McGroovy

If you're at all handy, you can create amazing cardboard sculpture with Mr. McGroovy's Box Rivets. My husband made this pair of robots for Ronan's birthday party. We then let the kids go to town with washable paint and brushes.

If you want to see something truly amazing, check out the castles. Maybe for Bea's third birthday?? He also has advice about where to get boxes for free. 

"One-quarter of George Washington's head"

They Might Be Giants' album for the whole family, No!, is brilliant. My son's favorite song, "Robot Parade," intones, "In a future time, children will work together to build a giant CYBORG," while my pick is the infectious, kitschy PSA "In the Middle," which gives specific instructions on how to cross the street. It's joyously entertaining for all of us.

Ronan beautifully misinterprets another track on this album, "Where Do They Make Balloons?" He sings, "Where do they make a roux?" Yes, he saw Ratatouille this summer!

TMBG have another kids' album, Here Come the ABCs. This one is not in heavy rotation at the moment, although I still myself singing, "Go, go, go go for G" more often than I'd like.

Check out GiantKid to explore TMBG's offerings for kids.

24 Days of Giving (and Receiving!)

Advent calendars represent the best of the holidays to me. The idea of one perfect little morsel every day, whether it's a yummy bite of chocolate or a single piece of a vast Playmobil set, seems like a great way to celebrate the season. I wish I were crafty enough to make this one myself, but that's definitely not the case. Disclaimer: I don't own this and have never seen it in real life.





I'm partial to calendars with pockets, which is one reason I like these elves, but my husband is totally freaked out by them. (Although I'd like to note that they DO have eyes, which is not apparent in this photo.)

These advent calendars are available from Garnet Hill.