Where to Buy Discontinued Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends Engines

I've had quite a few parents email and ask me where they can find retired Thomas the tank Engine toy train engines and cars. One woman was looking for a very special christmas present for her thomas fanatic son and thought he would really enjoy an engine he has already accepted that he will never have. My suggestion is ebay. You may have to fork over a little more than you want, but there are tons of people selling every discontinued train on there - just do a search on the name of the character, or if you check my thomas page you'll find a retired toys section with links.

For the Canadians

Maple Leaf Family Vacation Contest on W and CMT - till October 3rd, enter to win a grand canyon trip. Just be sure to read the fine print ... there's something about a mathematical skill question? ..

Learning Piano in Preschool Boosts Long Term Math Skills

Learning Piano in Preschool Boosts Long Term Math Skills -- while I'm not sure this will cause me to sign my soon-to-be-three year old to piano lessons, it certainly is interesting. It makes me wonder if boys in our society generally do other things at this age (play with cars and trains and build things) that has the same effect ... explaining the apparent gap in male and female math and science skills.

Joe is back to preschool ... woohoo!

Don't get me wrong - I love my son more than anything. However, the constant " come play a Gordon, Momma" whenever I am trying to do the dishes or cook dinner or go to the bathroom or bring the groceries in is starting to wear on me. I really look forward to having my days to myself again. I plan on exercising and cooking dinner and doing the dishes in the morning before I start work so that once I pick Joe up from school, I can spend the rest of the day paying attention to him without worry about my laundry list of needs to be done.

Joe goes to this fantastic Montessori preschool in a nearby town. They have a toddler room, so he first went last April, two weeks after he turned two. he took two months off for the summer but now they're back in session and as a loving as ever. He goes from 8 o'clock to 3:30 every day.