Us and Things: Robot Pony

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Robot Pony

On the morning of the Rodeo Round-up (see previous post), Lillian came and got in bed with me. I started talking up the pony ride because she tends to be a little shy about things like that. "Do you want to go for a pony ride today?!" I asked.
"Yes! And Daddy will ride a robot pony!"
"Um, ok. I don't know what that means, but if they have robot ponies, Daddy can ride one."

Turns out, they did have a robot pony.

Robot Pony from Amanda Ball on Vimeo.

5 comments:

Claire said...: that was one of the greatest things i've ever seen.; Thu Mar 04, 02:29:00 PM MST
Emily said...: Good job Tyler-I thought you might make it the whole time!! Amanda-I love the panicked cry of you telling Lillian not to climb up there, it just so reminds me...of me.; Thu Mar 04, 03:12:00 PM MST
Natchel said...: I felt like he should be in a sleazy bar taking his top off.... yuck. Too much sharing into my head? Sorry 'bout that.; Thu Mar 04, 04:30:00 PM MST
Belle of the Blues said...: I'm not sure what I like best..."No! Lillian!" or "Aww yeah!" or perhaps riding a bull barefooted? That is one awesome, hilarious video. Go Tyler.; Fri Mar 05, 07:11:00 PM MST
Cheryl said...: I think that is totally awesome. Robot pony! So did Lillian end up riding the non-robot pony?; Sat Mar 06, 08:16:00 PM MST

A taste of the Ball life

Amanda: What do you want for lunch: ham sandwich or peanut butter sandwich?
Lillian: Ham. No, peanut butter. No... ham... No, peanut butter.
Amanda: Ok, I'm going to make you a peanut butter sandwich. (makes sandwich)
Lillian: NO! I WANTED HAM!!!!
Amanda: You said peanut butter, and I told you I was going to make you peanut butter.
Lillian: No... I think you just spaced out Mom.

Tyler on dodo birds: I mean, any species that can be wiped out by rats probably didn't deserve to live. Nature should have selected them a long time ago to go extinct... it's like it forgot and got there late.

Lillian: I like carrots mom. They're like... juice you eat.

Tyler was reading Lillian a picture book in which a little boy finds an airplane in his closet and takes it into space where he runs out of gas and lands on the moon. On the moon, he meets a little Martian boy, wearing a space suit, who's spaceship had crashed.
Tyler: How come the Martian needs a space suit and the little boy doesn't? This book is so inaccurate.

Lillian threw a piece of food during dinner.
Tyler: Lillian don't throw food.
Lillian: But, it was just a little bit of food.

At 2 AM, Tyler pokes Amanda and says, "The baby is crying"
"No, that's a dog."
"No, it's Nora. I have superhuman hearing, that's why they call me Eagle Ears."

Amanda looks over and sees Lillian desperately trying to shove the Camelbak valve into Nora's mouth.
Amanda: Stop that! Don't put that into her mouth!
Lillian: Mom, I'm just playing doctor.
Amanda: Well, don't put it into her mouth.
Lillian (accompanied with change in tactic): Just her ears.

Lillian (pointing): This is my neck. This is Daddy's neck. This is Mom's neck. Nora doesn't have a neck.

Amanda: Listen to this, "The men and women of the Yana tribe in California speak different dialects." (TIME Magazine).
Tyler: The men and women speak different dialects in our house: sense and nonsense.

I ran upstairs briefly and left Nora in her chair with a curious Lillian looking on. Nora started fussing and crying a little and I heard Lillian say, "Nora! Stop Crying! Use your words!"

We practiced and practiced saying "Daddy, I missed you" all the way to the bus stop, a full five minute drive. Upon arrival, I prep Lillian one last time. I roll down the window, Tyler sticks his head in, and I prompt Lillian, "do you have something to say to daddy?"
Lillian looks up at him with her eyes full and sincere, "Juicebox."

Amanda: This dictionary says Wednesday can be pronounced wendz-dee or wendz-day.
Tyler: Well... that dictionary was written by an old person.