I’m sure I’m not the only mom this month who has a new Webkinz or two in their family. Each of my children received one for Christmas, and they’ve quickly become very best friends with these cute, but very greedy critters.

If you haven’t heard of them, I’m sure your kids have. Webkinz are beanie baby type stuffed animals that come with a website and a code number attached to their paw. This lures your child online where upon entering the magic code Webkinz will know it’s birthday, what species of animal you’ve got and allows you choose it’s name and gender. Then it gives you a studio apartment and 2000 Webkinz dollars to get you started.

So of course you head right to the Webkinz store and buy your new “baby” some fancy new digs and a “Webkinz Casual” wardrobe that would make any tween jealous. You soon run out of money however, as a couch and some new duds cost just as much as they would in real life without the option of shopping at Target.

And then you find out the thing is hungry. Well, we haven’t got any money left to buy our Panda some Bamboo Cannelloni like he likes, so you have to visit the arcade and play four hours worth of games to make six bucks to buy it an apple. But that doesn’t satiate this bear. Oh, no. You must spend at least 60 Webkinz bucks on food to fill up your baby, but you’re only winning four bucks per game and you’ve already been up until 1am trying to get this panda’s happiness meter above 90. And the more you play, the more worn out your bear gets and the more hungry. It’s a vicious cycle of keeping your ‘kinz happy, feeding him constantly and checking your ‘kinzmail for messages from all your fuzzy online friends.

It’s a bit too much like myspace for stuffed animals, coupled by the constant care and needs of a toddler.

Perhaps I’m just not ready to be a grandmother yet.

My family has recently started a new tradition that began as an accident and ended up permanently on our calendar.

A few months ago by coincidence my husband took our kids to Home Depot on the first Saturday of the month. Walking through the door he was asked if the kids were there for the Kid’s Workshop. No, he said, what was that? They were then sent to the back corner of the store to an area set up just high enough for children. The kids were given their very own Home Depot aprons, pieces of a pirate ship and instructions, a certificate of completion for their pirate ships, and colorful pins to keepsake their day. The project was fun, everything was free, and the kids begged to go back the next Saturday. Well, it turns out that each Home Depot puts on this free workshop every first Saturday of the month from 9 to noon. So far now they have been back to make the pirate ship, a memory tray and a castle bank.

Afterwards, because we usually get done right before noon, we head on over to Hot Bob’s for lunch. They are fairly new, but the proprietor welcomes you in the door like you are old friends. And by the time you leave he knows all of your names and remembers you when you come back. My kids come for the mac n’ cheese, but my husband loves the chili dogs. Giant hot dogs with EVERYthing on them. Side orders of tater tots, coleslaw, potato salad, beans… The ambience is cool, and I’m waiting impatiently for my Hot Bob’s t-shirt. I think I’m first on the waiting list. For directions and information, visit eatlikebob.com. Tell him the EVTrib Mom sent you, and maybe we’ll both get some free cornbread. wink wink

Now we’re off to paint our castles. Emma wants hers pink, but Nick wants his with flames. Why am I not surprised?