A Halloween Thanksgiving?

Mama T's post about When Toys Are Possessed has been on my mind ever since I read it.  Particularly the part about "Creepy Baby".  I have been creeped out by dolls my whole life, and those horror movies about them didn't help.

I thought I would share with those also obsessed with "Creepy Baby" and the like, some photos that I took on my way to an appointment after Halloween.

Thanksgiving: The Family You Choose

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!  In honor of a holiday that is about gratitude, I wanted to re-post one of my favorite posts from very early in the life of this blog. It's been one of the most widely read, but I know there are many people out there who are missing someone today and/or cannot be with their loved ones, blood or otherwise, for whatever reason. I hope this speaks to you.

So here's something for those of us who are very grateful for our families of choice - I know I am.

------

Tales of the City changed my life.

That sounds like a hyperbolic pronouncement, but it’s basically true. For those who haven’t heard of it, it’s a series of novels by Armistead Maupin that grew out of a newspaper serial he wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle. Before I even knew about these fabulous books, I saw the 6-part miniseries that tracks the first novel.  It’s rare that you remember the first time you saw a show, but I will never forget this.

Photo of the Week: Growing Up!

There was no contest when it came to choosing this week's Photo of the Week.  Anna's new school picture just arrived and it is absolutely beautiful. It captured her amazing spirit as well as any photo could. She looks exactly how she is - sweet, loving, and already too grown-up to only be 3. :)

The (Serious) Hits

Last week, I posted a list of my favorite pieces on the blog that were sweet or funny (aside from those already featured in the "popular posts" column). Many of them were written in the blog's infancy, so I wanted to remind people that they're there.

Now I'd like to call your attention to a few of my favorite posts of a more serious/ political/ thought-provoking nature. Please check them out and let us know what you think!

The Gender Divide - describes the sometimes ridiculous delineation between toys and interests that are supposed to be "just for girls" or "just for boys" and explores what some of the underlying concerns are when kids don't neatly fit the "ideal" gender stereotype.

My Achilles Heel

Most of my parenting commentary revolves around the happy side effects of parenting - the unparalleled joy it brings, the funny moments, the thrilling life changes.

But there is one thing about parenthood that isn't always happy. In fact, that one thing is more difficult than just about anything in the world.

And that is knowing that your heart is gone, that it is walking freely in this world in the form of a beautiful little person, that you have no control over it anymore.  This can be the source of your greatest joy and also of your greatest sorrow.

My little girl is my Achilles heel.

Sleeping beauty, Nov. 2011

'Tis the Season to Max Out Cards

Every year when Christmas rolls around, those who celebrate it go off on the hunt for just the “right” thing(s) for their loved ones.

Be honest – we all get caught up in it. Even those of us who aren’t remotely materialistic (and I admit I do not include myself in that number) probably still go crazy shopping and decorating and trying to get everything just right for the holidays.

Crazy Xmas shopping capital of the world - NYC, Dec. 2010

Friday Fun: Conquering the Donut

I love to eat as much as anyone, but I think few people enjoy food as much and eat with as much gusto as kids. So this week I decided to share some amusing pics of Anna attempting to devour a giant jelly donut covered in powdered sugar.

Happy Friday!

The (Amusing) Hits

Okay, I'm hard at work coming up with some good stuff for next week. Until then, I thought I'd direct your attention to some of my favorite posts, some of which occurred very early in this blog's existence. This list will consist only of the touching, sweet and/or amusing stuff; I'll make a separate list of the "top" more serious discussion posts.

The "popular posts" column on the right of the home page lists the most read posts, and they are certainly among my favorites.  But there are others that are very near to my heart, yet haven't gotten as much attention.  So, here they are.

Please take a moment to check them out and share your thoughts!

A Dialogue

Here's the deal. I'm having a bit of writer's block this week. Frankly, I'm amazed it hasn't happened before, given that I've been posting something almost every day since the beginning of June. It's a feeling I hate.

So, if you'll indulge me, I'll open myself up for a minute. I want this blog to be a success. I want to write something that matters, something that entertains, something that educates, something that resonates with you. When I get that feeling that I don't know what to write about, almost every time, it comes to me. Somehow, magically, it just works. Most of the time.

Photo from infobarrel.com

Photo of the Week: Iced Tea, Anyone?

Happy Monday, all!  I say that sarcastically, in case you can't feel it coming through my keyboard....I'm just not feeling it this Monday. Since I'm still in weekend mode, I thought I'd start the week off here on MLWP with our Photo of the Week, which has absolutely nothing to do with kids or parenting but still cracks me up. So if you need a laugh too, enjoy and I will try to shake off my case of the Mondays and get back to quality posting ASAP!

(Borrowed from Facebook, photo credit unknown)

Friday Fun: Little Louis Armstrong

Once upon a time, waaaay back when I was young, I used to play the trumpet. I grew up with a mother who's a church pianist and organist and a father who also used to play piano and organ, so it's no surprise I wanted to play a musical instrument too.

My first effort in that regard was to try to learn to play piano.  But, I quickly realized it was really difficult to make my little hands do different things at the same time, and it was also difficult to learn from my mom when I was a stubborn kid. That's a shame, because she's a brilliant pianist and a good teacher too.  But I was 4 or 5 and obstinate. Unfortunately, my piano career was very brief. 

In middle school, though, I found the trumpet. It only had 3 valves, so that was easier, and required a lot of hot air, which I had in abundance. I played classical and jazz competitively for 10 years and absolutely loved it. I still regret quitting, and have held onto my trumpet, which has been lonely in storage in my basement.....until now.

20 Children: Happy Family, or Just Plain Crazy?

As many of you have probably read by now, the Duggar family is expecting child number 20.  This is the couple whose lives are featured in the TLC program, "19 Kids and Counting."  Except now they are adding to their already large brood.  Please check out the article (which features interesting statistics like number of diapers changed) here.

I saw this article posted on Facebook yesterday and the lively comments that followed the post got me wondering what MLWP readers would think about this.  Is this amazingly expansive family a wonderful thing? Or is 20 kids too many?  Who is to say how many is too many? Ordinarily, I'd probably be of the view that it's nobody's business, but if you're going to chronicle your life on a TV show, some of that is just to be expected.

Photo from huffingtonpost.com

The views I read yesterday ranged from thinking it's wonderful because they seem to do a good job raising the kids and they're not expecting outside help, to thinking it's nuts because it would be nearly impossible to ensure that each of the kids receive enough quality time with mom and dad. I'm sure there's more to it than this, and I'd love to hear from YOU.  So please read about it and weigh in on the blog!

Playground Life Lessons

They spend a ton of time together.  They have a great time. They like to do many of the same things.  But sometimes, they squabble over the way those things should be done. Sometimes, they just don’t want to share. Sometimes, they want to be alone.  Always, they eventually make up and start getting along again.

Are they an old married couple, you may ask?  Actually, they are toddler buddies.  But we old married couples could learn a lot from them.

Mayhem at the park, Nov. 2011

Supersonic Child Detector

It's late in the evening.  Grown-up time has finally arrived.  You and your loved one have your snacks, the movie is on, the lights are dim, the surround is so good you feel like you're in a movie theater.

And then there's a tiny squeak. You drop your popcorn, spring off the couch, and in 2.2 seconds, you're in your child's room, just before he or she begins to cry.

How did you know just when to run? What causes this phenomenon?

It's your very own internal Supersonic Child Detector.

From canstockphoto.com

Rushing the Season(s)

"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way...."

Oh wait, it isn't Christmas time yet?  It's almost two months away?  Well, you could've fooled me.

Halloween was just last week, and already plastic Santa figures and garlands adorn store windows. Many of them were even there before Halloween.  When I ordered a chai at Starbucks the other day, the cup was red with snowflakes.  Very holiday, if you ask me.

from www.uncrediblehallq.net

It's not like we don't go through this every year, but still, it always bugs me.  What I want to know is, why do retailers always feel it is necessary to get such a huge jump on the season?

Friday Fun: More Halloween Pics!

Happy Friday!  I wrote our Halloween Recap a few days ago, but at the time, I only had the so-so pics from my iPhone camera.  Fortunately, Jacobi's Grammie ("NeNe") took some photos with her awesome real camera, and they're too cute not to share. So here are some more photos from our fun trick-or-treating experience for today's Friday Fun.  Enjoy!

While Anna & Izzy are vying to be 1st, Jacobi swoops in!

When Toys Are Possessed

Many of you have probably experienced strange incidents with toys.  Sometimes, they make random noises. Sometimes, something moves.  I don't know about you, but it makes me feel a little weird when this happens.

The primary culprit in our house is a baby doll that I call "Creepy Baby," and now, Anna even calls her that too. Like many baby dolls, she has batteries that enable her to coo and laugh and move her head.  Except when she moves her head, it looks, and sounds, totally unnatural. Creepy Baby's head slowly turns and whirs like a robot.

Kinda scary, isn't she?

Quote of the Day

I don't know about you, but this Wednesday afternoon is seriously dragging for me. I don't have a daily quote feature on the blog yet - an idea for the future, perhaps. But I thought I'd share one today as we're all struggling to get through the end of the work day.

The other night, Anna was brushing her teeth in the bathroom and happened to turn around and look at the wall clock.  This is what she saw:

From etc.usf.edu/clipart

She then pointed to the clock and, as if she had unearthed a giant secret, exclaimed, "Look, mom - it's 8:00 AND 4:00!"  I love that kid.

The Excess Toy Fairy

Perhaps you have seen her.  She sneaks into the rooms of unsuspecting, sleeping children, tiptoeing and trying hard not to wake them.  She rustles around, searching in the glow of a night light for her target.  Then, quick as a flash, she is gone. It's as if she had never been there.

The tooth fairy, you ask?  Nope. I'm talking about the Excess Toy Fairy.  She doesn't take lost baby teeth and leave cash or coins. She takes some of the WAY too many toys most of our kids have and absconds with them so they subtly vanish.

Out of sight, out of mind, right?

Tower o' presents, 2nd birthday (see, this is why we need the ETF)

Photo of the Week: 3 Lil Pigs

It's that time again - here's the photo of the week!  This one made me laugh.

"Hellllpppp!"

Hope somebody rescues those three little pigs soon.....

Halloween Recap

Good morning!  Who's tired from a night full of canvassing neighborhoods with adorable costumed kids in tow?  I know I am.

But it's worth it for the glee on little faces as they yell "trick-or-treat!" and the joy in their steps as they carry plastic orange pumpkin buckets full of candy. Anna (aka Ord the dragon) had a blast trick-or-treating with her friends Jacobi (aka Curious George) and Izzy B (aka The Princess of Color and Everything).

"Hurry up so I can have my candy!"