Mira loves robots. However, you probably don’t know what a robot is. We sure didn’t when Mira first started talking about robots. Back then we would hear about robots when we went to rest areas on the Ohio Turnpike. “I want to see the robots! Let’s goto the robots!” What in the world is a robot. What we would later find out is that a robot is an arcade game. Or really any game that is large, covered in lights and requires coins to operate.

You should know that I don’t put a lot of coins into arcade machines. As a matter of principle, I don’t put any coins into arcade machines. It just isn’t my style. But we’ve humored Mira in the past and at least let her crawl all over the machines and pretend that she was playing with them. It keeps her busy and helps break up long car drives to Michigan.

Most everyone who knows us, knows that we are huge Michigan State basketball fans. We check out nearly all of the big games at the bar. And yes it is normally a family outing when we go. Our neighborhood watering establishment actually has it’s own lovely selection of robots and occasionally we will let Mira play with them to keep her occupied while mom and dad watch the game.

Whilst MSU was winning games in the first round of the NCAA tournament this year, we got Luna and Mira dressed in Spartan gear and heading to the bar. Luna, as you can image, looks pretty good in green and white.

Future Spartan!

This particular game, Erika felt it was a good idea to actually play the giant claw and stuffed animal game. You know the one I’m talking about. They are everywhere. Put in 2 quarters and take your turn not getting the cheap stuffed animals inside. While they went over there, Erika was sure to prep Mira, “Now we can try, but we probably won’t win anything.” And Mira was busy not listening and telling Erika the actual animal she wanted her to win.

Erika dropped in her 50 cents and promptly won a huge stuffed elephant, much to her surprise. However, Mira was not impressed. While the claw was bringing the elephant back, she was screaming, “NO! I don’t want that one. I want the dog. No! No! No!” Like you can pick which ones you want and all you have to do is push the button to get said animal. Here’s a nice shot of our pouting little monster.

Get that elephant out of my face!

We gave the elephant to another girl that was watching and went back to food, beer and basketball. Mira eventually cheered up and even was nice enough to pose for a picture.

Go State!

Of course those darn robots just kept staring at me the whole game. And I did have a few quarters in my pocket. So as the game wore down and MSU was assured a victory, I snuck over and took a look at the “dog” that Mira wanted so badly. It wasn’t actually a dog, it was a bear. But it looked like it wanted to escape and I really thought I could get it. Three tries later that bear/dog was on it’s way back in the claw and the whole bar around me erupted in cheers as daddy won the dog. Here’s the little girl with her prize.

How did this happen?

Yes, in answer to your question. I am a sucker. What can I say. Later on, my buddy Victor’s son gave the machine another try and won another bear which he sent home with Mira also. It was a good haul for our little miracle. If this isn’t spoiled, I would like to know what is.

The army continues to grow!

To Mira’s credit, she has slept with that bear/dog every night since daddy won it several weeks ago.  She really does love it. However, the other bear has already been relegated to her growing army of stuff animals in the corner. If they ever choose to revolt, we’re all in trouble. They outnumber the Mitchell’s probably 50 to 1…