Charlotte and Chrissy on a typical afternoon

Char Star

I remember overhearing this conversation and just thinking, “Oh, Charlotte…”

Charlotte and Chrissy on a typical afternoon

The classic Chrissy smirk

Chrissy can read you like a book.

How could you resist this opening?

Once upon a time, Mom and Dad had free time

It was a baby in a bottle. It was you.

How cute and oh-so-probable!

That's what I would do!

Charlotte Starfish Belanger

It all fits.

The best part was that when she ran up to check with Mom, Mom was so distracted, she accidentally corroborated this story with an absent-minded “Mmmm-hmmm…”


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111 responses to “Char Star”

  1. sj Avatar

    I laughed so hard at “oh-so-probable.”

    Fantastic, as always.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      It’s always just for your amusement that I bother with alt text :)

      1. sj Avatar

        Awww, warm fuzzies! I think there’s only one person that ever bothers to read ours, too. Which is a little sad because there are usually some funnies hidden in there.

        1. Noteworthy Avatar

          I live for hovertext on the Web.

    2. MJ, Nonstepmom Avatar

      Thanks ! (….feeling very blonde right now, didn’t realize the text was there…)

  2. Audrey Avatar

    Nice! I did that to my brother once, had him totally convinced too. :)

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Ha! Do you remember what your story was?

      1. Audrey Avatar

        I think he was 8 at the time and my mom totally played along for a little while. Told him about the dark and stormy night that my parents brought him home and how I wasn’t totally sure about him at first. Once he got wise to me I started telling strangers that I was adopted instead. ;)

  3. Charlotte Belanger III Avatar

    I like how I was bundled in my usual fabric in the bottle, such a nice touch. I laughed so hard at this, ahh memories.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      :) I wonder if Chrissy remembers?

  4. muddledmom Avatar

    As a sister, I can definitely relate. As a mom, I guess I better be careful about what I distractedly agree to around my kids. I could scar them for life. Wonderful as always. Absolutely love the beach scenes and the silhouette of your parents. You surprise me weekly with new details and always outdo yourself. Love it!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      I am guilty of “mmm-hmm-ing” too much, for sure.

  5. tita buds Avatar

    I wonder if there’s actually a set of siblings anywhere who never heard a version of this. We’re Asian and our eldest sister used to tell the rest of us that we became her sisters only after *her* parents found us abandoned in carabao manure! :D

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Oh my gosh, how horrible! But oh-so-hilarious!

  6. Miranda Gargasz Avatar
    Miranda Gargasz

    I want a baby in a bottle!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Me, too! Beats the regular way.

      1. Miranda Gargasz Avatar
        Miranda Gargasz

        OMG, does it ever.

  7. ~RLBK Avatar
    ~RLBK

    Being a mother to many children, this is bang on. Bang on :)

  8. missemmalou Avatar
    missemmalou

    Haha! :)

  9. Fiona @ lifelyricslemoncake Avatar

    Haha ! So original :) Such a lovely thought, even with the capacity to terrorise the child :)

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Thanks! Chrissy’s imagination must be a very odd but strangely beautiful place.

  10. katieshafer Avatar

    i particularly like the part about “it was a baby in a bottle. it was you.” haha, awesome!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      :D Thanks! Nice owl avatar!

  11. Rae Avatar

    My brother and I would always tease my little brother (who was the only one in my family with blond hair) that he was adopted and that was why he looked so different from us. We were so mean.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Kids are awesome at logic.

  12. Elizabeth R Avatar
    Elizabeth R

    My sister played a similar trick on me once. Very funny, very clever.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      I wonder why every sib set seems to do this? It’s so funny!

  13. jensine Avatar

    I think starfish is a gerat middle name … I was found in a banana skin so my dad told me

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Wow, that’s a good one!

      1. jensine Avatar

        welll he found my sister swimming in his beer… but we were around for when my brother was born so we knew he came out of mammys tummy

        1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

          I guess everyone finds their own way into this world, hehehe!

          1. jensine Avatar

            and hopefully sticks to it as long as they can

  14. Marie Avatar

    I’m so often the distracted “Mmmm-Hmmm” mother ! Should be more careful !

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Me too! Today I accidentally promised my 3 year old we’d go to the zoo :/

  15. Ms. Jolly Blogger Avatar

    So mean! And so funny! I think everyone with siblings can attest to at least one outrageous “adoption” story whether it’s yourself or your sibling who is the adopted child…I’m still giggling over this! :)

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      It’s so funny! I love the stories from everyone about their so-called adoptions :)

  16. vvcpr Avatar
    vvcpr

    I laughed out loud with the “Mmmm-hmmm…”
    best of your posts ;)

  17. Tin Roof Press Avatar

    i think every elder sibling in the universe has done this. My story for my brother was a little less kind

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Kids are so delightfully weird and wonderful sometimes.

      1. Tin Roof Press Avatar

        the bad part is my dad used to playfully confirm my story. then he even added parts. my brother was pretty gullible at one point. ah, the best years. I once told him a piece of red shiny paper was a ‘ruby’ and in exchange he should give me his chocolate (I’d eaten mine). So he did. Then he looked at the shiny red worthless paper, then at me eating the chocolate and he cried. My finest moment to date.

        1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

          Hahaha! Poor little guy!

  18. bhbkidstyle Avatar

    Hahaha! I loved the romantic beach walk scene and the siluets!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Thanks! This one popped into my head just before I fell asleep last night, but I was too tired to write it down. I’m glad I could remember it when I woke up.

  19. joehoover Avatar

    great stuff! how do you turn these around so quickly? amazing

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      I’m starting to get better/faster with the scissors and knife :) I’m just about out of paste, though. Time to go shopping!

      1. Indian Ad Divas Avatar

        wow, love ur detailing! U ran out of glue!! :-) waiting to see another adventure… beach scenes are so colorful and lively.

  20. Chatter Master Avatar
    Chatter Master

    I thought it was just my siblings who did such things. It was my YOUNGER brother who tried telling me I was adopted. You, and your work are AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZING!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Wiliness knows no birth order :D

  21. frontporchgab Avatar

    This is awesome! I love your creativity and the story is SO cute. Thank you. It was just what I needed to get though my afteroon.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Thank you. I’m glad I could help! I hope you have a lovely evening!

  22. metta4art Avatar
    metta4art

    Reblogged this on Wendy Powell and commented:
    This is one of my favorite blogs I spend hours looking at these little stories they are fab.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Thanks for the reblog!

  23. Geek 20/20 Avatar
    Geek 20/20

    Terrific as always!
    Our older sister would solemly tell us ‘true’ stories that scared us little ones. She was so good we didn’t think to doubt her.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      I wonder if she half-bought into them herself :) I always did!

  24. clubjuncture Avatar

    I’ve been following your blog for ages, I love it.. Today I just couldn’t help but comment, visually stunning and story so well told!! Thank you for all your hard work. I’m the third of 4 girls!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Thank you! I really appreciate it :)

  25. notquiteold Avatar

    Ha! – My sisters tried to tell me that I was adopted, but even at five years old I could see that I looked exactly like my father.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Ha! Clever 5 year old!

  26. anuragkalia Avatar

    I love and adore your blog. It tugs so many strings of my heart at once. But…

    You should try to define your sisters more clearly. It is really muddled up in my mind. Could you please, please (please!) do me a tiny favor and update your cover photo of the five sisters with names? Like scribbling names across each girl. That would make remebering all of your people so much easier. And yes, I always wondered whether I was adopted or not. I really wanted to be adopted, actually. :D

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      The header is probably due for a redesign. I’ll see if I have time this week!

      1. anuragkalia Avatar

        Ooh. That makes me look forward to your blog even more than before! ^^

  27. Pete Howorth Avatar
    Pete Howorth

    Ahahahahaha excellent! :)

  28. whatevertheyaint Avatar
    whatevertheyaint

    Hilarious, especially the part where Mom absent-mindedly replies with “Mmm-hmmm.” I’m also guilty of doing that. Guess I better start paying attention because they make up some of the WILDEST stories.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Thanks! I’m guilty of it, too.

  29. lorajbanks Avatar

    Hilarious! I wonder how many times I’ve confirmed my children’s worst fears because I’m not paying attention. SIbling love.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Hahaha! Maybe it’d be best to have them submit all questions in writing.

  30. marisaporter Avatar
    marisaporter

    I love the sad and pathetic Baby in the bottle. Oh dear.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      A baby in a bottle would be such a freaky, disturbing thing to find on a beach. My mother must be some kind of saint.

      1. marisaporter Avatar
        marisaporter

        Agreed. Disturbing is the right word.

  31. drewpan Avatar

    Hahahahaha! You crazy kids!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      :D I’m glad I can record these crazy stories for posterity.

  32. whatimeant2say Avatar

    I never thought I was adopted, but I often wonder if I am John F. Kennedy’s child. Long story. And completely illogical. Hilarious post, as always!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      I’m intrigued…

  33. Winn Avatar

    You are genius. I sound like a broken record, I know! But thanks for your hard work in making us laugh every time. I SO enjoy the visuals. *permagrin*

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Thank you! I’m glad people can relate!

  34. mimijk Avatar

    Without question, I look forward to your posts more than any others…My sister told me I was adopted and that she was telling me even though she was sworn to secrecy. This was also the reason why I always got the Ken doll and she always took the Barbie when we played dolls. Being an older sister has its advantages…:-) But believe me, when my second was born, I think I began whispering “you are as biologically mine as your brother – don’t let him take you there” as soon as he was born.

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Aww! How funny! I love that image of a mother reassuring her newborn baby :)

  35. MJ, Nonstepmom Avatar

    The baby in the bottle is the funniest thing !!!!! ( I used to tell my brother I was mixed up at the hospital & would someday be taken to go live a much more exciting life…..)

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Ha! I used to wonder if Chrissy was somehow switched… but then she looks just like a blue-eyed, blonde-haired version of my mom, so I guess we really are related!

  36. amchdesign Avatar

    It was funny – love the starfish part – great job !! ♥

    1. amchdesign Avatar

      And of course the baby in the bottle ahahah.

    2. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      :) Chrissy is hysterical.

  37. MadeByYoursTruly Avatar

    Pure genius – again! Thank you for making me laugh (and for making me remember when husband and I last had some free time – it wasn’t a dream!) :D

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      I wonder when the free time returns… it does, doesn’t it?

  38. Samantha Avatar

    Hahaha! I love that your mom accidentally confirmed it. I love the drawings!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Thanks! Poor Mom. Who could blame her for occasionally tuning out the chaos?

  39. rishika21 Avatar

    If i said that to my sister ..she would probably start laughing at me and then say with a very sad face that i have got the story wrong way around :D
    Awesome drawings!

    1. Nicole Smeltzer Avatar

      Haha! Poor Charlotte was always very trusting.

  40. cupcakinglydeliciouscakediaries Avatar

    Oh my goodness this is hilarious! You make me fall in love with your blog over and over again =) Besides cracking up at the baby in a bottle, I almost wet myself laughing at ‘Star short for Starfish’! Priceless.

  41. zensouth Avatar

    Funniest thing I have seen all day. I love the construction paper art too . . . super cool.

  42. russelllindsey Avatar
    russelllindsey

    Reblogged this on Ramblings of a Misguided Blonde and commented:
    It just keeps getting better :D

  43. Emily Avatar
    Emily

    Nicole, when you’re illustrating these stories, do you glue everything down right away, or do you cut and place everything in one panel, and then move it around for the next?

  44. Angie Z. Avatar

    This post was so, so funny. Such a great slice of life of the evils of siblings. I laughed so hard at the baby in the bottle picture. I actually read this post the day you published it — and then I forgot to comment and such as I absolutely had to pass ithe laptop over to my husband to see. Sorry I got sidetracked but here I am back again!

  45. asoulwalker Avatar

    That last bit really is the best part. Nice.

  46. squashedfly Avatar

    This is your first blog I have read and now I’m going to read more. really made me laugh. I’m one of 5 too, although not the middlest. I remember overhearing some of these gems too.

  47. pegoleg Avatar

    I bet Char found it comforting ever afterwards when somebody in the family did something she didn’t like – thank goodness we’re not REALLY related.

  48. publikworks Avatar

    Has your genius been certified yet? It needs to be, you are increibly talented. Love the beach scenes.

  49. Noelle Campbell Avatar

    I told my little sister she was adopted. It was impossible to believe though – we look so much alike, it’s just not believable (unless we both were!)

  50. morristownmemos by Ronnie Hammer Avatar

    How did my brother miss telling me the “you are adopted” story? He found every other way to frighten and terrify me. Wasn’t childhood a wonderful time of life???

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