I know Friday is nearly over but we’ve had some serious “stuff” happening around here since late last night and I just don’t feel like blogging when things are in high drama mode. Thankfully it should all be over by tomorrow morning. In the meantime I need to get this post up because Imagination Movers premieres tomorrow at 10/9 central. It’s kind of like America’s version of the Wiggles, but less annoying. :)

Anyway, I got to view an episode of imagination Movers this week and I think it’s going to be a really fun new kids show. Is it cheesy? Yes. Is it silly yes? Is it fun? Yes. Does it educate? Yes. All things that both kids and parents look for in youth television programming. Besides all that that they play some really groovy music. Definitely the kind that will have you up dancing with your kids. So check out the premiere tomorrow and see if it’s worthy of being added to your list of regularly watched kids shows.

So Team Mom recently informed me that Cabbage Patch Kids is celebrating their 25th Anniversary. Cabbage Patch Kids is releasing a new line of original cabbage patch dolls, meaning that each new ‘Kid will be an exact reproduction of an original. They’re being created using the original sculpts/molds and the same materials they used in the classics. And they’ll each still come with their own name and certificate of adoption. Team Mom was awesome enough to send me my very own 25th Anniversary Doll. It’s still in the box waiting for Angel Girl to open it on Christmas morning.

Obviously they timed this release to coincide with holiday shopping but I’m certain this re-release would have been a huge success at any time of year. How many of us don’t love our beloved ‘originals’, be they Cabbage Patch Kids or other toys. Sometimes we hate to see toys evolve. I know I’m excited for Angel girl to have her very own Cabbage Patch doll (and a doll that doesn’t do creepy stuff like blink her eyes and pee and poo and talk) and hopefully she’ll play with it a little more…gently, than I did.

My only memory of my cabbage patch doll is of an atrocious butch cut and her dingy unclothed body (who knows where doll clothes every disappear to) flung about on the floor or outside in the yard. Suffice it to say I was Tom boy. My Barbies, all 3 of them, faced the same fate. But I digress.

Were you old enough to remember the Cabbage Patch craze? I was but 2 so I don’t. Do you think A 25th Anniversary doll will be on your holiday shopping list? They are a limited time release. Are there other classic toys you’re hoping will someday return? I’m voting for Rainbow Brite. If I could get me an original Rainbow Brite Doll, some sprites and a DVD of all original episodes I would be a happy camper.

Yeah, I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I’m not very good at doing laundry. I mean I get it done, I just don’t do anything other than throw it in the washer. See, I keep hoping that the washer by itself will miraculously take the stains out but I’ve finally come to accept that is not to be. So give me your best advice:

* What stain removers do you recommend?
* How long are you suppose to let the item chill out with just the stain remover on it?
* How about on whites? My boys wear white shirts to school and come home with markings and dirt all over them every day.
* Isn’t there some miracle product that will remove old stains or stains that weren’t discovered before the clothes were thrown in the dryer?
* Any other recommendations?

Yoplait kids yogurt not only tastes good, it has 25% less sugar than most children’s yogurt and now has 16mg of Omega-3 DHA in each serving. Something we all know is important for our growing kids. There are also no chunks of fruit in Yoplait Kids Yogurt, something that’s important for younger babies or for texture sensitive tots.

Would you like to try Yoplait kids yogurt FREE? Yoplait is offering up one Travel Fun Pack to one lucky winner. The pack includes: 1 Yoplait Travel sized cooler, 1 educational travel game and one coupon for a free 6 pack of Yoplait Kids Yogurt.

TO ENTER:
1. Leave a comment on this post and tell me what your child’s favorite flavor of yogurt is.
2. Only one comment per person
3. Giveaway ends Monday Sept. 8, 2008 at midnight
4. Giveaway is only open to residents of the United States

GOOD LUCK!!

How long were your labors?

* Count Dooku was 14 hours
* Obi Wan was 19 hours
* Angel Girl was 6 hours (Thank you induction)

How did you know you were in labor?

* With Count Dooku I hadn’t even had a Braxton Hicks so the first time I felt a contraction I knew just what it was and then they kept repeating and getting closer…
* With Obi Wan I had been having strong contractions off and on for weeks. At my doctors visit 3 days after his due date the doctor told me I was 4cm and to go to the hospital
* With Angel Girl I was induced, one stinkin’ day early. I warned them she would be big but would they listen to me?

Where and how did you deliver

All three at the hospital with epidurals. No C-sections thankfully.

* Count Dooku was at the hospital with an epidural that only worked on the left side of my body. He made his grand entrance after 2 1/2 hours of pushing, forceps and a 4th degree tear
* Obi Wan was at the hospital with a failed epidural. One deliriously painful ring of fire and 2nd degree episiotomy later, he was born
* Angel Girl threatened to be a c-section and I had been scheduled for one but when we went in we found she had finally turned. I was pretty sure that’s what they would discover before we went in due to an event a day or two prior. Feeling a baby that big, that far along make the transition into a downward position was one of the most painful things I’d ever felt. When we came back a week later for an induction I was told I was already in labor. But I couldn’t tell.

Birth Stats (I added this one ’cause I always like to know about birth stats)

* Count Dooku was 8lbs. 8oz. and 21 inches long
* Obi Wan was 10lbs. even and 22 inches long
* Angel Girl was 10lbs. 2 oz. and 22 1/2 inches long.

Happy Labor Day!

Annmarie Vanini envisioned a product with 4 important features - easy to clean, easy to store, easy to use, and a quality, space-saving design. I can say that she achieved that. Now my only task is to get the boys to always remember to flip it up when they’re ready to pee. Of course some crazy accidents are unavoidable, but for your typical potty training or day dreaming while peeing episodes, the Flippee takes care of it! You can get your own for $24.95. Visit Flippee to learn more about this great product.

* A Lingering Gift - This is a truly wonderful way to look at a curveball life has thrown you.

* Auctions for Nie Nie - I’m amazed at the support and rallying together that the blogging community seems to encourage. If you’re not sure who Nie Nie is visit C Jane.

* I just finished a design for someone completely new to the blogging world. So if you have a moment, stop by Life with Boys and give her a warm welcome!

GIVEAWAYS

* Win $50 towards a Tuffet! - I just love the creativity of the name.
Deadline to enter - Sept. 3, 2008

* Mommies United Back to School Giveaway Event - The name says it all. Many chances to win!

So real in both appearance and weight…

Thanks goes to Hillary at Ree Writes for enlightening me on this one. Now I shall impart of my newly learned wisdom to all of you who are as clueless as I was. Assuming I wasn’t the only one. I hope. AHEM…

The easiest way to wash your hand wash only bra is to wear it while you’re in the shower!

That’s right, while you lather yourself on up include your bra. Get it nice and soapy, then take it off, rinse it well and hang it over the shower bar while you finish showering and leave it there when you’re done to dry. Tada!

Little Obi Wan starts kindergarten tomorrow. I’m a bit more apprehensive about his going. He told me with tears in his eyes on Monday that he would miss me. Such a sensitive sweetheart I never imagined calling son. He, too, seems reluctant to face the inevitable. Here is where the sorrow of separation becomes more keen as I encourage him to do what I myself do not want him to do. To grow up. To be brave and leave mommy behind each day. It’s amazing how different two children so close in age can be.

It will be so different with my two oldest children gone all day. Certainly there will be more time for many of the things I wish to accomplish, more time to relax, more time to miss my boys and think about why I love them so much. There will also be more time for their little sister left behind who is, herself, growing up far too fast.