Saturday, February 28, 2009

Me and My Big Embouchure

Many of our friends and family are considerate enough to ask us what kinds of gifts we would prefer for Liesl and Ava. I usually ask that toys or clothes don't have any kind of characters on them, like Disney Princesses, Dora the Explorer (gag), or Barbie. These companies make enough money without my kids being walking advertisements, and having to pay for the privilege of doing so. I also ask that toys do not require batteries, or make any noise--unless the noise is kid-powered. But in the last 6 months, I have informed people that since we are so immersed in musical education for the kids, musical toys are welcomed...and actually preferred. Or were.

Yeah, I'm an idiot. My dear friend Amy, who is also Liesl's godmother, took me up on my little suggestion, and brought Liesl her birthday gift of bathtub flutes by Alex Toys. These nifty little auditory torture devices toys allow a lot of creativity in the bath--the kids can fill the water to different heights to achieve different pitches. Lots of creativity and learning going on in the bathtub, folks. Lots of Excedrin being popped by the bathers, too.

Their saving grace--and the reason I haven't (yet) brutally murdered my best friend of almost 20 years, however good her intentions--is that they are, indeed, confined to the bathtub. (Did I also mention that Tom is primarily in charge of bathtime, so he has to deal with the brunt of the racket music that comes from these lovely instruments?)

Thanks, Amy. The kids really do love them, as shown below. Remember, though, what I warned you about yesterday: Paybacks are a b*tch.

1 comment:

Amy said...

Hey, in my defense--at least to your loyal readers here, since I've already mentioned this to you--I DID ask you whether you wanted to wait and give Liesl the flutes AT BATH TIME. But noooo, you generously (i.e., foolishly) offered to allow me the fun of watching Liesl open her gift--when I arrived in the morning. So, your Friday morning/afternoon/evening pre-bathtime of Liesl going TOOT TOOT "I really like my flutes!" TOOT TOOT TOOT "I really like my flutes!" TOOOOOOOOOT "Mr. Yak likes to play the flutes, too!" Yeah, that was your own fault. :-) :-)

STILL dreading those paybacks, though. :-)