Harry Houdini would be proud

Occasionally (like, um, every time Monkey has a birthday) my wonderful brother and even more wonderful sister in law send us interesting presents.

And yes, I give them shit about this in person, so I can write about it here.

Last year? Last year was a xylophone. My ears still ring, but MAN does Monkey love that thing. My neighbors hate it. When N & G sent that present last year I called them up to yell at them for sending such a noisy (fun!) toy. For revenge I threatened to send them drums when their little one, HP, turned one. That made my brother laugh....since she already had a set of bongo drums! Can you tell who lives in a house in the wide open spaces of Colorado, and who has neighbors on all sides??

This year, they sent a variety of cool stuff, but I'd like to highlight two things.

The first is the tambourine. This isn't some crummy kids tambourine, that Monkey will destroy in a few short months. Oh no! Uncle N went to a professional store and bought a REAL tambourine. Damn it, Monkey will be able to use this thing until she turns 90. (My neighbors still hate me.)

The second thing I'd like to highlight is a neat puzzle board by the Melissa & Doug toy brand. This thing has a variety of doors, fixed with a variety of latches and locks, and you need to unfasten the latch/lock to see what animal is hiding behind the door. Monkey loves it. We have named it the Harry Houdini guide to defeating baby proofing and escaping the apartment. Need I say more?

Gifts redux

My brother is responsible for (ok, half responsible, his wife G had *cough* something to do with her, too!) producing one of the most adorable babies on earth, HP. And yes, I am biased. (and for all my other beloved babies? back off, I said "one"!!!...)

Her first birthday is fast approaching, and I have been ruminating on what to send her. After all, I (along with Aunt B) share the preferred status of favorite Auntie. We are allowed to spoil HP with abandon, AND teach her drinking games. Grandparents only get to do the first thing. (um, kidding, kind of....)

I was thinking about the gift my brother and G sent to Monkey for her first birthday. It is a xylophone shaped like a crocodile. When you pull it around its eyes goggle up and down.....and boy, can Monkey bang out a mean tune on that thing! (add in the keyboard from Grandma and all we need is someone on guitar to form our own band - yeehaw!).

I was thinking that this gift, this noisy, noisy and did I mention noisy? gift, deserved an equally loud gift in return. You know, to torture my brother and G. (and this is where you think, a ha! this says more about me than HP.....)

Only, the problem is, they already gave her a bongo! And apparently cymbals are next! Plus they have at least one guitar around the house....crap, they LIKE noise! They welcome it!

So how in the world am I supposed to torture my brother and sister in law? Send books?

Pfft. Guess I'll have to jettison my elaborate fantasies of aural revenge, and just sent something HP would like. Where is the fun in that?

....a dish best served cold

I spoke with 'Andpa** the other night. I told him about Monkey dancing to country music, and how this music made my ears bleed and the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

And what did he do? He laughed. Hard. And said something about how I deserved this.....

I'm guessing he waited 30+ years to be able to laugh at me for this one. Thanks, dad. Um, want to tell me what else I'm in for???? Puh-leeeeze??????

** P.S. 'Andpa is my dad, Monkey's grandpa....and that moniker is due to the "g" and the "r" falling off of a tshirt someone from his work made him....GPMM&B might be full of smart lawyers, but they aren't the best at iron-on letters! heh.