Conversations with the kiddies...

Z: Mama, smell my baby! (he calls his blanket baby)

X: I know...it smells nice because I washed it. (I was able to pry it out of his five year old herculean grip for long enough to throw it in the machine)

Z: Now everyday (meaning everytime) when it's stinky you can wash it...cuz now I like my baby clean.

X: I can do that!

Z: Cuz when it's clean...it's cool...when it's stinky...it's hot!

Does that make any sence? Because he was very serious about it!

Can you tell me how to get some Sesame Feet?

I am not normally a fan of licenced characters on my childrens clothing and to be truthful, once a year I choose one item..usually a Spiderman or Superman t-shirt and they wear it until it's too small. In fact one day Y came up to me and said "why do all my clothes have to say G..A..P..?" So it's suprising to me that I actually like these Sesame Street runners by New Balance...or maybe it's just because I think they would look cute on other peoples children. Usually running shoes with licenced characters are not the greatest quality but New Balance is a fantastic brand and we've owned a few of their other styles and loved them. I personally like the Oscar The Grouch pair...the hip olive green with bright yellow laces is totally cool. And Oscar is very discreet and not in your face. They are also available in Elmo (very popular) and the Cookie Monster. Good news is they don't light up. Bad news is they are a premium price...$64.99, but for a good shoe...it's totally worth it. Check out www.newbalance.com for a retailer near you.

Kiddy Read

While the kiddies are safely ensconced at the neighbours house watching the newest Pokemon movie (perfect activity for a rainy day)...I get a little Mommy time.  My Mommy time today will include making the beds, cleaning up the kitchen and picking up toys in the basement. I'd like to be getting a pedicure right now..it's not fair!  Wrong..I'll get a pedicure when they are in camp..hee hee!  But "it's not fair" seems to be a pharse that's used more and more in my house. Lately Y has been wondering "how come I got all the allergies...it's not fair"!  Or Z says "why does Y get new Geox and I have to keep wearing my bummy shoes...it's not fair"!  For the record Z's shoes were not bummy but this where a great little book comes in to help your kids understand that sometimes the world is just not fair...and it's not just them feeling the effects. It's Not Fair by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichenheld is a witty look at how everyone "including pigs, plantes and square pegs, somethimes thinks: it's not fair"! My fave page show two little girls..one with straight hair and one with curly saying "Why can't I have curly locks"? (I say that every day...it's not fair).  I'm sure Ricky the Racoon thinks it's not fair when I shoo him out of my garage while he's noshing on my organics waste. I can just see him thinking (I'm convinced Racoons are smarter than humans) "you have a whole bin of food there..why don't you let me eat it...it's not fair"!  It's Not Fair is published by Harper Collins and in hardcover retails for $19.99. You can order it on-line from Indigo www.chapters.indigo.ca. Hopefully it will help your kiddy realize they are not alone when faced with life's wee injustices!

Mommy Music MiX

Last week I took a little bit of flack for my pop music/radio friendly music pix. That's fine...everyone is entitled to their own opinion, so this week I think I'll mix it up just a wee bit. The Sister-In-Law left a comment that The Nephew likes the song Lollipop...you remember..."lollipop..lollipop..oh lolly lolly lolly"...it's a great kids song. So with lollipops and candy in mind I've downloaded five sweet suff inspired tunes. I hope you and and your kiddies will bop along with my five pix for this week. They are all available for download from itunes. Or you can just raid your old (or your way older siblings) 45's collection!

• I Want Candy - Bow Wow Wow
• Candy Girl - New Edition
• Sugar Sugar - The Archies
• Lollipop - The Chordettes (for The Nephew)

And although popcorn is not always a sweet treat...it's still a treat....so let's pretend it's caramel corn!

• Popcorn - Hot Butter (yes, it really is available on itunes so go ahead and re-create that tap routine you did when you were 9)!!!

eXceptional Mommy!

I was thinking really hard (smoke coming out of my ears hard) about who would be my first eXceptional Mommy...and then it came it to me..like duh...Melanie Doane of course!   For those of you who are not familiar with Melanie, she is a Juno award winning singer/songwriter who's career I have been following since her 1996 album Shakesperean Fish.  You will probably be familiar with her hit's Adam's Rib and my fave Goliath.  Her new album A Thousand Nights was released on July 1st and in my opinion it's magical. It's not quite poppy or folksy but a collection of soft tunes that you can have on while you're reading or entertaining or just chilling out! And the kids can enjoy them too.  She has great collaborations with Jim Cuddy from Blue Rodeo and with her talented husband actor/director/producer Ted Dykstra (who just happens to be one of my fave Canadian actors). How do you say holy Canadian power couple! Melanie has two kiddies..so she is truly a hard working mom. I love how in the liner notes of her new album she thanks her producers for working around her schedule "at first just those two hours a week when Rosie was in pre-school." Can you imagine showing up on the playground at pick up and the girls asking what you did this afternoon and you saying "oh...you know...groceries..iorning..recording an album..same old." That is why I love her...she has literally worked her exciting career around being a Mom.  I love the photo of Melanie I've posted...that's her kids art in the background..how great is that?  You can download any of Melanie's albums on itunes or you can actually go out and buy the CD.  The cover art is really pretty so I suggest you do that. She's balancing a career and family with grace and talent and that makes Melanie Doane an eXceptional Mommy.