Is there such thing as commercial-free holidays?

At least one organization is trying. Here's the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood's guide:
http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/holidayguide/home.htm

Being Thankful

Our little clan had a tropical twist on Thanksgiving this year, celebrating in Puerto Rico (photos to come soon).
Right before bed, after eating too much, sunning to much, and swimming way too much, I said "Hey! We should all say what we're thankful for!" Mike and I said some boring platitude stuff, Kelly said "me too" and Molly took the cake with:
"I'm thankful for Hashem for this perfect little sister," and kissed Kelly on the head.

One more reason to avoid the big chain stores

I cannot believe that a man died on Friday because of shoppers insane desire for the latest and cheapest TV, or whatever it was that seemed worthy of line-waiting, five-am-arriving, running, and ultimately, ending a man's life in the quest of something sold at Wal-Mart. What has this world come to?

If I didn't already semi-boycott chain stores, this would be reason enough to start. I don't shop 100% local, but I do try to buy from the "little guy" when I can. I blame the culture of possession in this country just as much as I blame every one of the people involved in this horrifying expression of Americanism. I don't even celebrate Christmas, but I am pretty sure this is not what the "Christmas spirit" is all about.

As I read on another blog online, "You know, it makes so much sense that this happened at Wal-Mart, the epitome of American grossness. I hope that on Christmas morning, when the Wal-Mart savages' children are opening their stupid presents, they tell them "I hope you like it, because I had to kill a man for it."

My Other Car is an Art Car

This art car was done entirely with Sharpies. Seriously.

Toddler Poetry Community Still Strong One Year Later

Today, the approximate one year anniversary of this blog, I wanted to take a moment to look back to our roots as a toddler poetry blog, and to share with everyone that we still are not only the first, but also the second, search result when you Google "toddler poetry community."
Am I proud? Sure. But would I be even prouder if there were tons of other blogs that followed in our footsteps to bring poetry to the teeming toddler masses?
Sure. (As long as they come-up third and fourth in Google search.)

More kids dressed-up - my actual last Halloween post

And One Last Halloween Update

After all the candy discussions, we got no trick-or-treaters at all, probably because there was a large sewer truck parked outside of our house due to a problem at the house about three doors down.

If we had gotten a trick-or-treater, you can see what our two candy bowls looked like: mini-fruit-roll-ups, mini play-dohs, leftover kosher lollipops, and dum-dums with gum in the middle I bought by accident back in August.

It's almost like someone had already told the local kids to skip our house....

The pirates and their treasure

A Larchmont Halloween

Some people's houses were impressive....

...but the highlight of the night was going to Franklin's house:

Anna (to Franklin's mom, when she opens the door): Molly and Kelly insisted that the house they wanted to go to the most was Franklin's!
Franklin's mom: Isn't that sweet! I don't know where Franklin is right now, or I'd have him come say hello... honey (yells to husband) do you know where Franklin is?
Husband: I'm not sure, I think he might have gone up the street...

Mike: Hi, I'm Mike. Nice to meet you. Are Franklin and Molly in the same class?
Laughter.

Molly and Kelly: Daddy!!!!! Franklin's a cat!!!!!

Mike: Oh.

After Franklin's house, the second highlight of the night was... CANDY!

This Little Light of Mine

When you hear the line: "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.."
What do you think of?