Friday Funnies

Sweetheart has been in Florida all week helping GiGi, who just had Cadillac cataract surgery.

MH has spoken to her almost every day on the phone, and is eagerly awaiting her return.

When I just told her that Sweetheart is coming home from Florida today, getting right off the plane and coming over here to help us celebrate Halloween, a conversation about air travel ensued.

As in:

MH: How does Sweetheart get on the plane? Does she just try to jump really high?

It took me a second (or 20) before I realized MH envisioning Sweetheart catching her plane mid-flight, the way we usually see them!

Wow, if Sweetheart could do that, she's got more super-hero powers than I ever realized!

When you live with a princess . . .

A princess is what you'll get!

With the help of one of those fabulous little pumpkin-carving templates, I created this masterpiece for my little princess. Can you tell I'm proud?

I did it after she went to bed last night, and showed her this picture this morning.

After I asked her who it looked like, she took a long hard look and replied "Daddy."

Hopefully she won't tell him that.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Not so WW - Boo!

We went to a great family Halloween party this weekend!

DH and I could not have had more fun carving pumpkins, and MH was the hit of the party (such my little social butterfly!).

She was so well-loved that one girl insisted on carving an additional pumpkin for her, and another one was in the midst of making another one but we had to leave!

We've been trying to light them every night, but it's been so windy they keep going out!

My awesome creation - simple yes, but done completely freehand (I'm so proud).

Family of 3.

Admiring the "Mickey" pumpkin (notice Mickey had to come admire it too!)

Super M!

My favorite pumpkin of all!

Now we just need to carve our huge family pumpkin - I've got a trick up my sleeve for that one that I think will blow the MH away!

Happy Halloween!

Yes, quite possibly another addiction.

We all know I have many.

Thanks to several other blogs I read, and today specifically Melissa, I could become a digital scrapbook afficionado.

Oh the fun!

The ease.

No selecting matching cardstock and embellishments.

No cropping (except for with my mouse!), trimming, stamping.

I might just regain my love for scrapbooking.

Here's my first creation, and it could not have been easier!

It took about 4 minutes, and that's just because I was playing around trying to figure things out (which, by the way, is not difficult at all).

Where did I create this masterpiece little piece of adorableness?

Right here: http://www.scrapblog.com/

It's free, it's easy, and I have a feeling I've only glimpsed the tip of the iceberg.

Next up? Figuring out how to create a title design for my blog!

Run, don't walk!

I dare you not to add Scrapblog to your list of addictions!

Overheard . . .

MH is wearing an adorable new (ok, I bought it 2 months ago and she's just now wearing it for the first time) outfit today.

The pants are the best - multi-colored horizontal stripes, wide leg.

The kind of pants that should only be worn by little girls - so cute!

I should also note that SHE picked them out and I helped her find a shirt to match.

Me: (after she's all dressed) You look so cute! Don't you just love your new pants?
MH: Not really . . . but I do love the colors.

MH - you always find a way to crack me up. Even though you have oodles (yes DH, I know that's a mild understatement), only you could pick something to wear and then tell me you're not crazy about it.

Update: The latest "overheard": "I love my cute new pants!!!". Girls. Always changing their minds.

WW2 - The epitome of Fall

WW - Girlfriends!

I finally found my MIA camera, and was excited to find these pictures I'd forgetten I'd taken! MH and her girlfriends - she is already learning the importance of having "her girls" as she calls them!

And yes, that makes THREE of them who own "the giraffe dress"!

Ruh-Roh

Daddy dropped his laptop down the stairs tonight, and it went SPLAT! (how exactly this happened, we're all still unsure, this is such a Mommy move)

Yes, SPLAT.

Right on the first step.

According to MH, who had to call Sweetheart and Poppy to share this insane news.

She was running up and down the stairs showing them exactly where the poor computer fell.

Then she told them it would be okay. But, SPLAT! Just like that! See it?!?

DH is in the middle of a freakout and I was laughing so hard at her reaction I made him get out the camcorder.

And he did.

Saintly, if you ask me. I would have smacked me.

Hear that DH? I just called you a saint. Own it right now, it's your moment in the sun!

Thank goodness for insurance - with a three year old in the house, it's a no-brainer.

Strangely, said laptop is functioning, but cracked all over.

And Compaq's servers are down indefinitely. As they told him after he held for an hour.

It'll all be ok - MH said so.

It's rather interesting - MH's Barbie dolls do amazing SPLATS too.

Meme with a Twist!

We all know how I love memes (ME! ME! ME!). The lovely Sandy at Just for Fun (you can also find her here too!) tagged me for this one, and it is different than any other meme I've seen before.

The rules are as follows: choose the sixth photo from your sixth album and post it with a brief description and/or the story behind it.

Well, I'm going to use my Picasa albums, 6th from the top of the list, and I have a gazillion pictures since DH gave me my fabulous birthday gift! Here's what I've got for you (PS this was lots of fun, I started typing up this post before I had any idea what I was going to get!):

Oooh! I love this one! My favorite pictures tend to be ones where MH is not staring right at the camera and I can catch her natural beauty without trying, or getting a funny face! I remember this day so clearly - it was a Sunday, on the way down to the beach this summer. There is a gorgeous spot I have always loved - a clearing where you can see the Jamestown Bridge, lots of water, and boats - so picturesque. We had the "special" camera with us, and DH pulled the car over (as I've said we should do a gazillion times over the years). Finally I not only had pictures of one of my favorite views here in RI, but I got to take them in such high quality AND with my beautiful little girl and handsome husband in many of them. We seriously must have shot at least 150 pictures in less than 10 minutes - it was just so easy to keep snapping! This one was taken right before we were getting back in the car.

Turns out, I was extra glad we chose that day to stop. There was a backup getting into the beach parking lot because it was full - they were letting in cars in one at a time, only when another car left and freed up a spot. I spent the time viewing my fabulous photos on the camera!

I can't recall, but I think I'm supposed to tag 6 people (I'm going with it - 6th album, 6th photo):

Liza @ Life With a Diva and a Princess
Beth @ Little Princess Chronicles
Candy @ Everyone Has A Story to Tell. This Is Ours.
Beth @ A Real Anti-Supermom
Lisa @ Life With Our Little Ladies
The Mrs. @ One Fabulous Mom

I can't wait to see your pictures and hear your stories!

WW - Pumpkins!

Feelin' a bit like a suburban housewife . . .

Which in some ways I am.

I mean, I live in suburia.

I'm a SAHM.

I guess that would make me in some ways a "housewife".

Here's what I've already gotten done today:

Up before the MH.

Scrambled some eggs, whipped up some chocolate milk, got us both dressed (she fashionably, me not so much).

Did the preschool drop-off.

Got super excited to find a really cute art project in her "take home" file (a big construction paper apple stamped in different colors - they used a cut-open apple as the stamp!) - oh how these little things make my day! You know, the "keeper" art projects.

Off to Target for a couple of necessities (ok, maybe the perfect long-sleeve tee I found this weekend at a different Target and was deperately looking to find more of were not exactly a necessity, BUT my signing up this morning to provide candy at the preschool Halloween party did mean that I needed to go . . . albeit a couple of weeks early. Hey - I'm nothing if less than prepared!).

I never knew how lovely Target could be so early in the morning. Quiet, cleaner than usual. Nice.
Off the the tailor to pick up the jeans I had forgotten about last week.

Either I am getting shorter in my ripe old age of 33 or "average" length is getting longer. Never have I needed to have my jeans shortened before.

A stop at DD for some much needed caffeine (this trip would have been much preferred on the WAY to preschool, but would have also involved far too much drama in explaining why MH could not have a lemonade Coolata. Athough, by the time I actually got my caffeine, I was wondering if that argument might not have been worth it. Note: I had to hit the Target without the Starbucks, as their clothing department is smaller than the one I needed to go to if I had a chance at finding those shirts. But remember, if anyone asks, I went for the candy.)

Home to make beds, clean up the kitchen, check email, and of course take a moment to document my pride in getting so much done by 10:30 in the morning.

Now I'm off to launder said jeans and other piles of pumkin-farm, apple orchard-ized clothing from the weekend, straighten my house, figure out what's for dinner after not cooking for the last 4 nights straight, make a grocery list, and run some more errands.

Give it to me straight - I am a surburban housewife, aren't I?

Swap-a-looza!

What a fabulous surprise to come home from a great day of fall family fun to find my Favorite Things swap package on my front steps!

Carrie totally outdid herself!

The big picture of all my loot!

A close up of some stuff . . .

And some more stuff . . .

The Georgia Dawgs baseball hat . . . Carrie is a HUGE fan of G-Dawgs football!

So now for the details, my awesome package included:

1. Candy - mmm, mmm, good. Who does not love Twizzlers and Tootsie Rolls? As for the Mike and Ike's - I've never had them, but I'll let you know . . . anything with the word Tropical in its description makes me happy!

2. A fabulous polka dot tote bag with my favorite colors! I love black, but absolutely adore pink and green together. The polka dots are so cute! I'm sure I'll find plenty of ways to put this great little bag to use!

3. The cutest little garden kit! It's got all the stuff to plant a little garden, which I think will be a lot of fun to do with MH. We've even got a greenhouse window in our kitchen! Hopefully my brown thumb won't come out to play.

4. Georgia Dawgs baseball cap. First off, I LOVE pink baseball caps. Secondly, I love how the big "G" logo is on the front and "Dawgs" is arched around the opening in the back. Sure, I'll get some weird looks (and maybe even words!) from all the New England Patriots fans around me, but I'll wear Georgia with pride!

5. Note cards!!! I love to write notes - I think that in the age of email, it's getting less and less common to receive written correspondence. Nothing makes my day more than "good mail". There is a package of "R" monogram note cards in a turquoise/chocolate brown color combo (another one of my faves) and set of bright and colorful cards with hilarious illustrations and comments on them. Can't wait to send people some smiles!

6. Assorted cookie cutters! These are plastic, which makes them safe for my MH's delicate (read: accident prone) hands, and MH is at the age where she loves to help me in the kitchen. I'm excited to bake some sugar cookies together and this is even more of an incentive to get out the 'ol Kitchen Aid . . .

7. Highliters and a cool pink Sharpie. Who doesn't love a Sharpie? And who (read: me) can never seem to find one when I need it? And now I don't have to steal DH's highliters any more.

8. A super cute snowman pin (although I'm trying not to think about the arrival of winter for a long time - I have just finally accepted that it's fall), a cute wine bottle charm that says Cheers, and a Hello Kitty magnet that MH has already claimed as her own.

9. Warm Vanilla Sugar anti-bacterial gel from Bath and Body works. Yummy smelling AND germ free? Then it's definitely for me!

10. Last, but not least, Carrie was extra sweet to think of MH and send a little something along for her too. Today, MH got her first taste of Pez! Yep, it's a Hello Kitty pez dispenser that MH has been carrying around with pride while offering candy to everyone she loves. She seemed a bit confused when there was no candy, but had a ball 'splainin' to everyone how you just "pull Kitty's head back and look, there's candy!"

Carrie, I appreciate the time and thought you put into this awesome package! Thanks for sharing some of your favorite things with me!

The thing about little girls . . .

Or should I say potty-trained little girls.

They don't have penises.

Obviously.

Well that's a rather dumb statement, isn't it?

Anyone who has potty-trained a child knows what comes along with the territory.

The need to be sure there's a bathroom wherever you go (not you, but your child).

The need check out every single bathroom to see what kind of potty it has.

Is it a big one? A little one? Is the water in the sink "magic" (read: does it have a sensor?)?

Can we wave our hands to make paper towel magically appear?

They want to touch everything.

And of course, no matter how many times we ask them if they need to use the potty (at a time that's much more feasible for us to manage with them), the answer is a resounding "NO!"

And five minutes later, when the bathroom is long out of reach, the urgent "Mommy, I need to go potty. NOW!"

Back to the lack of a penis.

Moms with little boys have it pretty easy in that department.

Point and shoot.

In the great outdoors, it's pretty much a no brainer.

If you're in the car, or even in a store, you can use one of these, created by the ever-ingenious McMommy.

Their little tushies don't even need to touch the seat of a potty God only knows whose tushie has previously been touched by!

With a little girl? Not so much.

Yesterday, we took advantage of the amazing fall weather to go apple picking.

After eating lunch, and making sure we (MH) had made sure any potty necessity was under control, off into the orchard we went.

And about 15 minutes into our trek came the urgent call.

We were far from a bathroom.

Against all of my best judgement, I pulled MH into as discreet a location as I could, pulled down her pants, and told her to squat and go.

And she couldn't, just couldn't do it.

So off we ran, back to the main area, to this:

Anyone who knows me knows I do not care much for public bathrooms.

Let alone, port-a-potties.

I would rather hold it until my eyeballs are yellow than go in one of these.

And to have to bring my child into one?

One that has been used over and over by hoardes of people (without particularly good potty manners)?

Have you ever looked at the inside of one of these?

They're scary enough for one person, and they definitely don't have much room for two.

Hubby to the rescue!


And Mommy waiting, armed and ready with lots of Purell.

Crisis averted.

The best invention ever?


It even comes with these fabulous little bags with an absorbent liner! And it's own little plastic storage sack complete with room for said bags.

We keep it right in the back of our car, where it has come in handy many times over.

At the playground, gotta go? No problem!

On the road with no bathroom in sight? Pull over, do our business, and off we go.

When nature calls, we are prepared.

Unless, of course, we're in the middle of nature when that call comes.

Looks like until I'm ready to carry a potty in my purse, I'm going to have to go with the flow (yep, another bad pun intended).

And pray that Daddy is with us when that call comes!


***********************************************************************************
Editor's note: One of the funniest things I've ever seen is MH "holding it". When do kids actually understand what is known to us grown-ups as a figure of speech. Yep, she literally holds it. All the way to whatever bathroom we can get to fast enough. I've tried to explain that she doesn't actually need to hold it, but she just can't seem to understand the concept. In fact, by these points in time, it involves quite the effort to pry her hands off, get her pants down, and onto said potty without her having a meltdown that it's going to come out. Ahhhh, the joys of being a mommy!

Overheard . . .

Since my computer is right here, and I seem to have a memory problem I just had to share.

I was standing at the stove making scrambled "chopped" eggs eggies for MH.

You know, one of the things that makes me the best mommy e-ver!

MH was watching a Dora episode about Halloween.

All of a sudden Dora declares "You scared me!"

To which MH replies?

"You scared me too, Dora!"

As though she were right here in our kitchen ready for breakfast.

Ah the things that brighten my day . . .

Almost WW - Mad Hatter Style

Who says a girl can't like sports AND ballet? Not in this house! We're equal opportunity providers - Mad Hatter style.

Don't we love the bowl hat on hat look?
Notice that the hat perfectly matches the Mardi Gras beads.
No doubt, the girl knows how to accessorize.

Now we've decided to go back to our original color pallette of pink and white.
And you know, not all ballerinas wear ballet shoes.
Crocs work just fine. Even better with lots of bling.

Ever fashion forward, MH needs to model Mommy's new red sunglasses (also from this trip) before Mommy wears them. Who says red and pink clash?

Pensive . . . hmmm, what new fashion should I try out next?

Tuesday Tidbits . . .

It's been a while since I've logged some humorous little Mad Hatter moments - I thought it was about time.

Guess what we ate for dinner tonight?
We had grilled salmon along with some fresh green enemies.
Or was that ede-beans?
Oh, that's right - it was edamame.

And you know what I learned today while walking into the fish market to purchase said salmon?
MH loves every fish market everywhere. And here I was thinking this was the first time she'd been in one.

We're big right now on understanding family relations (and pretty good at it!).
Tonight, MH was talking about Jerry (DH's dad, her grandfather).
I asked her who Jerry was and she said "Grandma G's husband".
OK, and he's your . . .?
Daddy's Daddy.

While we're on the topic of relations, when my back was really starting to become an issue it just so happened that my brother was looking to get a dog.
Our perfect solution - Shay went for a trial live-in with Uncle Dave. It worked out great and she stayed - she's getting all the love, attention, and exercise she needs, and we still get to see her quite frequently.

When Uncle Dave (yes, that would be Mommy's brother) travels for work, Shay usually stays with my parents.Sometimes my mom will bring Shay here for the day. She still remembers her favorite spot on the top stair at our kitchen. MH (not remembering that Shay ever lived here) was trying to get up the stairs one day and I heard her say (in a very accusatory tone, nonetheless) "Sweetheart, your son's dog wouldn't move to let me by!"'

She's also quite fond of calling my parents on the phone. When she's done talking to Sweetheart she asks to speak to Sweetheart's husband.

We think it's fantastic that she is so aware of how everyone is related.
Then tonight she started asking where Papa Jerry's (age 76) daddy is.
This led to an entirely different conversation.

You know how people say they can't do something?
You know, I just can't do it!
In our house, can't carries a different meaning.
Let's say I'm tickling MH and it's all fun and games until she decides she done.
Mommy, can't you not tickle me!
In the middle of the night, she crawls into bed with me half asleep and I'm trying to help her nod back off . . . Mommy, can't you not rub my back?
I'm singing along with a song she normally begs me to sing . . . Mommy, can't you not sing right now? (I have to give her the benefit of the doubt on this one, my family seems to lack the gifts of tone and key).

We are suddenly in the best friend phase.
At first I thought it was the most wonderful, heart-warming thing in the world.
Hearing my child say Mommy, you're my very best friend melted my heart into a pile of goo.
Until I started hearing it 50ish times a day.
And until I learned that apparently to a three and a half year old who is trying out the phrase best friend, the entire world has become just that.
Different boys and girls from preschool and playdates (they change according to day, although there are some constants).

Daddy, Sweetheart, Poppy, Uncle Dave, the mailman, the cashier at the supermarket, the woman who waited on us at dinner - all her best friends.
Still, when I hear the words directed at me, I'm done for.
And she totally knows it.
And works it.

When I picked her up at school this afternoon, she had a complete meltdown because I accidentally tried to help her up into her carseat (ok, it wasn't accidental - I was trying to avoid the 20 minute ordeal it takes to get her in her seat if I don't "help"). She freaked out, cried hysterically, and told me I hurt her feelings because she is a big girl and doesn't need any help with anything.

This is amusing on several levels. They have been discussing feelings for the past few weeks at school and we hear a lot about her feelings being hurt, us making her angry or sad, and the like. We're thrilled she's using words to describe her feelings - the reasons for her feelings are an entirely different story.
Today it was the car.
Last week I made her very angry because I put toothpaste on the wrong toothbrush.
Who knows what I'll do wrong tomorrow!

And that little girl who doesn't need help with anything?
Funny thing. After she dragged out dinner (she was very angry with DH because she wanted the big piece of salmon yet it took her half an hour to eat the three bites he initially, and wisely put on her plate), I asked her to go take off her clothes and get into the bathroom for her bath.
Mommy, can't you help me?
Followed by me telling her that she's a big girl and can absolutely take her clothes off by herself.
Followed by Moommmmmmy, Da-ddddyyy! I NEED HELP!
Of course, we all know there is no point reasoning or trying to bring up this afternoon's commentary because the moment is long gone.

I need to get one of those digital recorders, make myself all self-important looking, and walk around spewing words into it. Catch phrases for future blog posts (say an hour or so later). There are enough of these moments for an entire book, yet I can't even seem to remember the stuff from 45 minutes ago.

It's ok - I'm happily into my second Bud Light with Lime of the evening and MH is singing away in bed (how she is still awake is entirely beyond me).

The only thing that will ruin my night now is if Dancing With the Stars was not on before the big debate (I don't even know the times of my shows, I thank my best friend DVR for just making sure they are ready and waiting when I want to find the time to watch), and if Cloris is still on the show after tonight.

It takes a lot to really hit a hot spot with me - Cloris. Must. Go.
Or I might seriously have to consider boycotting the rest of the season (of course I don't vote, I'm too busy watching at 2AM).

Because I can't not stand to listen to one more obnoxious thing come out of her annoying mouth, nor handle one more look at that scary cleavage.

The other purchase

It's no secret that Target is one of my happy places.

In fact, if ever a 12 step program comes into existence, I might just have to join up.

No trip to Target for "a couple of things" is just that.

Can you enter the store without perusing the Dollar Spot and not grabbing a couple of things?

And then there's always a great pair of shoes at an equally great price.

How cute are these? (the picture seriously does not do them justice, but I'm sure many of you have seen them live)

I bought them over a month ago, and have yet to wear them. Fear not, I will. They're adorable.

Then there's the makeup section. I'm such a girlie-girl, and even though I don't wear a ton of makeup at one time, I've got a very large selection to choose from every morning.

My absolute fave?
Shade 553 - Au Naturel.

Closely followed by Pink Sand (538).

Seriously, I discovered this stuff about 3 years ago, and figured that at $1.99 (at CVS, Target sells it for $1.79 - sometimes 2 for $3!) I could give it a shot and if I hated it no big deal.

This product has been my best makeup find ever! Unlike most "cheap" brands, N.Y.C. Liquid Lip Shine is the perfect texture and color, and most importantly, is never sticky or gunky.

I have turned many friends onto this awesome stuff, even those who only buy top of the line brands.

I have them stashed everywhere and am even starting to branch out and try new colors!

But I digress.

We ran into a friend at Target today, and while we were chatting, I kept getting distracted by the vision of a jet black rectangle with pale hands holding a delicious-looking perfect red apple.

Any clue where I'm going with this?

I've seen so much hype about this book over the last few months that my curiosity has been piqued.

People rave about it.

I've read and heard that no matter what you normally read, you will love this book.

As in devour it, unable to put it down once you've opened it.

Other than that, I don't know much about it - other than that it's about vampires (something I'm not interested in at all) and love, and that it is soon to be released as a major motion picture.

But alas, everywhere I go, I see this enticing book cover.

And today, that striking display kept taunting me as I tried to concentrate on my conversation with my friend.

Next thing I knew, I was searching for copywright dates to ensure that Twilight was in fact the first of the 4 Stephanie Meyer books so lusciously arrayed on the shelf.

You know, just to be sure that if I were to buy it, I'd be reading the series in the correct order.

I don't buy books.

I'm a library girl.

Love to read, and if it's free, it's for me.

I keep a list of things I want to read and just put them on reserve.

But I knew I'd be on the reserve list for the next 20 years (ok, technically, only one year, since they cancel the reserve after that, just sayin').

Before I knew it, into the cart it was tossed.

What's another $8.97 at Target?

I am super excited to sink my teeth into this one (bad pun intended) and hope it lives up to all the things I've heard.

I'm also super excited about the fact that the entire concept of the book and series is a mystery to me, so if you've read it and want to comment (and of course you know I do love comments!), please don't tell me anything about it (other than that I will absolutely love it, if that's your opinion).

If I'm not blogging, I'll be chomping on that delicious red apple.

The thing I swore I'd never buy.

I have nephews.

3 of them - 16, 12, and 8.

They are on DH's side of the family, and I love them dearly.

Every year when it comes to holidays and birthdays, I ask if there's something special they might like.

When the boys were younger, my sister in law would almost always tell me they wanted those Kidz Bop CDs.

I researched what they were on line, even listened to a sample or two.

And I refused to buy them.

10 year olds singing Top 40 hits?

It's weird.

And just plain silly.

It sounded ridiculous.

Was the music even appropriate for their young ears?

Since there was always something else they wanted, I'd politely choose something else and everyone was happy.

Then I became a mom.

For the last 3 years and (almost) 8 months, I've listened to kids' music.

Slowly, the 6 CD changer in my car has been taken over by music from Elmo Live, The Backyardigans, Gymboree, Music Together, Sesame Street, and more - you get the picture.

And slowly over the past year, we've started listening to Mommy and Daddy music in the car once in a while.

Just for a change of pace.

It's usually a big hit.

MH, being so into music, has developed a major love for The Boss.

She loves to sing the bah-dee-ah song (known to the rest of the world as Earth Wind & Fire's September).

And we can not forget her newest found love - Dee-onis Lewis.

Yep, Leona Lewis. My girl belts out Bleeding Love like nothing you've ever heard.

She sings it to family, friends, and herself, and even managed to realize on her own that the latest Leona song on the radio is in fact Leona.

Smart girl.

Back to my story.

In this house, we have major love for Dora. I DVR almost every episode and she asks for them by specific name.

Inevitably, a few commercials get captured in these recordings.

One morning a few weeks ago, I got out of the shower to hear my munchkin singing little snippets of current songs and wondering how on earth she knew them.

I popped my head out of the bathroom, and there it was - the commercial for Kidz Bop 14.

Clearly she had seen the commercial before (she has amazing auditory memory skills like her mommy, and managed to learn each and every song snippet they show).

And this particular Kidz Bop cd is special. Not only does it contain many songs she's never heard, but it's home to two of her absolute faves - the first, of course being Bleeding Love (she sings the line "my heart's crippled by the vein that I keep on closing" clear as day), and the second being Love Song by Sara Bareilles (according to MH, Uncle Dave's favorite song, as he was at our house one day when we were having an impromptu iPod dance party and he sang every word to her while showing her some rad dance moves).

Listening to her sing along with these little kids is one of the cutest things I've ever seen and heard.

My first thought was that I needed to get her this CD.

Actually, I lie.

My first thought was Oh no! It's one of those weird CDs with the odd little 10 year olds singing Top 40. Seriously, these CDs are still around, let-alone on version 14?

I can't exactly put my finger on it, but there's something that disturbs me about the music.

There's nothing wrong with it, per say.

The songs do not contain inappropriate lyrics.

As I said before, I let MH listen to some of them - we've actually enjoyed some fabulous car singalongs together with them.

But still, it's just odd. Weird. Disconcerting. Like I said, I just can't put my finger on it.

And then DH witnessed the MH reaction to the commercial. And I told him how just the other morning she told me she wanted the CD (and this, my friends, is also new to us - the viewing of a commercial and the "I want that").

And you know what DH said? Awww, we should get it for her. How cute is she?

So, dear readers, today we headed to Target for a couple of things and DH went straight to the music department. And among today's purchases was Kidz Bop 14.

We managed to hide it and I slipped it into the CD player before MH even knew we'd gotten it.

As we hit the road, I told MH we had a surprise for her, and quickly hit track 7. The car immediately filled with what sounded like 20 little munchkins singing "Closed off from love, I didn't need the pain . . ."

I looked back and her little face was incredulous. That I know I've heard this before, but huh?

And I told her. She was now the proud owner of that CD she saw on TV and really wanted.

You'd think I'd know by now, but I'm still always amazed at how such a small gesture on our part makes such a huge impact on them.

The ear to ear grin on her face paired with the dancing (such rhythm!) and perfect (in tune) singing (of every single word) along with those kids was all I needed to remember that there is nothing I won't do to make my little princess happy (when possible, of course).

She was like a kid in a candy store - Mommy, can I hear a different one? Ooh, I LOVE this one! Can we have another one now?

We sampled every song on the CD within 15 minutes. She danced, we all sang, it was one of those fun family moments we all cherish.

DH said (after he sat in the car with her listening for another 10 minutes while I was in CVS having prescriptions refilled) "this one's gonna get old fast".

And the irony is that it's in my car, and I'll likely be the one to listen to it over and over and over.

And you know what? When Kidz Bop 15, 16, and 17 come out, I'll be right there buying them for MH (as long as she likes the songs).

Why?

Because she so clearly loves music. Because watching her dance and sing fills me with joy.

Because when we got home and got out of the car this is what she said to me:

"Thank you so much for getting me dat music nyusic CD. You made me so happy. You and Daddy are my very best friends."

Does this mean I am a parent who will cater to my child's every desire and whim and purchase every item she bats an eyelash at?

Of course not.

But seriously, what she said to me when she got out of the car still hasn't left me.

Could any of you ever argue with that kind of reaction?

I challenge you.