At least once a year I read some story about how each kid you have will cost a BAZILLION DOLLARS by the time he/she is 18. What they don't tell you is the value of their unpaid labour over the course of those same 18 years. Anyone who has spent 15 minutes in a water park in the summer could tell you just how focused and hard-working toddlers can be. If there were some way to harness the energy expended in refilling and dumping out the same bucket of water for two hours, American productivity would skyrocket (Once at a waterpark in Brooklyn Bridge Park, my husband noted if aliens came to earth, they might think our toddlers were involved in highly specialized infrastructure projects that involve the distribution of water. That reminded me of this National Film Board short called "What on Earth", about aliens who come to earth and think cars the real sentient beings.) Anyway, see my kid above there. Working hard, stacking her new fabric Christmas tree toys I made for her (more to come on that later). And see below, the result of her Christmas tree-decorating efforts tonight:
 
Isn't this ring of ornaments, all of them about 2 feet off the ground, lovely? And seriously, if we were paid by the ornament, she would have enough cash under her twin futon mattress for a blue comb and a yellow comb (that's what she wants for Christmas). Again, see (below) how hard she works? At this rate, she'll be getting a blue comb, a yellow comb AND a red comb.