October 18, 2007 by Barbara.

The Canadian Toy Testing Council has collected the opinions of its toy testing families and issued recommendations for toys and books to watch out for. Most parenting magazines seem to be featuring this sort of story this month but you can get information directly from the Canadian Toy Testing Council site. I find the lists of “great books” as well as “other recommended books” that they recommend to particularly useful. The lists give the sort of summary that I need to decide if the book would suit the person for whom I’m shopping.

You may want to join to become a member of the Canadian Toy Testing Council, your membership fee supports the work of the CTTC and helps them stay impartial. If you are in Ottawa-Gatineau, you can apply to be a toy testing family and, of course, you can get into the toy sale early. You can support the CTTC even if you aren’t in Ottawa-Gatineau. There is a separate form for you. Look for the “Joining the CTTC” link in the left menu. (I hate framed sites but it’s a good organization nonetheless.)

But wait, there’s more. If you live in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, you can buy the tested toys at good discounts. The sale will be held this Saturday (20 October) at: 1973 Baseline Road. Members get to shop from 9:00-10:00 and the general public goes in at 10:15. There will be a line up before each start time. Bring your own bags but leave the kids at home. It can get a bit rowdy as everyone rushes for the great toys at great prices. Check the price cards - they show a rating out of 3 stars and often a comment. There is no sense buying a dud.

Edited to add the day and date. Oops.

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October 18, 2007 by Barbara.

Reid and I went to gymnastics Tuesday night and got home at 6:45. While Reid had eaten some cheese, pepper slices and an apple, she was still claiming to be hungry when we got home. She has a cold, though, and was a bit grouchy. I can totally understand being out of sorts because of a stuffy nose.

Ken had supper pretty much ready when we walked in the door, which was awfully nice. I wouldn’t want him to have to miss gymnastics all the time, though. Reid started to wail when she saw that I had set her a pasta bowl with *yellow* flowers. How could I do this to her? Didn’t I know that she wanted the one with purple flowers that she’d used Monday night? My psychic powers are rather weak, I admit, and I hadn’t realized. While I was washing the bowl that she wanted and Ken served us some of the Thai turkey and vegetables. Reid stated flatly that she didn’t like stir fry. Ken said, “Tonight, I don’t think you would like curry.”

It was like a clap of thunder out of the blue. We both knew instantly that the former was a statement that was better left unsaid. Way, way, waaay better left unsaid. Of course, Reid then declared her love and desire for curry. Sigh. Poor Ken. He made us a lovely supper, had it ready when we walked in the door and then that.

Edited to add: Ken told me that he knew what he was doing when he mentioned curry, he just wondered what the reaction was. Oh, he was experimenting. With our daughter. When she was tired.

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