and after that i bought them tickets to see the monster trucks*

Not to far from here in what used to be a corn field is a brand new Toyota dealership. It's located on our main artery to just about anywhere, so we pass it a lot. The lot is beautifully landscaped. At night it is brightly lit and all those brand new shiny cars seem to glow, beckoning you to come near.

Last night on our way home as we passed our pathetic attempt at a "restaurant row". Abby called out from the back seat, "I want to go there." I craned my head around trying to figure out if she was talking about the Wendys on the right or the Egg and I on the left (where we haven't been back since my water broke all over their dining room floor 20 months ago). I was surprised that she was pointing at neither. "Where?" I asked her.

"There," she sighed, vaguely annoyed at my inability to figure out what she was talking about. She was pointing straight ahead. I shook my head, not understanding, the only thing straight ahead was the Toyota dealership.

"She's obsessed with that place," Mike said and he too was gesturing towards the car lot.

"The Toyota lot?" Yep, I'm really quick on the uptake.

"Yeah she mentions it every time we're out. That she wants to stop there."

"Why Abby?" I admit I was still more than a little baffled. I mean she's 5 and it's a car lot. Most girls her age want to stop at Build-a-Bear or Dairy Queen. Mine wants to enjoy the new car smell of a Prius.

"To look at cars and stuff."

I shook my head, still not getting the attraction, but able to recognize an opportunity when I saw it. "Hey, next week why don't you and Daddy have some Daddy/Daughter time and come to see the cars? And you could get a chocolate milk with a big lid (an iced cappuccino to the rest of the world)." Mike agrees that would be a good idea.

"We'll look at the cars first then get the chocolate milk with a big lid. That's my idea Mom."

"Okay, that sounds good."

"That one was my idea, right Mom?"

"Sure it was honey."

*true story, they are going to Monster Jam in November.

Don't forget to donate to the Ride for Africycle for a chance to win a Dell Ditty mp3 player. The deadline is October 2, 2007. Good luck!!