September 11, 2007 by Barbara.

When we first got our new car, Reid was mostly positive although she did miss “her” purple car some, too. I loved the Caliber from the beginning, as I’ve said. We haven’t talked much about the car lately. Grandma Joyce and Aunt Pam are here for a visit and they hadn’t seen the car yet. Reid took Grandma Joyce for a tour of the car. She proudly showed off each of the tail lights, the gas tank door (it’s a circle), the mirrors and the headlights. Reid pointed out the daddy sheep - it’s built Ram tough. She also told Grandma that there was an engine inside but Reid couldn’t open the hood to show it. I don’t think Ken and I have shown the car to that many people since it’s been a pretty quiet summer on the visitors front but she knows to point out her favourite features.

I discovered a little storage compartment in the hatch yesterday when I was loading groceries. There’s a door built in to the right side wall just behind the wheel well. This must be the first time in the 2 months since we’ve had it that I haven’t put the groceries on top of the stroller that I never seem to take out. In our Cirrus, we had a little bin with our emergency candle, “tinfoil” blanket and a couple other things that rolled around in the trunk. It was nice to find another thing to like about this car since we’ll be paying for it for another 43 months. My only complaint so far is that something weird happens when we drive with the windows open that sets up a bass sound that makes me naseous. Since it’s resolved by closing the windows, I’m okay with it. Reid would disagree but she’ll get over it.

And to think that Chrysler doesn’t pay me anything to say nice things about my car …

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September 11, 2007 by Barbara.

Ohmigoodness! I don’t know what we’ll need to do to top Reid seeing Toopy and Binoo live. (Toopy and Binoo are part of the Treehouse tv line up.) She found the whole thing absolutely mesmerizing.

We went to Eddie’s for breakfast and then to the Byward Market in search of a winter hat for Reid and some Russet apples for Ken. The market stall where the hats were supposed to be still had summer dresses at it. The lady who Aunt Pam spoke with about the apples told her she was rushing fall. Reid would have said that we weren’t rushing nearly fast enough. She knew that we were going to see Toopy and Binoo next and wanted to get to that part of the day.

We got to the St Laurent Centre about 9:40. The mall doesn’t open until 11:00 on Sunday and it was pretty much deserted. Still, we weren’t the first to arrive. There was a blanket on the floor right next to the barrier. We laid our blanket just behind the first one. I didn’t want us to end up with cricks in our necks, or worse, an obstructed view from being too close. We whiled away the time taking turns using the bathroom, watching Barney on one of the televisions on the stage. Once the Playdoh activity area was open - they were sponsoring the tour along with Hasbro and Canadian Family magazine - Reid and I spent some time playing before taking the Playdoh back to the blanket. I have to remark on how smooth and almost silky the Playdoh was. At home, Reid and I either make the dough or I buy it the Dollar Store. The new, real-deal Playdoh is the stuff of my childhood.

At long last, with a full crowd of excited children assembled in front of the stage, the emcee came out and told us that Toopy and Binoo would be coming in just minutes. The air was electric. When Toopy and Binoo climbed onto the stage, Reid stood up without a conscious thought, hands clasped in a clap in front of her chest. After a few minutes of entranced staring, I brought Reid onto my lap. Her gaze didn’t waver at all. Throughout the performance, Reid followed whatever suggestion that Toopy made (Binoo doesn’t speak) wiggling for the dances, holding her arm out as a trunk when prompted, that sort of thing.

Aunt Pam, Reid and I sat on a blanket on the floor. Grandma Joyce’s old bones couldn’t manage the marble floor and so she stood on the balcony of the second floor, above and behind the stage. Afterwards, Grandma Joyce said that she thought she’d had the best view of anyone since she’d been able to see Reid’s reactions. I’d only been able to see the rapture on her face from the side. I *was* able to feel the intensity of her focus. I can’t be sure if I’m glad to have shared her first obsession or worried that she could be so totally enthralled.

Edited to add: Her Bad Mother, over at Mama Said Check This Out, just received some Farzle dvds and is giving them out for posts about What’s on Your Tube.

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