We have our winners in the Sesame Street Movie Giveaway.? In a very scientific selection process, Thing 1 reveals the winners in this video.? If you are one of the lucky winners, I will be contacting you via email.
Thanks all who entered.? Keep checking back for another giveaway coming in a few days.
You’ve probably seen the Fired Up, Ready To Go chant that was used in President Obama’s campaign last year.? But you may not have heard the story about how it started.? If not, watch this video first so the second video will make more sense.
Obama tells how he was tired, and struggling to get motivated for a tiny rally in a South Carolina small town, very early in the morning.? And how one woman got the crowd, and him, energized, focused, and ready to go.
This morning, I decided to see if I could use the same technique, albeit on a much smaller scale.? On Sunday mornings, Thing 1 and Thing 2 have swim class at the county rec center.? It’s early.? It’s cold.? We have a full day planned: swim class, pancake breakfast at the volunteer fire station, and it’s Super Bowl Sunday.? Nobody is very motivated.? It’s going to be a long day.? Time to get fired up and ready to go!
Something I realized this Halloween is that there hasn’t been a lot of innovation in the candy industry since I was a kid.? The Things’ bags are filled with all the old familiar favorites – Snickers, KitKats, Butterfingers.
I also realized that to a three year old, there is nothing familiar about candy.? It’s all so new and cool.? Especially candy corn.
On Halloween, Thing 2 tried candy corn for the very first time.? He declared, “I love candy corn!”, even before eating it.? I guess he just loved the concept of a candy version of a vegetable.? After trying it, he also said “It’s like a mountain” and compared the taste to chicken nuggets.
Luckily, the camera was rolling to capture the moment.
I probably sound like a typical (old) parent, but way back when I was a kid, Halloween was different.? More innocent.? We got homemade candy like popcorn balls and fresh baked brownies, wrapped in a napkin.? We actually stepped inside the house instead of standing on the doorstep.? Yes, it was a kinder, simpler time.
All that changed in 1982 with the Tylenol poisonings near Chicago.? Remember that one?? That was the event that prompted safety seals on medicines, and ended the era of homemade Halloween treats.? I remember that year my parents examined every piece of candy in my bag,? looking for an open wrapper or an exposed razor blade.
Or maybe they were just confiscating the ones they wanted to eat themselves, like I do now.
After this year, I have a different perspective on the safety of Halloween candy.? I always assumed if the wrapper was intact, the candy was safe.? Well, now I’m not so sure.? There is another danger to watch out for.
Take a peek at this video of Thing 1 and Thing 2 handing out Halloween candy.? Sure, there is some cute banter back and forth.? But keep a close eye on where Thing 2’s hands go.
Still feel like eating that Kit Kat your kids brought home?
Did you know that Oreo’s can have an intoxicating effect?? Maybe not on me or you, but to a couple of preschoolers, eating a few Oreo’s is like downing a few shots of Tequila.
I wrote a few weeks ago about the best of times and worst of times during our beach vacation.? That was the best of times.? Unfortunately, it was also the exception.
This video will give a more accurate look at what our week at the beach was like.? Thing 1 and Thing 2 acting silly, drunk on Oreo’s, harassing passerby’s, and generally being unruly.? This episode is actually not too bad since we are outside in the middle of the day.? But it’s a little different at 6am.
To paraphrase Dickens, our recent trip to the beach was both the best of times and the worst of times.? At times we were relaxing, having a great time, watching the kids enjoy the sand and surf.? But that was just a teeny, tiny portion of how we spent our days.
The rest of the time was a lot of whining, crying, and fighting.? And of course, a fair amount of drinking to drown out the same.? To illustrate the two extremes, I have some video to bring you closer to my world.
We start with the best of times.? First, the kids are reasonably clean for the beach.? I defy anyone to get rid of all the sand after a one year old has been sitting in wet sand and shoveling sand into his mouth for hours.? Second, they are dressed in coordinated outfits.? SuburbanMommy insists we do this once per trip and take family photos.
Stay tuned for video from the worst of times…
By the end of the work week, I’m glad that it’s the weekend.? Well, for the most part.? I don’t exactly get to relax on weekends, but at least I don’t have to think about work for two days.
By the end of the weekend, after two days of “relaxing”, I’m ready for it to end.? There is no sadness Sunday night about having to get up early and go to work on Monday.? Maybe 5 years ago, but not any more.? No, now I look forward to Mondays.
In a recent post, I tried to convey a typical conversation with Thing 2 while driving home from preschool. As promised, I put the daddy cam in my car one day, so you can see first hand.
It’s actually surprising how well the video came out, considering I was holding the camera with one and and driving with the other. Don’t try this at home.