Quote of the Day

"The highlight of my childhood was making my brother laugh so hard that food came out his nose." ~Garrison Keillor

A Brother Abroad

When my brother was in high school and I was a bratty nine year old, I caught him kissing a girl in his room (true to little sister form, I was hiding in the closet....eating a fruit roll-up).

Knowing I had some pretty excellent blackmail on my hands, I held on to the information to be used at the most opportune of times.

One entire month passed and then, at the dinner table, my brother decided to make fun of me for some forgettable reason. I decided then, that the time had arrived.

"Oh, yeah, well at least I wasn't making out with Marci in my room."

There was silence. Then there was shock. And, then, soon after....pure, unfiltered rage.

I left skid marks as I flew out of the kitchen and up the stairs while my father managed to collar my brother whose red face proved a nice complement to the steam smoking from his ears.

How I survived that I still have no idea.

This is Day 42.

A Tie for Headline of the Day

(1) Another reason why I won't be moving back to California any time soon:

"L.A. may release 4,000 inmates due to state budget crisis"

Check out the full story HERE.

AND

(2) In addition to public acts of humiliation, vomiting, and girlfriends crying because their boyfriends were talking to some other girl:

"Beer Pong tied to spread of flu, mononucleuosis, CDC warns"

Check out the video HERE.

Wow

According to The Nielsen Company, the average American now watches more than 151 hours of television a month.

That works out to about five hours a day.... and an all-time high.

Hunger Strike

So, just as I have made some serious headway with my capricious eater, it seems my little man (whose appetite, up until now, seemed to know no limit) has declared a little hunger strike.

A spoonful of yogurt here, a scoop of corn there, but no real substantial meal for the past three days.

He's also drooling, enjoying wakeful nights, and his nose has turned into a faucet.

This leads us to the obvious: the over/under on one of the eye teeth.

Now, he has already sprouted his molars, which shocked me since none of his eye teeth have bothered to emerge....until now, all at once.

So here's the over/under: One eye tooth by Friday (right when company arrives)

Finally, Someone Got it Right

I have been to 1,000 indoor play sites, which are as varied in size and scope as they are cleanliness and security. There are bouncing castles, intricately themed rooms, flying balls, and always too many kids.

However, I have finally found the perfect place.

Spread Your Wings in Mantua, NJ somehow managed to put together the perfect play place.

Here's why:

1) It's one giant room; your kids cannot separate into separate rooms, leaving you scrambling to get one to follow the other. You can also step back and survey their play without hovering.

2) They serve coffee in a mom cafe that is also situated in such a way that you can watch your child as you imbibe.

3) The have a Nursing/Diaper changing room replete with comfy chair, sanitary surroundings, and diapers in every possible size for any mother in need.

4) Still very new, the toys do not at all feel used.

5) There is a partitioned area for early walkers/crawlers that is still part of the great room.

6) The people who work there are constantly cleaning while also interacting kindly with the kids.

7) The toys are a good combination of silly fun and education.

8) It's across the street from a brand new Target.

If you live in the area, visit their website at: http://www.spreadyourwingsllc.net/

It's Come to This

After daily battles waged across the kitchen table with a daughter who resists eating anything that does not contain jimmies, frosting, or gobs of butter, I have finally won the war.

Yesterday my daughter ate all three major meals in completion....and peas were involved.

Previous attempts included creative cooking (make your own pizzas, pancake faces, etc), threats, bribes with desserts, and any number of useless, manioulative techniques. All of these failed miserably.

What worked?

Stickers.

Yes, stickers.