Those Darn Commercials

It's that time of year when we make our much anticipated Christmas Lists.  I have mixed feelings about those lists 1) because I don't want my kids to expect to get everything on that list, 2) because it seems kinda greedy...doesn't it? and 3) I want my kids to be surprised on Christmas morning.  Anyways, regardless of how I feel, those list are made and posted on my bulletin board.  It never fails, every year the same kid has something on her list that I have never heard of.  You know why I have never heard of it?  Because I don't watch commercials!!!  I'm not sure why it's always Kya who gets sucked into these gimmicks, but it always is...always.

These unknown products, though different every year, all have some things in common: 1) They are only around for one Christmas (the year before it wasn't invented and the year after, it has been long forgotten) 2) They have some strange name 3) They don't last long.

Chrismas 2010, it was the Squinkies (that gumball looking contraption in the right of the picture that is filled with tiny plastic balls with tiny toys inside).  They were cute, but I have spent the last 2 years picking them up off the floor...and Kya has spent all of maybe 2 days playing with them!

 Christmas 2009 it was Pixos (that purple box by Kya's right shoulder).  Pixos are tiny tiny plastic balls that you use to make little pictures.  These have been spilled and picked up so many times, I finally threw them in the garbage...and Kya didn't even notice!

Last Christmas...well I can't remember what it was and I KNOW I didn't buy it!!

This Christmas, well looks like I'm going to have to figure out what Orbeez are...

Halloween "Fever"

Unlike Jordan who seemed to get a fever with every new baby tooth, and Kya who was born with a cold but rarely has been sick since, Tyson seems to get sick whenever great fun is to be had.  Every year we spend half of our summer visiting family in Canada, and every summer while we are in Canada one of us gets sick...and it is almost always Tyson. 

Well, yesterday {ON HALLOWEEN DAY}, I picked Tyson up from school and he said "Mom, I feel hot and tired."  I took his temperature, and sure enough 100.3 degrees.  I gave him medicine and he almost instantly fell asleep.  How was this going to work?  We had a party to go to, we had trick or treating to do, and daddy is in Australia!!  I frantically called on wonderful friends to take my kids to their parties and possibly trick or treating.  I was sure Halloween was ruined for Tyson and me.  Well, Tyson slept for a good hour.  He woke up fever-free and wondering why everyone was gone.  We raced to get him ready...fever or not, he was feeling better and I didn't want him to miss out on Halloween.  He raced from door to door, played all the party games, ate candy and stayed up past his bedtime.

This morning I took his temperature 99.6 degrees.  I guess he's staying home from school for some snuggle time with mom.  I am grateful he still got to enjoy Halloween...and that he's not throwing up!!