So this weekend is the BF’s niece’s 7ths birthday. She’s having a pony party at the farm and I’ve been asked to basically take digital photos of all the kids on the pony. I think there is going to be like 30 of the little monsters, I mean adorable children there.

Two weeks ago I asked her what she wanted for her birthday. “I don’t know, I can’t think of anything” was her response. She then said “I know a guitar pick! I have a guitar at home but no pick.” I said that was about a 5 cent present, think bigger. I started trying to give ideas, not really knowing what the heck was out there. The Barbie Dream House? No, she has the Barbie Princess Castle thing. My Little Pony? She has some of those. Cabbage Patch Kids? She has three and throws them on the ground and jumps on them (to kill them so she said, because they are pointless). An Easy Bake Oven? Well that got her attention and she wanted to know what that was. I told her this little plastic oven that makes cakes and cookies from the power of a light bulb. “Please get me that!” I explained I wasn’t sure if they made them anymore, so I’d have to look. Well I found out the do, and she still wants one. Everytime I’ve seen her she says “Dustin did you find the Easy Bake Oven?”

So off to Target it was today and not only did they have the Easy Bake Oven, but the fricken Snoopy Sno-Cone machine too! It was ten dollars, what a deal. I couldn’t believe they still made this thing, or why for some reason they re-issued it to put it back out on the market. I didn’t think Snoopy was that popular with the kids anymore. Perhaps it’s clever marketing, the kids who played with it probably have kids of their own and that’s how they are hoping it will get bought. I so wanted to get it. Fortunately someone else is going to get it for her, so I’ll get to play with both toys anyway 🙂

Speaking of toys making a come back, the other day I was stunned when I saw a store in the mall carrying the Evel Knievel motorbike and ramp jump set, complete with Evel figure. I guess it was reissued since he died recently, and again for nostalgic purposes. This too we had as kids. Actually I think it was given to my dad as a gag gift. I know eventually the bike got broken and thrown out, but for some reason we hung onto the Evel figure. Eventually he got tossed but for some dumb reason we still kept his helmet. I think the helmet might still be in a box of old action figures in my mom’s basement.

Now if only someone would put out the old Mego toys. They made the Buck Rogers, CHiPs, and Super Hero figures, including one of my favorite toys on earth, the Lynda Carter Wonder Woman Doll. Below I’ve included a photo of me from my 3rd or 4th birthday, holding my original doll.