Bentomania!

What is this? IT IS BENTO! This here photo is from ss-biggie, who rocks the Bento like nobody's bidness! I have been reading a lot about the Japanese art of Bento. Huh? What IS it? Here is a good description from the website Cookingcute.com:

"Bento, or o-bento, refers to a packaged, single-portion, portable meal that is usually eaten at lunch, but also comes in larger sizes meant for use at picnics, dinner, and parties. A bento generally consists of rice or noodles and some form of protein (e.g., meat, poultry, fish, tofu) accompanied by side dishes of raw, simmered, or pickled vegetables. There are many different types of bento boxes, ranging from traditional handcrafted wooden lacquerware to disposable containers .... Most bento boxes have compartments or internal dividers for separate dishes.

Bento is an art form in Japan. Japanese women spend a good part of their mornings preparing bento for their families – there is even a sense of competition among mothers to see who can produce the most cute, appetizing, and healthy lunch for their children. Modern Japanese culture virtually revolves around compact cuteness. The variety of designer bento boxes, food liners, wiener and cookie cutters, egg molds, food picks, and other bento-ware used to create these mini-masterpieces is amazing and overwhelming..."

Looky here! ss-biggie has some really amazing bento photos of lunches for toddlers. Wow.

I've been really into the idea of Bento - I enjoy making C6's plates healthy, pretty and colorful, with lots of fresh fruits and veggies. But I haven't gotten around to getting a bento box or any of the other supplies yet. Until now! I just ordered some stuff - a Bento box for C6, some teeny tiny little containers and divider cups, and even a mold to shape hard boiled eggs into little bears and bunnies. Molding a boiled egg, hm. Now that's just plain crazy. It really is. I am remined of a Christmas gift I got my mum back in the '70s - The Egg Cuber!

Maybe a bit crazy, yes...but it's all so dang cute!

The Upside Down Show

If you've been reading all along, you know what a nut I am for The Upside Down Show. And you know that there's a big chance there won't be another season of the show.

I got an email from Deb, the moderator of the Umbilical Brothers messageboard - she wrote:
"...We wanted to let you know that forum users have started a write-in campaign to the cable network(s) to let them know how much we love the Upside Down Show and that a second season would be great. If you could take a moment, I've listed below how you could help out in the process. It's quick, it's easy and your feedback counts! (Here is the link to the posting in the Umbilical Brothers' forum.)

The emails don't have to be lengthy, just let them know how you and your kids feel about the Upside Down Show and you want them to make another season of the show. It really can make a difference! Feedback matters. So let's tell the network how we feel and what we want."

So please! Save "The Upside Down Show"!

If You Knew Sushi Like I Know Sushi...

Yesterday C6 tried a little sushi. We've been reading through "First Book Of Sushi" by Amy Wilson Sanger and he was curious about it. Plus, he totally wanted to break out his chopsticks! He liked a little bit of the Calfornia roll and the pickled ginger. He really likes sour things, like pickles and lemons. I'm hoping that his interest in trying new foods will continue. I think we'll try Indian food next!

Hey! It's Cupcake Guy!

That IS cupcake guy! Hurrah!

C6 and I saw him in a magazine and decided to make him. He was DELICIOUS. We also made some of those cupcakes in icecream cones that look like a scoop of ice cream in a cone, with sprinkles on top. And we made some yummy valentines cupcakes, too. I've never made so many cupcakes in my life as I have in the past few months. But we're not cupcaked out yet!

C6's latest dance rave number...

We heard "Da Da Da" by Trio yesterday on the radio and C6 totally dug it - man, the dances he comes up with! Da Da Da!

Speaking of German-ish things, one of C6's imaginary friends is named Dieter. Teutonic!

C6's First Concert!

Yesterday, C6 and I, along with our friends Jen, Arlo, Rachel, and Vivian, went to see Dan Zanes and Friends in concert at the Somerville Theatre. (That is C6 in the lower left corner in the photo above.) It was so fun! C6 really enjoyed the music and dancing around.

Before the show, we even got to meet Dan himself! (Thanks, Jen!) He was very friendly and sweet. We also met Colin and Barbara, who were equally as wonderful. C6 had just woken up from a nap a few minutes before and was kind of unsure of the whole meeting-the-band thing, but he managed to pose for a photo without goin' off. I was HAPPY to be there! See?

C6 sat down a LITTLE BIT but mostly he was up dancing in front of the stage, exploring the aisles, checking out the lobby, visiting the restroom and...riding the elevator. Yes, there was an elevator there, and sure enough, C6 found it within 30 seconds of entering the building. And once he knew there was an elevator in such close proximity, it was difficult to keep him away from it – but the magic of Dan Zanes and Friends reeled him in. The show was fanTAStic - Dan is really quite a showman! So much fun. And the band is ridiculously talented. I miss the players that are not in the band anymore, but the new crew does not disappoint in any way. The dude was totally rockin' the accordian! We are looking forward to seeing the band again.



C6 got his first concert merch - he is proudly sporting his Dan Zanes and Friends concert shirt today. Tis what one does, innit?

Starbaby ba na na perishote sherbet

C6 and I like to make smoothies from bananas, frozen strawberries and orange juice. So easy - just chuck it all in a blender and blend the hell out of it. Hint: when we don't get around to using up all our bananas before they get all BROWN, we just peel'em and stick'em in a ziplock and toss'em in the freezer. When you use the frozen bananas in a smoothie it makes it x-tra thick! You can make it thick enough to put in a bowl and eat with a spoon - YUM! THEN - if you are hardcore, as we are, you'll pour the smoooovie into a container and freeze it. THEN, scoop it up with an icecream scooper after it has frozen, and you have smoothie sorbet. But we call it strawberry banana periscope sherbet in our house. (C6's pronunciation is starbaby ba na na perishote sherbet. He is obsessed with that periscope/speaker thingie on Teletubbies). And I know it is not really sherbet. Shut up.

Lately, C6 has taken to eating his strawberry banana periscope sherbet with "training" chopsticks - they are connected at one end, with a little fish at the top. Know what they're called? Fishsticks!

Blinded me with SCIENCE.

So C6 and I headed off on an adventure Monday morning - we set off to the pissakeen Museum Of Science! I made sure we had an early start, but not TOO early, so we didn't hit rush hour traffic. It was great timing - we got there around 9:30, no traffic, no crowds. Hurrah! YAAAAAAY!!!!!!

First off, we visited the Butterfly Garden - it was smaller than I expected. Essentially, it is a room with butterflies flyin' all 'roun', with flora & fauna....quite nice. It was really hot in there! We saw BIG FAT GREEN CATERPILLARS!!!!! WOOOOO! C6 and I marveled at this huge butterfly that was big as a bird. That thing was HEFTY.

We both really dug the musical staircase - we spent a lot of time just going up and down, making a little tune.

We spent some time in the kids' "discovery zone' (i think that is what they called it) - an area for infants and toddlers. We got a kick out of the water table area, the xylophoney thing, and the giant lite-brite. Oh, and C6 especially liked the hand drying machines at the water area. Couldn't get enough of those.

We enjoyed some ICE CREAM OF THE FUTURE! It is called "Dippin' Dots" by Ben & Jerry. You may have had it before - it is little pellets of "ice cream" served in a tiny bowl. Maybe it is ice cream....or maybe it is plastic!? Tasty, tasty plastic.

There was so much to see! I know we'll be going there lots and lots in the upcoming years, so I didn't feel like we had to see EVERYTHING. I have many fond memories of the museum! As a kid, I especially loved the planetarium. Hey! I actually played a rock show IN the planetarium, back in The Day. I look forward to bringing C6 to the planetarium show eventually - I suspect he'll enjoy it as well.

But with all the wicked kewl stuff we saw at the museum, C6's favorite part? The elevators!

Pancake Mountain!

C6 has been asking to watch our DVD of Pancake Mountain - he really likes the puppet named "Rufus Leaking". (Escpecially the part where Rufus gets his nose caught in an elevator door, natch.) My favorite part on the DVD we got is when Ted Leo starts to sing "The Wheels on the Bus", while playing an acoustic guitar to a group of kids. The kids hate it and want him to rock out. So Ted Leo, along with The Pharmacists, bursts into full band rockness. Awesome. I am going to have to get the rest of the DVDs!!!! This morning C6 and I were singing along to the theme song (performed by Anti-Flag). This is a great show!!!

Here is a little promo for Pancake Mountain I found on YouTube:



and here is Wayne from The Flaming Lips doing Karaoke with Rufus Leaking:


You can see why we love this show, right?!

Garage rock

Sunday afternoon the doorbell rang. When I answered it, there I found C6 and C5. Music was blasting from the car stereo in the garage. C6 wanted to have a garage dance party! So we did. His favorite tune of late is "Flathead" by the Fratellis - so that was our garage dance party tune. Dig it.



ps: C6 is also really diggin' "the itsy bitsy spider" and "if you're happy and you know it".

Dancy Nancy!

As you know, C6 and I love Jack's Big Music Show on Noggin. Here's a clip of Dancy Nancy, who showed up at Mel's SuperSwell Dance Party (YIPPEEEEE!!!!) She is ALMOST as good a dancer as I am. ALMOST. "Mel, can ya drop a groovalicious beat?" We love her o so much.

Rock-n-romp!

I am hoping to see a Rock-N-Romp start up here in Boston soon. Rock-n-Romp is similar to the Baby Loves Disco thing, where parents and their kids get to listen to music and dance with their kids in a club on a weekend afternoon. But - Rock-n-romp is live bands! Live ROCK bands! They keep the volume down, and make it a little more family-friendly than your average rock show. Doesn't it look fun? So far, there are Rock-N-Romps in Austin, DC, Baltimore, and Memphis! Boston can't be far behind. I'd love to play at one of these things, but I'm afraid trying to organize a Boston Rock-n-romp is beyond me. Any takers?

UPDATE: This may happen sooooon! I shot an email to a person of fabulousness who has a *stellar* reputation in rock booking here in Beantown...and who happens to be a parent as well...and he's already on it. Pissah!

Signed,
The Squeeeeaky Wheel

Captain Bogg and Salty!!!!

You may suspect that someone who calls herself "Scurvyann" might have a thing for pirates. It is true - I dig'em! Here are a band of fine pirates that perform rockin fun pirate music for kiddos - Captain Bogg and Salty! They even mention me (Scurvy) in this song! HAHRHARHA!! The xylophone TOTALLY rocks this tune. I must join this band!!!!


We love this tune! You should see the kitchen dances we do to it...really...y'oughta...(cuz they's awsm.)