My cool points totally went up this week when I was able to meet the author of the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” book series, Jeff Kinney and the two stars of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Movie, Zach Gordon (who plays the main character Greg Heffley) and Robert Capron (who plays his best friend Rowley).  To be perfectly honest, I am not sure what I expected but no matter how awesome I thought these guys would be, it didn’t come close to how amazing Jeff and these young men actually are in person.  Totally a ZOO-WEE-MAMA kind of day! (And? I really want that bus. It might be hard to maneuver in the carpool lane but I am guessing I would be taking half the school home if I did drive it. But it was suh-weet!)

It truly was a pleasure to be able to sit down and talk with Jeff, Zach and Robert.  I was joined by fellow bloggers Gretchen aka Texan Mama and Crystal of Crystal & Co. along with Matt Mungle of the Dallas Morning News and The Mungle Show.  We all jumped right into a conversation. I would call it an interview because we were of course asking questions but it honestly felt more like sitting down with good friends and friends of my kids.  For every question we asked, we were delighted to be entertained with a anecdotal stories from their every day lives. They drew us into their circle as if for that time, we were one of them. (Let me be the first to say, I would be honored to be a part of the Wimpy Kid Crew anytime, any day.) I guess that is one of those things I love about being honored to do these type of interviews: I am able to become a part of the lives of people I truly admire for even a little while. Sometimes, too drawn in as evidenced by my joking, laughing and not so reporter-like questions. But what I do and do well, is ask the questions the core audience want to know. At least, I think I do.

So are you going to share the interview, Jenn?

Of course I am. That is Part Two.  Part One (This, duh!) is the part where I tell you about the people and a bit about the experience.

1) Yes, Jeff is really as humble, kind, and awesome as you think he would be.

2) Both young stars are the type of young men you would want your own kids to be friends with. Polite, funny, kind, and normal! (That is a great thing.) And I have to add for Robert that in the movies they put him in really tight vests that were not the most flattering on him but he really is a fit, good looking kid without a bowl cut.  Oh, and that Zach’s hair really doesn’t have that part in his bangs and it doesn’t stand up in that back like it does in the movie. I just had to clear that up for them. Since we’re tight now. (Or so I tell my kids so they will keep thinking I am the coolest mom ever!)

3) You have to go get the new book Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth today. Seriously. If you have kids who have read the series, this is a must have. If you have kids between 8-15, you have to get the whole series. I promise it is worth it.

4) A little peek into something many people may not know about The Diary of  Wimpy Kid book (and I tell you this so that if you are sitting back thinking this is not for you because your kids are either non-existent, too young or too old) Jeff Kinney actually wrote this book for adults.  Sort of a nostalgic look back at the time we all went through and did our best to survive. Yes, this book was written for adults. Find out what Jeff had to say when I asked him how much of the book he had to change in order for him to adapt it to a younger audience…