone". Meaning we stayed home instead of visiting family. It was a bummer, but a necessary move. We were volunteering at the Easter service and if we had gone to visit would have spent quite a bit of Easter on the road. We opted instead to party for Jesus in our own way. 

Here's a few pictures in no particular order.

Growing up, my family (Uncles & older male cousins mostly) had a tradition. After all the kids found the eggs, the men would toss them in the air and attempt to catch them. In their mouths.
Here Josiah keeps that tradition alive.

Josiah loves eggs.

The kids got butterfly nets in their Easter baskets. Bless you Target Dollar Spot.

Squishy face!

Another squishy face!

Mae's dress is from Nordstrom Rack. It's purple and gray seersucker.
Her hair piece & shoes are Old Navy. Gloves & purse by Target. 

They are a little goofy.

A nice pic of Mae's Easter shoes.
We both zeroed in on these & knew she had to have them!

Josiah concentrates on making a Hulk egg the night before.

We used whisks to dip the eggs. I say they were a success- we only lost one egg! 

Mae shows off her neck face dying technique. Earl doesn't care.

Cameron made a concerned looking egg.

Easter morning! Josiah holds Thor who arrived from avenging the planet to his Easter basket.
(Total steal at Target! $25 for $6!)

Mae found a Tangled Princess in her basket.

Josiah may have snuck a piece of chocolate...

Seriously. My kid is this cute.

She posed this way herself. The gloves are too much.

Josiah was not a fan of the bright sun. His shirt is also from Nordstrom Rack, shoes from Target. 

Here are all three Brewer children. Earl was bribed with a peep.

Where I started my Easter service. Directing crowds to the entrance for our service at The Gibson.
I also directed more than one foreign tourist to the ticket booth of Universal Studios.
Everyone trusts you when you're wearing a badge with a lanyard. 

Mae & Yeva party it up in The Gibson. 

Josiah hangs out near some guitars.
Sadly, Zakk Wylde did not attend  the Easter service.

Easter friends! Violet's boots are awesome. I also have to say that my children aren't that small, it's just that the Fritz family has giant (and cute!) kids. :)

Baptisms. As we started, the Water World show started shooting fireworks & flames. It was pretty epic.

Heading home after a fun service. 

Some-bunny was tired.

Here's the place settings I used. My Grandma Hazel's china, my 20's silverware & carnival glass goblets.

I Guess that this is Goodbye*

Day 31

You Again.

Goofing around the other night. 

Love them.

This is the last entry of my photo challenge. 

I hope someone enjoyed it! I had fun with it. I just might do it again! 

*Goodbye, Eddie Vedder

In the Room Where You Sleep*

Day 15

Happiness

Cameron reading to the kids at bedtime. It's blurry because I had to be a bit sneaky. :)

Happiness.

*In the Room Where You Sleep- Dead Man's Bones.

(Not really) Wordless Wednesday

We took Earl to a local dog park off the 110. When we got there, we discovered a little bridge that separated the human park from the dog park. I had packed along the camera just in case. I  grabbed a few things out of the car to make the kids a little more "fall like" (perks of a messy car!) & Cameron went to town. 

I think these turned out great & I haven't gone through and cropped or stylized them. Despite my looking so *ahem* large in these, I wanted to get some pics of me and the kids. Something that I wouldn't have done before my weight loss. I was always the one with the camera, not in front of it. Cameron also managed that sneaky single pic of me. I didn't know he was taking it. In honor or fall, he took a picture of my pumpkin sized head. 

The kids pics are super cute regardless of my head size.

Enjoy!