Elmo Toy

A first child's second birthday is more planned out than a second child's first birthday.  The third child is lucky to get a cake at all.  Our son's second birthday was the last time we did a huge production.  The next year began the era of shared birthday's and ended the reign of themed decorations and streamers.

Anytime that you throw a Themed Birthday Party you can guarantee that most of the presents your child receives will be theme-related.  See all those Elmo dolls above?  Little man hasn't even opened any presents yet and already I see four future yard sale items.  Many of the presents he opened that day have been broken or "lost".  But, there is one that the kids still enjoy playing with.

I'd like to think Elmo dies a slow, painful death by freezing.

This little tin has three different sections that you can turn to customize your Elmo.  We've had this toy four years...and we just discovered that it opens.   Actually, the baby discovered it opens.  As she was playing with it on the floor yesterday, I noticed her trying to rip off the lid.  I, being in superior intelligence to the baby, told her the lid doesn't come off.  Then I saw it give a little.  But what could be inside?

Could it be money? Please tell me it's money! Grandparents love hiding money in toys

Sadly, it wasn't money.  But, it was something almost as satisfying.

COOKIES!!!

Yes, delicious, four-year old, aged cookies.  Now, most parents would probably throw those cookies away.  But the Parenting Dad, knows the importance of cookies.  I don't like waiting around for cookies and these cookies have been waiting around on me for a good four years.  I owe it to them, to eat them.

Out of curiosity, I thought it'd be interesting to see what the expiration date was on this newly discovered tasty treat.

March 1st of 2009 you say?  We'll see about that.  My wife and I often disagree on the dates printed on groceries.  She tends to throw milk away 2-3 days before the USE BY date.  Personally, I treat milk the same way I treat underwear found on the floor.  If it smells okay, it's probably good for a few more days.

Besides, those dates are just the suggested use by dates.  Often, these dates are set up using government regulations.  The government suggests all kinds of things I don't agree with.  Things like, you can't drive a car if your BAC is .08, or the two-party system.  So did I eat it?

Of course I did; they're cookies.  Did they taste horrible?

Of course they did.  Read the label.

How could you endorse such a product Cookie Monster?

Today's parenting advice...avoid any foods with the word 'organic' on the packaging.