Finley is Russell (and a scene from UP)

Have you seen UP?  Also known as the saddest Pixar movie ever made?  I'm proud to say I can watch the whole movie without crying now--thanks to our trip to South Carolina.  Finley and Braden watched the movie at least 15 times on our trip.  They both loved it and I'm pretty sure all four of us have it memorized now.  Sol and I have been brainstorming some of our complaints about the movie that may make it into a blog post eventually (namely the implausibility of supporting the ENTIRE weight of a house with strings tied to a fireplace grate, but I digress.)  In the meantime, this clip is pretty cute and apparently one Finley has taken to heart.



And this next one is LONG and only for people who are really interested in Finley antics (ie. direct family members and serious stalkers)... but it is PRECIOUS.



Finley likes to play in his closet (weird) and randomly knocked on it and started reciting the above scene.  On his first try, he did the whole thing practically verbatim while giving me directions about what to say and do with my head. Adorable. He does the right actions and inflections and everything. Things you might miss are him "holding" a book in front of his face to read, sticking his foot in the door after the second spiel and saying "madge" instead of badge.  He gets a little confused at the end and steps on the singing Mickey... but it's pretty sweet.

And here's the official transcript in case you don't speak Finley-ese.  Clearly Finley does a better job at his part than I do. :)

RUSSELL "Good afternoon. My name is Russell. And I am a Wilderness Explorer in Tribe 54, Sweatlodge 12. Are you in need of any assistance today, sir?"
CARL No.
RUSSELL  could help you cross the street.
CARL  No.
RUSSELL I could help you cross your yard.
CARL  No.
RUSSELL I could help you cross your... porch?
CARL  No.
RUSSELL Well, I gotta help you cross something.
CARL Uh, no.   I'm doing fine.
RUSSELL "Good afternoon. My name is Russell."
CARL Uh... kid...
RUSSELL "And I am a Wilderness Explorer in Tribe 54, Sweatlodge 12."
CARL  Kid.   KID!!
RUSSELL "Are you in need of any assistance today Sir?"
CARL Thank you, but I don't need any help!
CARL Proceed.
RUSSELL "Good afternoon. My-"
CARL But skip to the end!
RUSSELL See these? These are my Wilderness Explorer badges. You may notice one is missing. It's my Assisting  the Elderly badge. If I get it I will become a Senior Wilderness Explorer! "The wilderness must be explored! CAW-CAW! RAAAR!"
CARL So you want to assist an old person?
RUSSELL Yep! Then I will be a Senior Wilderness Explorer!
CARL You ever heard of a snipe?
RUSSELL Snipe?
CARL Bird. Beady eyes. Every night it sneaks in my yard and gobbles my poor azaleas. I'm elderly and infirm. I can't catch it. If only someone could help me...
RUSSELL Me! Me!   I'll do it!
CARL Oh, I don't know, it's awfully crafty. You'd have to clap your hands three times to lure it in.
RUSSELL I'll find it, Mr. Fredricksen!
CARL I think its burrow is two blocks down. If you go past --
RUSSELL Two blocks down! Got it! Sniiiipe! Here Snipey Snipey...
CARL Bring it back here when you find it!