CPSIA - CPSC Stay of Execution...I mean testing.

I am so excited. I went on the Etsy Forums looking for more information on CPSIA and found out some great news. The CPSC voted and they will not be enforcing the mandatory Testing and certification for CPSIA until next year. We have just been given more time. The handmade items still need to follow the new safety laws, but the third party testing as of right now is not necessary.

Here is a link to ETSY's Storque page with all of the info...

http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/breaking-news-the-cpsia-manditory-testing-certification-has--3347/

I am so excited. Just wanted to share it with you.

CPSIA

playing in the ice

We made a crock pot full of hot chocolate and played in the ice. There is only one thing the ice is good for...sledding. gotta love it!!

Photos from the Storm

Not done yet...we are supposed to get another 1/2 inch to an inch of ice and 1-3 inches of snow by midnight. I will have more pictures later.

Waiting for the Storm

Well, it looks like our weather here in Missouri is going to take a turn for the worst. We are making sure our food supply is up to par...bought batteries for all the flashlights, bought ice melt for the sidewalks, etc. Tomorrow we are going to move our dog house under our deck so the dogs will be covered a little better.

We are supposed to get anywhere from .75 of in inch to an inch of freezing rain. If you have ever experienced freezing rain, you know how terrible it is. It is rain that freezes to everything on contact. Last year our neighbor lost a tree from it. We lost a tree in our backyard from freezing rain. Freezing rain can get so heavy that it snaps trees in half and sags down power lines. We were hoping for snow this time, but I don't think we are going to get that lucky.

Anyway, if we keep our power...I will take pictures and post them. There is one thing about freezing rain...it makes the trees look beautiful.

More on CPSIA

I am trying not to be a nag about this crazy law, but I just read this fantastic article on Forbes. I just felt the need to share it. It explains the law and how it will impact us.

http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

Please be aware that this will affect us all. My latest example of how utterly ridiculous this law is as follows:

You are getting married and your niece is going to be your flower girl. You have searched every where and can't find a dress in the right color. You decide to have the dress made. You commission the dress from someone on ETSY. The seamstress has the perfect color. She told you that the materials will cost $75, her time is $50, and for lead and Phthalate testing it is $2100 (2 types of fabric, 1 zipper, 2 thread types = 5 Components. Lead testing is $70 per component and phthalate testing is $350 per component). Making the dress that would normally cost $125 a new grand total of $2225.00. What a bargain. Now don't throw away the 3rd party lead test certificate because you can't bring this dress to a second hand store, or resell it without it.

Is anyone paying attention. Our rights as parents are being taken away and no one is doing anything to stop it. What next...our children have to play in a plastic bubble because there might be smog in the air?

Sorry, I am ranting.

Thanks for listening.

Our latest Zoo trip

We took the kids to the zoo yesterday. It was beautiful. The temperature was over 50 degrees!!! That is a big deal in the winter when your high is usually right around 34 degrees.

Megan loves the Spider Monkeys...they just speak to her. She will just sit and stare at them. Her favorite animal right now is the Tiger because of Kung Fu Panda. She keeps telling us that she is Tigress...ROAR!!!

Patrick was a little more subdued although he was so excited when the elephant came up close. I don't think he has a favorite...he just likes the entire experience.

I found my camera...Yeah!!

Found the camera...Chris was right, as soon as I stopped looking for it...there it was. It was in my remnant box (don't know how it got there). Kind of a bummer, I really wanted a new camera. But oh, well. I don't need to spend the money right now. Just really happy I found it.

On another note, I am so happy for Joel and Becca. I know that they have a long road ahead, but at least Lila Hope is here.

Thinking of Becca and Lila Hope

I have just heard from Laura that Becca is in the hospital. I am not sure of all the details, but the term placental abruption was in there. It seems little Lila Hope has come early. We need to send all of our love and prayers to Lila Hope and Becca.

I am thinking of you both.

I can't find my Camera

Okay...I am usually a very calm person. Well at least sometimes. I had my camera Christmas morning...and now I don't know where it is. I have been tearing my entire house apart looking for my camera. Chris says I am probably looking to hard for it, and if I would just calm down, I would find it. Yeah, right.

Anyway...I would love to post some pictures of my kids, but I don't have my camera. This is almost as bad as when I didn't have the internet...well, not that bad - but bad enough.

I just wanted to share my grief.

CPSIA and hand crafted items

I was on Etsy today and decided to check around the forums. I had no idea that I would be opening myself up to a storm that is brewing. Apparently congress passed a law for harsher testing on toys. Great!! After the "China" recalls last year who can blame us. Well, Congress decided to be grandiose and just keep on writing and included shoes, cds, toys, clothes, blankets, all items for children 12 and under.

So, what does that mean to you and me. It means that if congress doesn't change what they have written...1000's of small business owners will have to close their shops. Why...you ask. All items new and old have to be tested for lead.

1. Thrift stores are not going to be able to sell childrens items because those items haven't
been tested for lead.
2. All items for children 12 and under in Wal-mart, Target, K-Mart have to be tested by
Feb 10th if they are going to be able to sell them
3. All Homemakers who are making childrens items have to stop making them if they aren't
going to have them tested for lead.
4. Second hand book stores have to close down their children sections because those books
would need to have lead testing.

And guess what...it will be a felony to sell those items.

I am completely disturbed by this and am writing a letter to my congressman. I love hand crafted items. I love creating children and baby items and selling them. I am angry at the thought of not being able to do this any longer.

It saddens me that doll clothes, capes, aprons, shirts, pants, costumes...etc. Will not be allowed to be sold by the small business owner because I can't afford 3rd party lead testing. Where will our children get the things that spark their imagination. Certainly not from Walmart. A handcrafted toy evokes so much more than a plastic monstrosity bought at a super store.

I know... I know, I am ranting. If you are interested in finding out more I have added a link from etsy as well as a few others. Don't let this go...think of all the price hikes we are going to see in childrens toys because of this.


http://www.etsy.com/storque/craftivism/handmade-childrens-items-unintended-consequences-consumer-pr-3056/

http://www.cpsc.gov/

http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/faq/faq.pdf.

Thanks for listening.

Slivers

Patrick and Chris were playing in the yard today with the dogs. We bought the dogs some tennis balls to play with and they were going crazy. Anyway, a few hours after they came in the house Patrick walks up to me and says..."Mom, I think I might have a sliver in my hand?" before I can even look he is starting to run around in a circle screaming "Noooo...not the needle". At this point, I haven't even seen the hand let alone grabbed an instrument of torture.

I finally grabbed him from one of his screaming laps around the room and sure enough he had a sliver, but not just one. There were about a dozen slivers in his hand. I asked him how he had done that and his first response was "I hate that deck outside..." next he said "you should just kill me, I know you are going to use the needle".

Now, I don't hold my kids down when they have an boo boo that needs attending. Patrick is claustrophobic (don't know where that came from, we think it's genetic since Chris is claustrophobic as well), and it just doesn't go well if we hold him down. So you have to coax him until he is ready. Promising cookies, candy, a trip to the lake, etc. this time a milkshake was promised and he came over. The lovely thing about Patrick is you can reason with him. He is a very smart child, and if you explain what you are doing and the end result he is usually very good about being tortured.

The first 6 came out easily with tweezers. No NEEDLES!!!! But, when it came time to get the little ones out I had to get the dreaded needle. Well, 20 minutes later we were able to touch the boy again. I gently put the needle next to his skin and he starts screaming like we were killing him. I am sure our neighbors were thinking about calling the cops. But then realized it was just Patrick. Another 15 minutes later and I finally got 3 more out. His hand is red now and blotchy and we told him we will get the rest out tomorrow.

It is an exhausting job and I try not to secretly smile since I am a "Picker". I love getting slivers out. It is a secret obsession. I try not to laugh a sadistic laugh and shout with joy when my children bring me their slivered fingers, feet, etc. Is that wrong? I know this sounds horrible, but I can't help it. I know it is wrong to derive joy from my children's pain, but oh well.

Secretly, I can't wait until tomorrow. HAHAHAHAHA!! Just kidding.