Proof that advertising works (or... Ella's 7th birthday.)

Seven years ago, Paige and I got the best birthday present ever (with a little help from Dr. Moore)

Her one year birthday picture (we still see that face quite often.)

And today, she turned seven. Hard to believe.

Her breakfast of choice was cupcakes, so everyone got to join in.

Her big party is Saturday, so she got to open one present today. But first, some background...

Our kids do watch TV. Ella probably made it for a few years without much TV, but with the arrival of the dynamic duo, the TV use became more frequent. We do manage to limit it largely to PBS though.

And on PBS, they don't have commercials.

And on Saturday, PBS only shows Bob Ross painting happy little trees, with maybe a bunny behind this one (which I sort of enjoy.) And This Old House (which is must watch TV in this house.) But no kid's cartoons.

Thus Saturday morning TV. With commercials. Particularly commercials for Pillow Pets.

I don't recall our kids really noticing much of the ads on TV, other than the typical glassy eyed TV coma stare. But Pillow Pets? That got their attention. Within the span of a 2 minute commercial, they had literally memorized every advertised feature of the Pillow Pet, and repeated them back to us rapid fire style as if describing gold that had just been discovered California.

"Dad, they snap into a full size pillow!"

"Mom, they are great for travel!"

"Dad, PJs fit right inside!"

"Mom, they are machine washable!"

"Dad, there is a dolphin, a frog, a dog, a lady bug, a..."

"They make the perfect gift!"

"Mom, go to www.pillowpets.com to order them!"


Seriously, they repeated every claim the commercial makes verbatim. It was scary. Like... Rainman scary. 246 toothpicks... yeah. Some advertising genius had our kids nailed.

Soooooooo... Paige went to www.pillowpets.com. The boys had birthday money from Aunt Janna burning a hole in their pocket, and picked out and ordered their very own pillows (and a pet!) along with one for Ella and Luke. However, they had to wait to actually get them and keep it a secret until Ella's birthday. Which, amazingly for a couple of five year olds, they did.

And today, they all literally ran screaming and wild eyed around the living room with excitement over their new pillow pets. We are now the proud owners of a unicorn, a penguin, a dolphin, and a cow (which SNAP! into a full size pillow.)

Well, that post ended up longer than I planned on. Hope that Bakker guy didn't fall asleep halfway through with all those words...

Happy Birthday Ella!!!!


PS: Paige claims that the ultra soft high quality chenille fabric is in fact very soft!!!!