Mark's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" moment...

Have you seen the movie? It recently came out, and it's hilarious! Based on the book, it describes the awkward transition from elementary school into junior high...painful!!! I laughed especially hard, because my sweet Mark is about to make that transition to JHi in a couple short months. And, boy! Do I know what is in store for HIM!!! LOL!

Last night, he had an especially "Wimpy Kid" moment. It easily could have been pulled from the script of that movie. And I can't stop laughing about it! Here's the situation:

We invited a family over for pizza last night. Not just any family, though. It happened to be the family of Mark's head-over-heels crush! She is the cutest girl in Kids Connection. And the crush is mutual. :) We've become good friends with her parents, so last night was one of several meals we've shared.

As we waited for the pizzas to bake, we were hanging out outside playing with our puppy. Mark decided to take little Lacey for a walk around the block, and of course his "crush" said she'd join him. As a meddling mother, keeping it pure...I informed Mark that his little sister, Rina, would join them too. "Keep her away from the street! And hold her hand!" I ordered as they began their walk. Of course, Ryan piped in with a wisecrack, "She means hold Rina's hand, not (Mark's crush)." All four of us parents got a good chuckle from that.

Late that night, while Mark was in bed, Ryan and I tiptoed into his room to get all the juicy gossip. "What did you talk about on your walk? What happened? Tell us everything!" So he proceeded to tell us the story, which was extremely "Wimpy Kid" style!!!

He said, while they were walking, she asked him pretty thoughtful questions. They were having a good conversation until suddenly Mark noticed one of his neighbor friends approaching...bouncing a ball obnoxiously loud. Mark cringed hoping this friend wouldn't come up to them! (Here is why: Mark loves to play with this kid. He's a very sweet boy who has played with Mark since they were 3 years old. But, they play kind of goofy, immature things. Things that are okay to play together...but that are NOT okay to reveal to his "crush." For example, they make videos together after school where they are crazy and goofy...and somehow it involves the bouncy green ball. I'm not quite sure how...)

Anyway, here came the neighbor kid, bouncing that ball super loud. He walked up to Mark and said, "Hey Mark! Remember the green ball?!" And then started to snicker and laugh. Mark cringed, not knowing how to laugh at the inside joke while staying cool in front of his "crush," who was giving them both a very confused look......Awkward moment!!! This neighbor kid kept walking alongside him the rest of the way home, which Mark told us, seemed like an eternity! He kept thinking, "Please, don't talk about the videos! Please don't talk about the videos!"

Mark told us, at that moment he didn't know what to talk about. Because anything he were to say to the neighbor kid would sound pathetic and immature in front of his "crush." But anything he talked to her about, would be so embarassing in front of his neighborhood buddy (who is innocently uninterested in girls yet...and consequently is very prone to saying something that will embarass Mark).

If you've seen the movie...this neighbor kid embodies the character of "Rowlie." Yep, it was that kind of moment! Then it happened! She turned to Mark and said, "Remember when we first met in 2nd grade?" Followed by her sentimental recount of their first encounter at school. Ugh! Mark said he about died, listening to her talk about that, while the neighbor kid continued to bounce the green ball obnoxiously loud, alllll the way home! Mark was caught in an awkward paradox. His two worlds had collided: the boyish, immature side of him that he can enjoy in the privacy of his own backyard...and the emerging confident, mature side of him that he is testing out among his almost-JHi peers.

Ryan & I laughed til we cried when he told us this story! Then we called Uncle Brandon up (who was home from college for the weekend) so he could hear the story in its entirety as well. Oh, the joys of junior high! I'm sure this is just the beginning of many, many more "Wimpy Kid" moments. And, I hope I can find the time to document each one. Mainly because I never want to forget these priceless moments. But also, because Ryan and I love to tease our kid....and this will make for some pretty good teasing-material someday!!!