Marketing.
You learn about it in business school. You learn how it works, what target markets are, all sorts of things.
And if you've never been to business school, you know it is a part of your daily life, although you may not be involved in the details of it.
I came home from the grocery store today and as I was unpacking the bags, I pulled out a bottle of Oxyclean for Laundry. DJ saw the bottle and said,
"Mommy! That's Oxyclean!"
Incredulous that he even knew that as this is a rather obscure product (as compared to something like Home Depot or Target because he's been there 5 million times), I ask, "How did you know that?"
DJ responded cooly, "The man told me."
Now I'm confused. "What man?"
DJ said, "The man on TV!"
And that, my friends, is the power of marketing.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
T-ball... Part 2
DJ has been playing T-ball 2 weeks now (4 hour-long sessions). The coaches have a ton of patience, and they give individual attention to each child, trying to teach them each the fundamental skill of baseball.
For example, when learning to throw a baseball overhand, they have each child put the knee on the ground on the side that they throw, and throw with that hand. It's not just.... here, throw it. They are trying to really teach the correct form.
He's been working on ground balls and being in the "ready position" (glove on the ground). He's also been working on catching pop-ups, as well.
Games are not traditional; they really can't be considering the level of skill of 4 and 5 year olds. What they do is they line up one team just on the infield line, and then each member of the opposing team bats. Each player runs to the next base, and then the last team player will hit a "homerun" which has that last player run all the bases, not just stop at the first one he reaches. Thus, the bases are cleared, and that team's batting session is over. The kids do try to field the ball and if they know how, throw it to first base. If by some miracle the field player gets the ball to first base before the runner, it doesn't matter as the runner is awarded first base regardless. The goal here is teach the kids how to run the bases (base order matters!), and let the kids field a ball and try to send it to first base appropriately.
Regardless, it's HILARIOUS to watch. The video shows various stages of DJ's playing. The first few segments are from when DJ was practicing (throwing, ground balls, and hitting), and the last segment is from his "game" this past Saturday vs. the Carroll Manor Reds. The Carroll Manor T-ball leagues all play each other. There are 5 teams this year, and DJ is playing for the Carroll Manor Orioles. If you can't see the video, it is here: http://youtu.be/K8jQT7TNp3Q
For example, when learning to throw a baseball overhand, they have each child put the knee on the ground on the side that they throw, and throw with that hand. It's not just.... here, throw it. They are trying to really teach the correct form.
He's been working on ground balls and being in the "ready position" (glove on the ground). He's also been working on catching pop-ups, as well.
Games are not traditional; they really can't be considering the level of skill of 4 and 5 year olds. What they do is they line up one team just on the infield line, and then each member of the opposing team bats. Each player runs to the next base, and then the last team player will hit a "homerun" which has that last player run all the bases, not just stop at the first one he reaches. Thus, the bases are cleared, and that team's batting session is over. The kids do try to field the ball and if they know how, throw it to first base. If by some miracle the field player gets the ball to first base before the runner, it doesn't matter as the runner is awarded first base regardless. The goal here is teach the kids how to run the bases (base order matters!), and let the kids field a ball and try to send it to first base appropriately.
Regardless, it's HILARIOUS to watch. The video shows various stages of DJ's playing. The first few segments are from when DJ was practicing (throwing, ground balls, and hitting), and the last segment is from his "game" this past Saturday vs. the Carroll Manor Reds. The Carroll Manor T-ball leagues all play each other. There are 5 teams this year, and DJ is playing for the Carroll Manor Orioles. If you can't see the video, it is here: http://youtu.be/K8jQT7TNp3Q
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Charleston 2012
This year's Charleston, SC trip was a little later than usual; we went at the end of March instead of the end of February. That meant the weather was definitely shorts weather as it was in the 80s and 90s!! It also meant that the mosquitoes were big enough to eat you through your shirt.... Our second trip to Target included buying the fully chemicaled OFF product. We found over the course of the week that the "natural" bug spray didn't work for squat!! Only the nastiest chemicals could keep those mosquitoes at bay.
Anyway, the trip down, for once, was absolutely uneventful. There was no traffic in the Northern Virginia mixing bowl, so we made excellent time. We left home at 8:45am, and arrived at the rental property by 6:30pm. Since it was still early, the kids could see things on the way in, like the paper factory and the various marshes and bridges. Although making it down in 10 hours was a huge win for us, the biggest win was the fact that we traveled without:
1. diapers
2. a pack-n-play
3. the rooftop car carrier
We also had to make one pit stop at Eleanor's for a particular princess crown that was mistakenly left there the day before...
We arrived, we unpacked, got carryout dinner from Longhorn Steakhouse, and put the kids to bed. Elektra slept in our room on the toddler air mattress (which we put on top of the futon). DJ slept in a twin bed with Leo. The boys did AWESOME together the whole week. Plus, it proved to us a couple things about DJ's sleeping habits.
1. DJ really just wants the company
2. DJ wants to be able to come in and snuggle with us in the morning and/or play with someone's iPad.
This also means that I got to sleep ALL NIGHT without a little boy waking me up at some random hour to climb in. WIN!! But the double bed (wow, what a change from a king...) was kind of uncomfortable, so I didn't sleep that great. But that's ok. When morning came, DJ would wake up around 7:30, go potty, and then come into our room. That's when Elektra, who was awake but just hanging out in her bed, would get up, too, and both kids would crawl into the bed and play with iPads while Steve and I *tried* to get a few more winks. Honestly, it was rather fun snuggling with the pile of kids on the bed.
We did a variety of things but this first day after our arrival, we decided to take the kids to the really nice playground on the Isle of Palms and let them blow off some steam. Damian and Andy went to Target and bought a few balls and an Aerobe to throw around. This is when we discovered the bird-sized mosquitoes....
Elektra learned a new skill while on the playground this year. She learned how to navigate one of the playground apparatuses. In another video, she actually falls off, but I decided to only post the one of her successfully completing the challenge! If you can't see the video, go here: http://youtu.be/YtREXuRalVg
We went to Target afterwards (to get bug spray and sunblock!) and by the time we got home, it was too late to put Elektra down for a nap. This was, apparently, the wrong answer. Elektra fell asleep watching the iPad.
On Monday, we went to the USS Yorktown. This year, the kids went on the flight simulator, and did almost all of the climbing up and down the stairs themselves. We visited the gift shop, too... it's like an annual pilgrimage. :-)
We took a tour of the working and living quarters of the ship and saw a few interesting things, like this sign in the Machine Shop.
Then we went into the galley, and saw a mixer. A big mixer.... nearly 6 feet tall. That could make a lot of dough....
And we had to get a picture on the flight deck of the USS Yorktown. In the background is the Cooper River Bridge.
On Tuesday, we went to the Children's Museum of the Low Country. This is a favorite locale of ours as it has a metric ton to do, and the kids LOVE it. Between the enormous water table, the fully stocked grocery store with working scanner and registers and flower mart, an arts and crafts room, and a room where you can play with physics (with golf balls), the kids play for hours. We also have to bring a full change of clothes for DJ and Elektra who are usually SOAKED after playing in the water table.
On Wednesday, we went to the South Carolina Aquarium. The bald eagle is an amazing attraction, but so is the albino alligator. This year, Mr. Alligator was absolutely as still as a statue. The kids didn't think he was real.
We got to watch the otters play in the water, and like last year we had the awesome luck to arrive at feeding time for the water fowl (pelicans, great blue heron, etc) , horseshoe crabs, and stingrays. If you can't see the video, click this link: http://youtu.be/VQdZtTFtjR4
Here is a closeup of the Great Blue Heron the Aquarium staff was feeding in the above video.
Then Elektra and DJ fed the stingrays. Link is here: http://youtu.be/pNXbmYELuiA
Anyway, the trip down, for once, was absolutely uneventful. There was no traffic in the Northern Virginia mixing bowl, so we made excellent time. We left home at 8:45am, and arrived at the rental property by 6:30pm. Since it was still early, the kids could see things on the way in, like the paper factory and the various marshes and bridges. Although making it down in 10 hours was a huge win for us, the biggest win was the fact that we traveled without:
1. diapers
2. a pack-n-play
3. the rooftop car carrier
We also had to make one pit stop at Eleanor's for a particular princess crown that was mistakenly left there the day before...
 |
| La Princesa Elektra |
We arrived, we unpacked, got carryout dinner from Longhorn Steakhouse, and put the kids to bed. Elektra slept in our room on the toddler air mattress (which we put on top of the futon). DJ slept in a twin bed with Leo. The boys did AWESOME together the whole week. Plus, it proved to us a couple things about DJ's sleeping habits.
1. DJ really just wants the company
2. DJ wants to be able to come in and snuggle with us in the morning and/or play with someone's iPad.
This also means that I got to sleep ALL NIGHT without a little boy waking me up at some random hour to climb in. WIN!! But the double bed (wow, what a change from a king...) was kind of uncomfortable, so I didn't sleep that great. But that's ok. When morning came, DJ would wake up around 7:30, go potty, and then come into our room. That's when Elektra, who was awake but just hanging out in her bed, would get up, too, and both kids would crawl into the bed and play with iPads while Steve and I *tried* to get a few more winks. Honestly, it was rather fun snuggling with the pile of kids on the bed.
We did a variety of things but this first day after our arrival, we decided to take the kids to the really nice playground on the Isle of Palms and let them blow off some steam. Damian and Andy went to Target and bought a few balls and an Aerobe to throw around. This is when we discovered the bird-sized mosquitoes....
 |
| Leo and DJ |
 |
| Leo and DJ |
We went to Target afterwards (to get bug spray and sunblock!) and by the time we got home, it was too late to put Elektra down for a nap. This was, apparently, the wrong answer. Elektra fell asleep watching the iPad.
 |
| Elektra fell asleep watching iPad... |
On Monday, we went to the USS Yorktown. This year, the kids went on the flight simulator, and did almost all of the climbing up and down the stairs themselves. We visited the gift shop, too... it's like an annual pilgrimage. :-)
 |
| DJ with his new planes from the USS Yorktown giftshop |
 |
| DJ in the cockpit of a plan |
We took a tour of the working and living quarters of the ship and saw a few interesting things, like this sign in the Machine Shop.
 |
| This was on the tour of the USS Yorktown. |
 |
| Another attachment for the mixer in the galley. |
 |
| The spatula part of the mixer in the galley. |
 |
| The Mixer.... in the galley. |
And we had to get a picture on the flight deck of the USS Yorktown. In the background is the Cooper River Bridge.
 |
| Steve, Elektra and DJ on the flight deck of the USS Yorktown |
On Tuesday, we went to the Children's Museum of the Low Country. This is a favorite locale of ours as it has a metric ton to do, and the kids LOVE it. Between the enormous water table, the fully stocked grocery store with working scanner and registers and flower mart, an arts and crafts room, and a room where you can play with physics (with golf balls), the kids play for hours. We also have to bring a full change of clothes for DJ and Elektra who are usually SOAKED after playing in the water table.
 |
| DJ playing with the dam part of the water table. |
 |
| Elektra playing in the water table. |
 |
| Elektra with some flowers from the flower mart in the grocery store |
On Wednesday, we went to the South Carolina Aquarium. The bald eagle is an amazing attraction, but so is the albino alligator. This year, Mr. Alligator was absolutely as still as a statue. The kids didn't think he was real.
 |
| Albino alligator |
We got to watch the otters play in the water, and like last year we had the awesome luck to arrive at feeding time for the water fowl (pelicans, great blue heron, etc) , horseshoe crabs, and stingrays. If you can't see the video, click this link: http://youtu.be/VQdZtTFtjR4
Here is a closeup of the Great Blue Heron the Aquarium staff was feeding in the above video.
 |
| The Great Blue Heron |
Some more pictures of the kids at the SC Aquarium.
Also on Wednesday, Damian and I decided to go run the Cooper River Bridge. The bridge itself is a 6 lane bridge that also has a dedicated bike and walking path. According to my GPS running app on my phone, it is a 1.1 mile uphill one direction, and a 1.6 mile uphill the opposite direction. Needless to say, those of us who are not in shape anymore had some pretty upset calves after the 1.1 mile one way uphill start!! But it was well worth it, and I look forward to running it again next year.
That night, we also went to a Japanese Steak House for dinner. The kids got a huge kick out of watching the hibachi chefs fire up their grills across the restaurant. However, when it came time for our grill to be lit, they had no idea what they were in for.... the grill was lit, a HUGE ball of flame (and subsequently, heat) erupted from the grill, and the kids screamed in terror. Elektra waaaaaaaaaailed, screamed to go back to the car, and eventually compromised by being willing to sit in Daddy's lap. The hibachi chef made our dinner to perfection, cleaned his hibachi, and left while we finished our meals. Elektra then said, "That was fun!" It was all we could do to not laugh. Steve and I made sure to tell the hibachi chef before we left.
On Thursday, we went to the playground again, and then we went 10-pin bowling. Usually, this would be just a footnote in the week's events, except DJ wanted to 10-pin bowl, too. So we got him his own lane, his own shoes, put up the bumpers, and found him a 7 pound ball.
He played full 2 games, and he nearly beat my score both games he played. The guys never would have let me hear the end of it if my nearly 5 year old had beaten my score!! My score is on the left screen, at the bottom (84). DJ's score is on the right (81).
But he was so excited to play, and had such a good time! If you can't see the video, here is the link: http://youtu.be/PvoezsFebMg.
On Friday, we went to play mini golf and go karting. DJ and Elektra seemed to have fun mini golfing, though they didn't quite get the hang of it entirely. Elektra LOVED go karting, and DJ could take it or leave it. I guess we know who is going to be the autocrosser of the family...
Once again, we got home too late to take naps. I, clearly, learned nothing a few days previously.
Saturday, March 24, was DJ's 5th birthday and unfortunately for him, he got to spend it in the car as we drove home. Again, we made it home in record time due to no traffic in the mixing bowl. It was a really nice time, and it was awesome that we got to spend quality time with Andy, Damian, Jenn, and Leo!
 |
| DJ! |
 |
| Elektra with schools of fish! |
Also on Wednesday, Damian and I decided to go run the Cooper River Bridge. The bridge itself is a 6 lane bridge that also has a dedicated bike and walking path. According to my GPS running app on my phone, it is a 1.1 mile uphill one direction, and a 1.6 mile uphill the opposite direction. Needless to say, those of us who are not in shape anymore had some pretty upset calves after the 1.1 mile one way uphill start!! But it was well worth it, and I look forward to running it again next year.
That night, we also went to a Japanese Steak House for dinner. The kids got a huge kick out of watching the hibachi chefs fire up their grills across the restaurant. However, when it came time for our grill to be lit, they had no idea what they were in for.... the grill was lit, a HUGE ball of flame (and subsequently, heat) erupted from the grill, and the kids screamed in terror. Elektra waaaaaaaaaailed, screamed to go back to the car, and eventually compromised by being willing to sit in Daddy's lap. The hibachi chef made our dinner to perfection, cleaned his hibachi, and left while we finished our meals. Elektra then said, "That was fun!" It was all we could do to not laugh. Steve and I made sure to tell the hibachi chef before we left.
On Thursday, we went to the playground again, and then we went 10-pin bowling. Usually, this would be just a footnote in the week's events, except DJ wanted to 10-pin bowl, too. So we got him his own lane, his own shoes, put up the bumpers, and found him a 7 pound ball.
He played full 2 games, and he nearly beat my score both games he played. The guys never would have let me hear the end of it if my nearly 5 year old had beaten my score!! My score is on the left screen, at the bottom (84). DJ's score is on the right (81).
But he was so excited to play, and had such a good time! If you can't see the video, here is the link: http://youtu.be/PvoezsFebMg.
On Friday, we went to play mini golf and go karting. DJ and Elektra seemed to have fun mini golfing, though they didn't quite get the hang of it entirely. Elektra LOVED go karting, and DJ could take it or leave it. I guess we know who is going to be the autocrosser of the family...
Once again, we got home too late to take naps. I, clearly, learned nothing a few days previously.
 |
| Elektra... DONE. |
Saturday, March 24, was DJ's 5th birthday and unfortunately for him, he got to spend it in the car as we drove home. Again, we made it home in record time due to no traffic in the mixing bowl. It was a really nice time, and it was awesome that we got to spend quality time with Andy, Damian, Jenn, and Leo!
First day of T-Ball
DJ seems to have a knack for crushing a wiffle ball off of the tee in Sonny and Eleanor's back yard. Therefore, we registered DJ to play T-Ball with the local recreation team. He is a part of the Carroll Manor Orioles, and his first practice was on April 12.
He seemed to have a good time. The coach is great, and they didn't spend long doing any one thing. They ran the bases, hit the ball off of the tee, played catch, and learned how to throw. DJ tried hitting left handed, and he was a little awkward. So we told the coach to try righty next time and see how he does, even though he does everything else with his left hand.....
He was a little wigged out at first but once he calmed down, he started to get interested. Sort of. More times than not, it was more fun to play with the dirt on the infield than to pay attention. It's just too hard to resist kicking the dirt with one's cleats. We are not surprised.
Basement silliness
The day we got the basement carpeted, the kids ran and ran and ran in circles for at least 20 minutes. Then they got the bright idea to get their bouncy balls!
If you can't see the video, click here: http://youtu.be/8GXQcZ-Mb-w. Enjoy!
If you can't see the video, click here: http://youtu.be/8GXQcZ-Mb-w. Enjoy!
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