Overheard at Bedtime

Me: Jonah, time to brush your teeth.
Jonah: Aww, you've got to be kidding me.

Ah, and so the teenage sass starts at two and a half.

Snow Day

A couple weeks ago we received our first snow of the season. It's hard to believe that we had snow already. Especially considering it was almost 60 on Christmas. In any case, the kids (and the dog) made the most out of the 3 inches of fluffy stuff they were given.

Christmas

Even though Jonah had pneumonia for Christmas (Ellie soon followed) we actually had one of the best holidays we can remember. It was wonderfully relaxed since we didn't have to travel anywhere. I think by sticking home the kids were able to really enjoy the day. It probably helped that they had time to actually play with their toys too!

Oh and if any of you are wondering, Santa brought Jonah a big red bouncy ball he can hop on. For Ellie, he brought a complete ballerina outfit—in pink of course.

Miracle on 34th Street

Here in Baltimore there is a neighborhood that serves as a beacon of light (quite literally) around Christmas. Thousands of folks flock to the Hampden neighborhood to take in the sights on Miracle on 34th Street.

It is truly a sight to behold. The houses are decked from top to bottom in lights, animated characters music and wonderment. Honestly, I am amazed by this group of neighbors and their willingness to be ambassadors for Christmas.

Here are some pictures from our own trip to Hampden earlier this month. It was the perfect start to the holidays.

The Sickness is Rampant

Santa brought a bout of pneumonia for Christmas this year. So we're light on the posting. Hope you all had a healthy, happy Christmas!

It's Just Like...It's Just Like...

With over two million hits I'm sure everyone's dancing to the flea market.
To the left.
To the right.
Hey, hey.

Quiet Isn't Necessarily a Good Thing

Yesterday as I was busily packaging rush orders and responding to emails, I remarked on how much Jonah has grown up. For he was quietly playing in the next room. Awww, that's my big boy—gaining independence and playing nicely on his own. I'm so proud of him. This time is so precious, etc., etc. Sigh.

Naturally, bursting with motherly pride, I am compelled to go praise him. This is what I find:

Then I look at the tree. It is completely free of ornaments from halfway down (which coincidentally is exactly the length of Jonah's reach) all the way around the tree.

In my case (or his case to be more specific) quietly playing equals destruction. Lesson learned.

New Do

For Dave's birthday I agreed to cut my hair short (he's been after me for years to do it). It took some serious repression of old short hair cut memories (let's just say the first time I went short I walked out with a mushroom cut and the second resulted in looking like a hedgehog crawled atop my head and died).

But I did it and it's the first short cut I've had that didn't result in 3 days of crying.

Aspirations

After reading When You Grow Up...

Me: Jonah, what do you want to be when you grow up?
Jonah (emphatically): A Tractor!
Me: Maybe you could be the farmer who drives the tractor.
Jonah: I want to be a farmer girl!
Ellie: No, you want to be a farmer boy.
Jonah (grinning): Yeah. I want to be a farmer boy.

Freaking Out Over Here

So the past couple weeks have not been winners. We had the stomach thing, then we've had orders flooding in, phone issues, internet problems and generally have just been slammed by life. Hard.

Just to give you a small illustration (and if I'm being completely honest, a moment to whine) I'll tell you about Wednesday afternoon. It all started with me giving Ellie a piece of chocolate cake. It was a flourless chocolate cake made with deliciously rich dark chocolate. Cause that's the type of mom I am. Here sweetie, gorge on cake because I feel bad eating it alone. She went to get a drink and I hear Jonah yell, "Elwie, Elwie, Winnie got your cake! Oh no, she eating cake! No Winnie, no!"

This then developed into a comical pursuit of the pint-size dog around the house to see if she had indeed eaten the cake. She had. I called the vet. The vet tells me dark chocolate is very bad for dogs and I must induce vomiting immediately using a concoction of water and hydrogen peroxide. Of course I don't have any hydrogen peroxide in the house. I figure that when kids scrape their knee it's survival of the fittest time. Honestly, I have no idea why I don't have this basic solution on hand. Isn't it a prerequisite to have hydrogen peroxide on hand? I mean who on earth doesn't have a big brown bottle of the smelly stuff that doubles as a hair lightener (read: turns it a shade of orange not found in nature).

Where was I? Ah yes, so I call my friend who lives a street over. She of course has hydrogen peroxide. She is a normal person who is prepared. So I take the dog and kids over to her house, she mixes up the solution and then lets my dog vomit all over her yard. Now that is a true friend. Personally, I believe dog vomit solidifies any relationship. Not sure where you stand with your friend? Take the dog vomit litmus test. If your BFF since elementary school turns her nose up at the thought, you'll know she was never in it for the long haul.

I am hoping that things settle down soon. Because quite honestly, I need a nap.

Robot

The kids are going through a robot phase right now (as evidenced in the picture of Jonah's head in a trash can). We sometimes have to do the robot dance before bed. And often the kids refer to me as Robot Mommy and I in turn must humor them and call them "Robot (insert kid's name here)."

So the other night when Ellie was supposed to be sleeping I heard her up and found this picture drawn on her chalkboard (the first robot is one Dave drew, along with writing the word Robot, but the rest are all hers). I give you our family as robots doing the robot dance:

Ellie on Family Time

Ellie: Mommy, even if our whole family was in jail we would still be happy right?
Me: What?
Ellie: Because we'd still have each other. But not Winnie or Frederick.
Me: Um, yes darling. We'd all be happy in jail together.

i Love the 80s

Last night Dave and I spent the evening watching VH1's i Love the 80s marathon. It was all he was up for and frankly he barely had enough energy for that after being sick all day. Anyway, they talked about these. It brought back such memories of Saturday mornings. You know, when that used to be the only time cartoons were on.

Stomach Virus or Why Does the Universe Hate Me?

For a little more than a week we have been in the grips of a stomach virus. Apparently we are not alone as I'm hearing tales of woe from everyone (even from as far as California).

It started last Thursday and one by one, we've all taken a hit. And it isn't pretty. In fact it has been a week and I still have stomach cramping.

The worst part of it all is that it has fallen on Dave's birthday week. We've had to cancel our plans for his family party. It was the only real party he was getting. It's all so depressing. Between that and dealing with vomit, I think I'm spent.

Signs

Over the past couple days Ellie has been posting various signs around the house.

This one is so Jonah* won't touch my Martini glasses:
*note the curly hair


This is one to tell Winnie to stay out of the shoe closet in the hall:
The red stripey things are shoes


And last but not least, this one which is posted on her bedroom door. It depicts us trying to touch something of hers which, by the looks of it, causes her great discomfort:


Yes, I do believe she has the fine makings of a future hall monitor.

I Don't Even Know What to Say

As I was looking through photos to find something to post about, I ran across this. This picture was taken in jest as a family photo for Jonah's school.

I find it is actually a fairly interesting commentary on our true inner selves:
Dave - Mr. Optimist
Me - the Pseudo Elitist
Ellie - Miss Attitude
Jonah - Just along for the ride

A Few Of Our Favorite Things

Here are the toys the kids are currently into:

A box

—and—
an Ikea Trash Can

If I Play a Song for You

We go to our local FedEx almost every day. Conveniently, it's located right next to a coffee shop so I can lure the children into compliance with bribes of hot chocolate milk if they behave in FedEx.

Our FedEx guy is wonderful. He knows the kids' names and ask how Dave is doing (sometimes I make Dave do the shipping runs) every time I drop off our packages. But the real highlight is that he offers the children stickers. Now I don't know if it's because he's really nice or it's part of FedEx's plan for fostering brand recognition before children know what hit them. Either way, my kids yell "yippee" when I tell them I have to go to FedEx. And it's reciprocated too.

Last month, Ellie took her accordion (which she received for her birthday) with her on one of our daily trips so she could play a tune for the FedEx guy. Jonah meanwhile, made sure to sport his fireman's hat to show off. Here are two pics that I quickly snapped from that day:

The Word of the Day

.....Is Pipples.

Ellie (in the shower): Mommy make sure you wash my pipples.
Me: What are pipples?
Ellie: You know, the stuff on my neck under my skin. My pipples!

Whistle While You Work

We listen to a fair amount of music. Whether we are schlepping to FedEx to drop off packages (I haven't gotten around to request a pick-up from the house yet, well, that and there's a coffee shop I like to frequent right next to FedEx yum!) or hanging out at home, it seems music has become our constant companion. Frankly I use music as my crutch to get through some of the most grueling parts of my day.

So here's what I'm listening to today while I bag, tag, package and ship:
Writers Block Peter Bjorn & John

What are you listening to? Any recommendations?

Sworn to Secrecy

Right now we are working on our new products for '08. I'm incredibly excited about them. Now I can't say anything or even hint about what's coming out until everything hits the scene. After all, when we first came up with the ORIGINAL design of our Reversible Tutu there wasn't anything like it on the market. Now when you google reversible tutu, you'll have to sift through tons of links with imitations. In fact some of them don't even bother to change the copy I wrote for our website—they lift full sentences. Where's the imagination, creativity or pride in that?

I suppose imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. It just makes us work harder to stay fresh and one step ahead.

But quite honestly all of this covertness about our new stuff is killing me. I am not good with keeping secrets—especially ones that I'm excited about. But I'm learning...quickly.

So keep your eyes out for some new EBK items to hit the scene in the coming months. Until then, my lips are sealed.

In Case You Missed It

The fall issue of Classic Play went to over 1,500 subscribers. If you missed your copy, click here for your own personal pdf.

This is by far our most ambitious issue yet—the photography alone is amazing (the ideas for the features ain't too bad either wink, wink). I'm not sure if we can keep this up. But I will say this, while it is an enormous amount of work, it's also quite fun. I just hope people are enjoying it as much as I am.

Dave on Word Origins

Picking up toys off the floor (have I mentioned he's the clean one?): I think the word kid derives from Latin for mess.

It's Live

Dave's photography website is now up and running. Pop on over to davekcooper.com and let us know what you think.

Jonah On Being a Big Boy

I caught Jonah in the act so to speak so I said, "let's go sit on the potty so you can finish going poo poo." He cheerfully replied, "Okaaaaayyyy."

However once we arrived at the deposit station, he tensed up and refused to bend so that I could sit him on the seat. He didn't care if his feet were going in the toilet water, just as long as his backside didn't sit on the seat. For him that would mean defeat.

So of course I broke out the heavy artillery—bribery. "But look, I have big boy underpants. Don't you want Thomas and Lightning McQueen underwear? They have the piiiistoooon cup on them. OOooooh, the piston cup." And with that I start to move them back and forth in the air as if I'm hypnotizing him with the lure of cartoon characters who want him to poop in the toilet.

"Nope."

As I let out the heavy sigh of defeat I take him back into his room. Then I resort to my one last trick. "Honey, diapers are for babies. Are you a baby?" Jonah shakes his head no. "Oh, so you're a big boy. Big boys wear underpants." "I no want to wear big boy underpants." There is a pause. Then with a pitiful look and a small little voice he repeats his position, "I no wanna wear big boy underpants." I replied, "But why honey?" He tilts his head down and looks up at me. It is at this point he must have channeled the classic pathetic puppy in a store window. It would soften the hearts of even the most diaper-changing weary (me). Then he responds in a sweetly soft voice, "I don't want to be a big boy. I want to wear a diaper." And that my friends is how the battle is won. Jonah 2 Mommy 0.

The Toothfairy

Today during Ellie's quiet time I hear her yell, "Mommy, Mommy, Daddy, Daddy, it's out!" This could mean only one thing. Ellie has lost her first tooth.

For the past week, Ellie has been working on her wobbly tooth. She has been telling everyone (and I do mean random people on the street) about her loose tooth. She reveled in the dentist's position to have her eat chewy candy (which the dentist made sure to tell me was not something she typically recommends) to work the tooth out.

I guess it all paid off this afternoon.

The tooth currently resides on her shelf so she can take it to school to show all her friends on Monday. After that it will be tucked under her pillow for the tooth fairy. And the thought of all this makes Ellie a very happy girl.

Happy Halloween

Here are a few pics from last night's festivities along with a few quotes of the night...






Man: "Oh look Pocahontas"
Ellie: "Actually, I'm Tiger Lily"
Man: "Okay, sorry about that."
Ellie: "That's alright." Pause "You can call me whatever you want."

Jonah: Just went up to a house to get candy. Comes running down the walkway, "I got some! I got some!"

Ellie Turns 5

Well, it's official. Ellie is indeed five. I have learned to come to terms with this. A half a decade old. Even as I roll that around on my tongue, it still stings just a little. Ah well. What can I do. They grow.

Here are a couple quick shots from the party. This year the party was held at a park and the theme was just a classic birthday party—complete with a pennant, party hats and balloons. The kids walked away with goodie bags filled with a mixed CD, an EBK Bolt cape and a paddle ball. It was one of our best bashes to date.

Picture of the Moment

Pumpkin Patch Perspective

Today, Ellie turns 5. It's hard for me to believe it's been five years since I became a mom. On one hand it feels like yesterday. On the other, it feels like a lifetime ago. So to commemorate this special day I thought I'd mark the occasion with two pictures. And since we mark our years by our trips to the pumpkin patch, I thought these were very fitting.

This photo is from October 2004

This is from the same pumpkin patch in October 2007


Oh how the time flies...

Mmm, Mmm, Good

Looking for inspiration for a special occasion or simply craving the little rounded goodness of a cupcake? Then check out Way More Than 52 Cupcakes. This blog covers almost every conceivable cupcake concoction you could come up with (I just love alliteration don't you?).

It's chock full of photos, ideas and recipes and is, quite frankly, a must hit.

I would be remiss if I didn't leave you with this warning: cupcake craving will ensue.

A Day At the Corn Maze

On Saturday we celebrated my Mom's birthday. This year she wanted the family to meet up at Crumland Farms for a day of fun. The farm has a huge corn maze along with a host of attractions for the kids (which we enjoyed too). I wasn't sure what to expect but we had the most fun we've had in ages. It also highlights one of the best things about living in our area, being able to enjoy the city and country within a matter of an hour drive.

I have to say, we loved every minute of our trip. Happy Birthday Meemaw!

Jonah On Sibling Rivalry

Me yelling up the steps to Ellie: Butterbean get your shoes on.
Jonah (sitting on my lap): No. Elwee no butterbean. I butterbean.
Me: Okay, you're butterbean. (Calling to Ellie up the stairs again) Cupcake? Shoes.
Jonah: No. No cupcake.
Me: You're cupcake too? Okay. How about I call Ellie buttercup?
Jonah: Yeah. Ellie buttercup.

I'm glad we were able to negotiate that one out.

Winnie and the Photoshoot

A couple weekends ago we had a photoshoot/playdate for our next issue of Classic Play. And this time Winnie is making her debut. The shoot went really well and the girls were fantastic!

Apparently the tourists thought the girls (all three of them) were cute too. In fact two separate groups of tourists on the Ride The Ducks tour stopped to watch what was going on. The girls were happy to throw them a wave. And the dog? Well, she was excited to get noticed too.

Here are a few shots from the shoot:

On Being Ellie

In the car on the way to pick up lunch

Ellie: I wish I were a Native American
Me: I think you're pretty cool the way you are. What's wrong with wanting to be you?
Ellie: Cause I'm tired of being me.

Honey, it's only been five years. Isn't this a conversation I'm supposed to have with you when you tell me you want to dye your hair pink? Or when you want to get a tattoo of some Chinese symbol that you think looks cool but actually translates to General Tso’s Chicken special? Listen, chipper up—there's a long road of being you ahead.

Ellie on Relationships

Ellie: What's wrong Mommy?
Me: Oh nothing. I'm just frustrating your father.
Ellie: (nonchalantly) Well, that happens sometimes.

Me

It's not often I make an appearance on the site. But Dave thought this was a good picture of me and asked me to post it.

The Lake II

Arrrgh, It Being That Time of Yearrr

Yes, it is the day we know you've been waiting for all year—International Talk Like a Pirate Day.
So bone up on your arrghs, me harties, and scurvvy dogs. They're bound to come in useful. Oh and may we suggest ending the day with one of favorite bedtime storrrries: Pirates Don't Change Diapers.

Conversations Overheard

Ellie: Winnie stop licking me. I'm not food. I just smell good.

USPS Sucks The Big One

To say I'm disappointed in USPS would be an understatement. Their customer service is deplorable. Here's the caveat to this global statement: my postman Curtis who I adore, is the best postman around and the staff at my local post office (even though they have a tendency to close 5-10 minutes before 6:00) are fantastic. Really! I mean it. My disgust with their employer does not extend to them.

But by in large, I am unhappy. Why? Because their express overnight delivery is a joke. Something you put your faith and trust in (not to mention your money) and it lets you down in a major way.

Backstory: We had a customer who ordered a gift for her daughter's birthday. The party is tomorrow and we expressed shipped the tutu overnight on Wednesday. She lives in New York City (not remote so no possibility of it needing 2 days to arrive). It is Friday and she has yet to receive it. And when she called the post office to get more information about the packages whereabouts, she was greeted with terrible customer service. An almost glee in telling her they couldn't do anything about it.

So I called too. And the first woman I spoke with also said there was nothing they could do. I explained that I spend countless dollars with them and that they are in the service industry and it was not acceptable that they couldn't help me in determining where this package was and when it would be delivered. I mean extra money was paid.

I was routed to a supervisor.

The supervisor took my information and told me she would start the process for the research into it. However when I asked when I would hear back from someone (after she told me I would receive a call) she couldn't help me. I know the previous person I spoke to told me that the express department was out for the day. Does this mean I'll get a call on Monday or will someone be able to get to me over the weekend? Lady: Ma'am I don't have that information.

What?!? You can't tell me within the span of THREE DAYS when someone might call me back?

I know this—there is a reason FedEx is so successful.

ARGH!