UPDATED March 1:


Daddy gave in too and bought additional toys so there were enough to go around. Now the Toy Story takeover is complete. Here is Vincent tucked into bed with his bigger and better Buzz and Woody dolls. Figurines? Playmates? Whatever. We have duplicate figurines, big and little, one for each son. Now I'm going to dream that the toys come to life and have discussions behind our backs at night...



How to make yourself crazy with two toddlers



Step 1: Take 1 year old & 2.5 year old to Disneyland where the 2 year old totally digs the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters Adventure ride.

(Thankfully our friends from church live close to the park and their teenage son Joel helped us as a guide and companion for Vincent on the rides.)



Step 2: Schedule surgery that will leave you laid up for a few weeks (or months) and feel sad that your kids are bored. Let them watch Toy Story as a fun treat.

Step 3: Return home from surgery and let Toy Story (aka "Toy Movie") and it's sequel, Toy Story 2 (or as Richard calls it "Tooooooo!") entertain the kids whenever you need a break.

Step 4: Realize kids are obsessed with Buzz and Woody. Disney has won.

Sure, it seemed harmless enough at first but now my kids are jonesing for their next dose of Toy Movie as soon as they wake up in the morning. Oh, I can try reducing the number of viewings or admit defeat and look for a support group. Families of Disney Obsessed Toddlers? I know it's a common problem yet I was still ashamed to admit it had happened to my kids.

As I write this my 2 year old is not sleeping. He's spreading out his arms as he kneels on his bed and chants "To affinnytee... and BEYOND!" then he slides off his bed on his comforter towards his giggling brother. At random intervals during the day I'll hear "Two-a-firty... and BEYOND!" and wonder if Vincent thinks Buzz is inspired by a specific time of day- and what does happen beyond 2:30?

Richard will pass by the TV and point as he pleads "Tooo?" (this has replaced his first love, "Ah-VAH" or the Alvin & the Chipmunks movie he saw around Christmastime.) A friend just reassured me that it's good Vincent is so cautious and only slides off his bed. Her son launched himself off a table with the "To infinity and beyond" chant around the same age and ended up a bloody mess. I'm constantly negotiating fights between the boys over a pair of Buzz and Woody (or "Noodey" as Richard calls him) figurines. This was supposed to be harmless fun while I'm laid up recovering from surgery. It's quickly becoming a lifestyle. They'll pass up sleep, food, play, anything for their movie.

I thought I had more time before movie obsessions spread to both kids and they ganged up on me. Chants of "Noodey" and "Tooo" from the little one are repeated by his big brother's very polite "May I please have Toy Movie now?" requests. Toy Story 3 opens this summer and we were thinking it might be an opportunity for Vincent to have his first movie theater experience. I just have to figure out how to survive the unending requests for all things Toy while I try to get the Randy Newman songs out of my head.

Instead of a couple of weeks of surgical recovery, I've developed an infection and will be stuck in bed for twice as long as I expected. I'm too sick, too tired to fight it. I just dug up all the Toy Story paraphernalia I could find and let them go crazy. At least this movie features all kinds of easy to find toys- Mr. Potato Head and Etch A Sketch were around long before this movie. I still think the blinking lights and spinning cars in that Disneyland ride hypnotized my kids!



This is what Richard looked like twirling around in my arms on the Buzz ride at Disneyland. No wonder he's hypnotized!