Why I should never travel to Japan.

Oh, Japan. Why do you have to make such ridiculously adorable things?

Today is my birthday (Blog comments and Facebook Likes make the perfect gift. Just saying.), so yesterday I decided to treat myself to a trip to Kamei, an Asian housewares store here in San Francisco. The goal: Buy a few more of these plastic monkey spoons and another set of training chopsticks for The Short One.

I took both kids of course. What could possibly go wrong with bringing an almost 2-year-old to a store with narrow aisles stacked to the ceiling with glassware?

After about 90 seconds, I could imagine many negative outcomes to the situation seen above, so he ended up being worn in the carrier, none too pleased. It was actually good that the kids were with me because they saved me from buying even more than I actually did. How can any reasonable person resist finds like these unless they have a 2-year-old pulling their hair and a 6-year-old with a bathroom emergency?

Can I have these pandas on everything I own?

Don’t look at me like that, owl.

Thanks goodness this bowl was pricey or we would have had one in every style.

Make sure your guests see this package so they know they are special.

Can’t get enough panda in our kitchen.

Even the chopstick rests are cute.

The good news: I got the 59-cent spoons and chopsticks. The bad news: I spent $145 and got a few other items:

I even overdid it with the chopsticks. There were reasonable choices, but of course The Tall One found these sets including a spoon and carrying case that he just had to have, and I can’t buy one of anything because then it’s not fair. If there is anything parenting siblings has taught me, it’s that fairness is of utmost importance.

Now I can think about all the stuff I actually needed but didn’t get, like a new pepper grinder and microwaveable divided plates. Maybe I’ll go back for those and just a few more things…