To Prank or Not To Prank.... Definetly TO Prank!

My second son, Joe, is nine years old. His favorite thing to do these days? (Aside from rigging my whole house with "zip lines" for his GI Joes that is.) Pranks! This child LIVES for pranks! Everyone in our famiy now hesitates before we walk through a doorway and yes, we often find ourselves shaking our heads and feeling quite foolish as Joe rolls on the floor in a fit of laughter in front of us.
So, sitting around today, we decided to come up with a list of fun ideas spanning from pranks any amature can pull off to out of this world coolest pranks ever. Oh, and don't sit there apalled, you know you have tried at least some of these yourself!

Upside Down Cup
Fill a cup with water about half way. Then place an index card over the cup. Then turn the cup upside down on someone's desk. Finally, carefully slide the index card out from underneath the cup. Whenever your friend decides to pick the cup up, he will be drenched in water.

Bar Of Soap Lather Prank
Take some clear nail polish and coat a bar of soap with it. Let it dry. Then put it in the bathroom shower. When your victim (Mom!) tries to use it, he or she will go nuts trying to get it to lather up.

Ypto Ypto...errr!!! TYPO!
Be carefull with this one, as to not ruin the keyboard. All you have to do is simply and very carefully remove a few keys and switch them around. If your victim is one of those "look up and down" typers. He or she will be very confused while trying to get work done. (I told you to stop "hunting and pecking"!)

Shaving Cream Phone Prank
Coat the reciever of someone's phone with a small amount of shaving cream and then give them a call. (yet another good reason not to allow your kids access to your cell phone) Instant gratification.

Push or Pull
Print out some signs that read, "Push" and "Pull" and tape them to doors at your local stores. Make sure to place them on the wrong side. Then sit back and watch as people push when they are instructed to pull and vise versa.

Mail Box Prank
After the mail has already been delivered, fill the mail box with ping pong balls. Then ask someone else to go get the mail. (Amazing how red Jason's ears can get. And the top of his head too!)

Closet Prank
When you have a little time on your hands and nothing to do to keep you out of trouble, visit the closet of someone (brother, sister, Mom--wait NOT Mom, Dad) and take all their clothes, turn them inside out and hang them back up neatly. (Joe, you are so going to pay someday!)

Cereal Box Switch
Remove the plastic bags from cereal boxes and switch them around. Your victim will scratch his head wondering why Cheerios came out of a box of Lucky Charms. (This one kept Katie busy for quite some time trying to figure it out.)

Fake Foam Rocks
Throw those fake foam rocks which you can make by painting a little piece of foam rubber. (Works best when around real rocks such as in a science class or outdoors.)

Ridged Coin Trick
With a pencil, heavily mark the sides of any ridged coins such as a dime or quarter. Then ask a classmate if he or she can place it on their forehead and roll it down to their nose. Tell em if they can, they can keep the coin. After they give it a try, it will leave a black pencil mark on their face. (...and I was worried my kids weren't learning anything in school!)

Clear Tape Prank
Place clear tape across the outside of a door from top to bottom. Frequently people will run into it especially if they are in a hurry. (Note: No more packing tape in OUR house!)

Flour Under The Door
Pour some Flour on a thin piece of carboard. Unfolding a cereal box would work great! Then slip it under a door and blow it all over the inside of the room. (Seth can tell you how many Swiffers it takes to clean up a room full of flour)

Shaving Cream Door Bomb
Fill a manila envelope with shaving cream, then place the open end of the envelope underneath your victim's door and stomp on it as hard as you can. It will explode all over the inside of the room. (Can you believe MY HUSBAND taught them this one?!!!!!)

Classic Cup Of Water On Door Prank
Leave the door open about 5 inches or so. Enough to place a cup (may I recommend styrofoam) of water on the top of the door. When your victim opens the door, he or she will get a waterfall on their head.

Escaped Prisoner
Dress yourself in an orange jumpsuit and sneakers. Shave your head and put a handcuff on one wrist. Then go knocking on people's doors asking if you can use their phone. Works best if you try this prank in a neighborhood where a jail is nearby. (O.k., they haven't actually done this *yet* but think it is a great idea and keep trying to get Jason--since his head is already shaved, it's all about convenience ya know--to do this)

Refrigerator Door Graffiti
Place some clear scotch tape on the fridge door. Be sure there are no creases. You don't want the tape to be detectable. Then write on the clear tape with red nail polish. When your victim sees his or her fridge with writing all over it, they will freak. When they do, just pull the clear tape right off. (Oh yeah, REAL funny!)

Where Is The Alarm?
While your victim is alseep, reset their alarm clock so it goes off at 2am or 3am. But don't place it back on their nightstand. Instead hide it in a closet or behind the tv. The person waking up will be on an early morning hunt for where that annoying sound is coming from.

Going Bald
Go to your local drug store and buy an inexpensive package of hair extensions that match the same color as your victim. While he (or she!) is sleeping cut the hair extensions to about the same size as their hair length. Place hair extentions on your victim's head and on the pillow. When your victim awakes, watch in laughter as they think something happened to their hair while sleeping. (Now we know why the praying mantis and the black widow KILL their mates!!!!!)

Sunbathing And Not Paying Attention
Hold a magnifying glass over someone who is sunbathing. (Be prepared to run shortly after you do this.)

Bungee Cord Fasten
Fasten someone to their bed with numerous bungee cords.

Multi Alarm Clock Prank
Get lots of cheap alarm clocks and set them to go off at 3:00am and every 20 minutes thereafter. Hide them well.

Dude! Youre Glowing!
Pour "cyalume" (the stuff in those glow sticks) on someone then wake them and say, "Dude, you're glowing" and watch them panic. (Note: It's probably best NOT to get it on mom's rug and mom's furniture, though!)

Bedtime Flour
Pour some flour on your victim's pillow. Works best if your victim as a white pillow case. (And I wonder why I have to keep adding flour to my shopping list?!)

Bed Swap
This prank works best on children. Since they weigh less and are easier to pickup. All you have to do is swap 2 people that are sleeping. So they wake up in different beds. (You didn't think the kids get to have all the fun, did you?!)

Early For Work
Change every single possible clock that your victim may see. Change it so he will be an hour early for work. Make sure you change his watch, alarm, wall clock, tv clock, car clock, etc. He won't notice until he arrives at work and is exactly 1 hour early. (And then DON'T answer your phone for a while!)

Baby On Board
Put a lifelike looking baby doll in a real car seat. Then leave it on the roof of your car on purpose and drive away. Its pure comedy when you try not to look around at everyone's reactions. People will scream and tell you STOP! STOP! (And we allow men to live on this earth WHY?!)

CSI
Place caution tape all around someone's house or yard so it looks like a crime scene. To make it look even more real, use chalk to outline a dead body on the sidewalk.

Laser Pointer Fun
Annoy people at the local movie theater by pointing a lasre pointer up on the movie screen.

Can You Hold My Rope Please?
In a busy public place, get a long rope and ask someone if they can please hold it for a second. Tell them you are trying to measure something. Then go around the building and ask someone else to hold the other end. Walk Away. Try to find a spot where you can wait and see how long it will take before each either figure out the prank or let loose. (Yet another great idea Mom won't let them try! They are SO not leaving the house when they are teenagers!)

Garage Sale Prank
Print up a bunch of huge garage sale or yard sale signs and post them up the night before around your neighborhood. Don't give an address, just use arrows. Send the cars in a maze throughout the neighborhood looking for a yard sale that doesn't exist. (They came up with this idea when our neighbors were having a garage sell last week.)

Look Closely
Fill a small pan with water. Ask someone for two of their hairs (this might be because Jason has no hairs of his own to contribute) and tell your victim you are going to make the hairs fight. Place them across each other on top of the water in the pan. Then tell your victim to come very close to watch the hairs fight. When your victim puts their face down close to the water, hit the water with your hand, drenching your victim.

Tailpipe Whisle
Drill a hole through the middle of a potato. Then jam a whistle in one end of the potatoe. Finally, shove that potatoe inside of your victim's car exhaust pipe. Make sure the whistle is facing the outside. When your victim starts the car up and drives off, he will keep hearing a whistle and wonder what is going on.

Mystery Noise
So many cars don't have hub caps anymore, but if you know one that does.... Pop the hub caps off, place a few pennies in it and put it back on. When your victim is driving the pennies push to the hubcaps and are held in place. But as your victim slows down, the pennies come away from the walls and begin to clang around in there. Your victim will think there is something wrong with their car.

Fork A Lawn
There is so much new building around here there just aren't that many mature trees to make TPing possible. So, in answer to our delima, we give you FORKING! Buy a few boxes of plastic forks. Stick them all over your victim's lawn. For an extra special job, you can glue little signs or balloons to the top of the forks.

You've Been Spotted
No forks? Paper plates! Write on, color, whatever a bunch of paper plates and tape them all over your victim's house, car, trees, etc. Make sure to put a "You've been spotted" plate on their front door.

Mean Oreo Spots
No paper plates? Well then, run down to the store for a few containers of Oreos. Very easy, requires very little effort--but is mean, MEAN!, I tell you! Twist your Oreos open and stick them on your victim's house, car, etc. Makes such a mess!

Hundred Of Post It Notes
While your victim is away from his or her car, post a bunch of those little post it notes all over. It is very frustrating (but not messy like oreos!) and time consuming to take them all off.

Move The Car
When your victim isn't paying attention. Get his keys and move his car. If he parked out in the street next to the curb. Then just turn the car around so it is now parked the wrong way.

Confetti In The Defrost
Pour some confetti in your victim's defrost vent and leave the button/knob on high. When your victim starts the car up the next day, it will be like New Year's Day all over again.

Long Road Trip Gag
Have some fun on your next road trip. When your passenger falls asleep and is leaning on the right front window. Try this, quickly jerk the car from right to left then back. Then watch your victim's head bounce back and forth against the window. (No, Jason, I still do NOT believe you were avoiding a cute bunny in the road!)

Frozen Cotton Balls
In the winter time, when its freezing outside...dip some cotton balls in water and place them all over your victim's car. (We so need to move out of Southern California!)

Adjustable Mirrors
While your victim is driving and you are the passenger adjust the side mirror. After awhile it will annoy the driver. (What?! I was just looking for that cute bunny you missed!)

Fun At The Red Light
Whever you stop at the red traffic light. Pull up right next to the car next to you. Then slowly put your car in reverse. The car next to you will think he is still moving forward and slam on his brakes. (My dad taught me this at a young age!)

Gas Cap Lock
Buy a gas cap that lock and put it on your victim's car.

Bubble Wrap Machine Gun
Tape a 1 inch bubble wrap around thr front tire of your victim while his car is parked. When he drives off the popping noise will sound like a machine gun.

Saran Wrap A Car
Takes a bit of time and an accomplice but is well worth the effort. Get a nice big roll of saran wrap. Start at the top of the car, wrap down, pass it under to your accomplice and have them come back up the other side. Do this over and over until the car is wrapped up good and tight. Your victim won't be able to get their doors open.

Vehicle Recall Notice
When someone you know just purchased a brand new car, call them and leave a message on their phone. Tell them that you are Mr. So and So from the dealer where he recently bought his new automobile. Let him know about the latest factory recall. Tell him its very crucial that he return the vehicle to the dealer as soon as possible and not make any left turns. (I'm gonna get my Mini Cooper yet!)

Mystery Noise Part II
Put a couple of marbles in a small tin can and tape the can to the bottom of your victim's car seat. Everytime he or she turns or hits a bump in the road they will hear the rattling noise underneath them and wonder what the heck is wrong with their car.

Ping Pong Fallout
Put a bunch of ping pong balls or packing peanuts in an open box. Tilt it at an angle against the cupboard door (from the inside) so when the victim goes to open the cupboard the ping pong balls will all spill out. (Note to self: Say NO next time kids want to buy ping pong balls.)

Drenched With Water
This one takes a bit of practice. First, place a coin on your forhead and shake your head so the coin will fall into a funnel that is inserted in the beltline of your pants. Amaze your friends on how talented you are once you master this and when they ask to try it, quickly pour water down the funnel and into their pants. (Jason apparently has had a lot of time on his hands during his life.)

Blocked Sensor
Use a small piece of black tape to block the tv sensor so whoever decides to watch TV next cannot change the channel or adjust the volume. (Joe, I'm so going to smack you!!!!)

Hosed
Tie a rubberband around the pullout hose lever thats in your sink. Whoever uses the sink next will get hosed with water. (And now you know why we no longer have one of these in our house!)

Please Hold My Broom Stick Trick
Fill a glass with water, get up on a chair and hold it up the to ceiling. Then ask a friend to help you with a science experiment. Tell him to hold the cup using the broomstick from him standing on the ground. As soon as he does, take the chair and yourself and leave him there. Let him try and figure a way out of it without spilling the water.

And on that note, I guess it's time I go set Joe free from his broom-holding position. Someday they will realize that I, and I only, am the master!
Ta ta for now!