Those Cute Little Italians

I confess.

I love playing Mario Brothers on my kids' DS machines.

So nice!

It started as my gambling addiction, I played Mario poker and got a full house, 3 stars and 2 Luigis.

I could not put it down.

My son would be all..."MOOOOOOM! It's my game!" and I'd send him to his room.

"Moooom, it's my toy!" Technically what's yours is mine, my turn!

Yes, I'm sorta a brat.

Then I started playing the regular game. The ching-ching-ching of those shiny gold coins made me think of casinos and slot machines, music to my ears.

Back in the day, when the game was on those dinosaur systems with the joysticks and such, I was a rockstar. My friend Crystal and I actually finished the WHOLE game!

My son was less than impressed, "mom, that game was so easy, this one is way harder."

Hey stop smack-talking me boy, I'll goomba-stomp you and shoot you with a firebolt!

Yah, I know, it's a sickness.

So during the week, the kids are not to use their DSs...I'm a hardass like that. It's homework, reading, chores, saving the whales, the usual.

Weekends they have a few hours to play.

But the other day, I was on level 6 and totally stuck. These crazy studded metal balls were coming after me and dry bones were all over and the screen moves up and if you don't go with it you'll die.

So I cried out, "HELP!!" and my son dropped his math book and came to my rescue! In fact, I blinked and he was on level 8.

LEVEL EIGHT.

There's like bouncy bugs and it's night time, and it's way cool.

But, I totally suck at it.

K and My Boy are helping me, and even my Hubby can rock a level or two.

I've been going to bed lately with the theme song in my head.

AND THE THUMBS!!

Oh man, one morning I woke and thought, "what the heck!" My wrists, hands, and thumbs were SORE.

From playing too much DS!

Now I know why my kids yell when they die, or shrink, or get eaten by Bowser.

I may need a 12-step program.