WILL SANTA BRING TOYS FROM CHINA?

What about toys made in China? Lead in the paint, small magnets that babies might choke on...
Do you plan to buy/give them for Christmas? Are there any that aren't made in China these days? Let us know if you have any good ideas...

Here's a list of American-made toys:

http://americanmadetoys.googlepages.com/

IF YOU COULD SPLURGE...

If you could splurge on something for your wardrobe this fall, what would it be?

MIGRAINES...

Does anyone suffer from migraines? If so, what seems to trigger them...foods, smells, noise, etc.? How often do you have one? Do you get an aura with them? Do they run in your family? Do you take prescriptions meds for them?

GET TO THE FREAKING HOSPITAL...

Did you hear about the woman who gave birth in the family’s new Ford Expedition because her husband stopped to make coffee? I need my morning caffeine but, geez…
I have lots of questions.
He said he wanted to make sure the other eight kids got on the school bus. WHAT? Eight kids? They range in age from 16 down to 18 months. Couldn’t the 16-year-old get them on the bus? How do you provide for nine children?
The wife’s water broke so she told him they had to go. They put all the kids in the Expedition. How do you fit 10 people in an Expedition?
They named the baby Carlee…after the car. You’d think they’d have one picked out but then again, maybe after eight kids they were just out of names.
I hope they have leather seats.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070927/ap_on_fe_st/odd_suv_birth

Then there’s the five-year-old boy who helped his mom deliver his little sister. She said that she woke in the middle of the night and couldn’t help pushing. She laid a towel on the bathroom floor and the screams woke the other three children. John John, the five-year-old, said it was “nasty.” I’m sure he was traumatized. He brought her a shoelace for the umbilical cord and a blanket.

http://cbs13.com/topstories/local_story_229091736.html

MAN, THAT'S A LOT...

In preparation for the grandson’s fourth birthday, I took him to the store Saturday to choose his party decorations. The party aisle was packed but we managed to make our selections and he managed to tell plenty of people his new age.

We got in line and he patiently waited and made small talk. “How old are you, Meme?” I explained that I’d be 45 on my next birthday.

Shocked, he not so quietly said “45!” People began to snicker. Still in disbelief, he asked, “Well, when will you be 11?” More snickering.

I told him that I was already more than 11. He thought more and said, “Well, how old are you now? I told him that I was 44 until my next birthday.

“Man, that’s a lot,” he said.

LET'S TALK ABOUT CHRISTMAS...

I know. Halloween isn’t even here yet, much less Thanksgiving, and here I am talking about Christmas.

We’re already planning our holiday stories and one that I really want to do is about traditions. I would love to know what your family’s traditions were growing up. Did you continue them when you married or did you start new ones? Do you have a tree-trimming party? Do you have a favorite family recipe that the holidays just wouldn’t be the same without? Tell us what it is.

Several years ago I had rotator cuff and carpal tunnel surgery scheduled right before Thanksgiving. I knew I had to get my Christmas tree up before the surgery or I wouldn’t have one. I really enjoyed having it up for a longer period of time.

Working in the newspaper business, it gets pretty hectic around the holidays because of all the early deadlines. It leaves little time for shopping or baking. This year I’ve decided that I’m going to have all my shopping done by Thanksgiving. I’ll use the time between Turkey Day and Christmas for baking and enjoying my family.

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? When do you plan to?

PETS IN COSTUME

We know everyone takes the little ones out on Halloween but you can't leave Fido behind! Dress them up and take them too. If your pet has a costume, we'd love to see them. Click on Pets Rock at the bottom right of the main page to enter. They also might win Pet of the Week and appear in our community newspapers.