News flash

You can't walk down the toy aisle at Target without noticing the ever increasing number of recall notices. We are on tight budget so ordering expensive European toys is not an option for us (and probably not for many people) but there is this cute family owned toy store in St. Paul that I enjoy shopping at because I can usually find small, unique, and affordable things that normally I'd have to pay to have shipped to my home. After finishing our Saturday chores by 9am we piled into the van for a trip into the city. The kids were in heaven with two different train tables to choose from. I, on the other hand, was overwhelmed by the choices. What in the world do you get for your second-born who just turned one? While I was carefully looking over every toy I noticed a woman that looked awfully familiar. It turns out she's a WCCO news reporter. She asked if the kids would play at the American made train table for a few minutes so they could get some footage for a piece that's airing tonight at 10 on channel 4 about toy safety. I am so glad I dressed Julia in her new overalls from my bargain hunting at Gymboree yesterday. They played very nicely together and Sam even said excuse me to the camera man who was blocking his way around the table. Julia puttered around the table making truck noises with a little car. Ah! That's my kiddos. :)



On the way home we passed Mickey's diner. We couldn't resist the famous (does anyone know why it's famous, cuz I sure don't?) little establishment and enjoyed a tasty lunch of pancakes and burgers.
Those are Sam and Julia's pancakes cooking on the griddle in the upper right picture. yummy!

I'll try to find a link to the WCCO segment to share tomorrow.

Peapods is nice enough to gift wrap, otherwise I'd share pictures of the cute wooden airplane and helicopter we picked out for the kids. I even picked up a stocking stuffer for the other kid in the house (otherwise known as Brian). shhh....he doesn't know I did that.