New Year – New Collection!

Peekaboo...I (can barely) see you! Spring Collection getting readied in our warehouse for shipping to stores now. Yes! In the middle of winter!

There is something kind of exciting about the start of the New Year, isn’t there? This week (a short week of course!) I was working on the new collection for Fall 2009. I know – it is very confusing for most people – because right now our new Spring/Summer collections are appearing in stores! We are shipping cute things for spring to our retailers in all parts of the country, and very soon for summer – even though there are snowdrifts and freezing temperatures in many places!  Our warehouse is full of merchandise, but before long, it will all be spread out across the United States – ready for the change of weather that will come in a few short months!

For now – Happy New Year to all!  We are all excited for 2009 – it should be a great year!

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Mr. Twee!

It’s always a sad time for me and sweetie when we have to take down the ornaments and lights and say good-bye to our wonderfully fragrant and handsome Christmas tree. We’re hoping to keep “Mr. Twee” up for another week or so. What about you?

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le•top Takes: Out of the Mouths of Babes!

Ah Lifebuoy...! photo credit TBS superstation

Submitted by: Celina

Mommy…Daddy has a tail in front!”

– Sophia, age 3.

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Grandparents: We’re Goo-Goo-Gah-Gah…

Beaming Grandma and Grandpa at baptism party for youngest grandson

Seeing the photo of my good friend, Arlene with her granddaughter Zidi made me smile with knowing pride and pleasure. I have to admit that I’m a complete mushpot over my own grandsons. They’re fierce, precious, special and endearing in ways I find difficult to express. They are a source of unending inspiration for me in my life, but also here at le•top – given what I do for work! And don’t get me wrong – my own children are my pride and joy – but there’s just something about grandchildren! Maybe there is something to be said about the “giving-them-back-to-their-parents-at-the-end-of-the-day” aspect that allows grandparent to fully enjoy them. Now, if only all my children will produce a few more, so that I can enjoy even more! 😉 Perhaps there are grandparents out there who can better express the specialness of grandchildren – I’d love to hear your stories, so please share with us – just email them to us, and we’ll post them!

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Dancing Candy Cane

…Submitted by: Anna (from the le•top Design Team!)

Alexandria and her dancing candy cane

My niece Alexandria and I were playing dress-up with a few le•top outfits, and her mom decided to play one of her daughter’s favorite songs, ‘Alphabet Sounds’ by Barbara Milne. When my niece heard the song, she grabbed her candy cane (given to her by Santa that same day) and started to dance while singing, “Apples, apples, a, a, a. Baby, baby, b, b, b…”

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le•top Takes: Out of the Mouths of Babes!

Ah Lifebuoy...! photo credit TBS superstation

Kids always say the funniest things! Once they blurt it out, we can’t help but laugh out loud — or hold a stern face until we can go hide somewhere — and howl in private! Keep the laughs going! Email us your quirky takes, funny quotes or silly stories. We’d love to hear from you and post it. Share in the laughter!

Don’t be afraid. Jesus is born. Go to BethleHELL.”

– Miranda, 4 years old (as an angel in the Christmas Pageant)

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Poll: What are your plans for New Year’s Eve?

As parents, especially of little ones, it becomes tough deciding what to do on New Year’s Eve. Ever since my daughter was born, I haven’t celebrated New Year’s like I used to. That is… getting dressed up to go to a party, drinking champagne, dancing, getting home by 3 AM, then sleeping in the next day. The past four years has found us struggling just to keep our eyes open past 10 PM so we can at least see New York’s celebration. We go to bed shortly after that because we know our little girl will be waking us up for breakfast at the usual time.

This year we will be celebrating with other friends who are parents of little ones. We will try to party it up like we used to. But even if we don’t stay up late or dance the night away, we will at least be in the company of friends and all our children.

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Seeing Spots at the Nutcracker Suite

Getting into the holiday spirit. (With her Auntie Christine)

As a holiday treat for all of us, adults and kids alike, we went to see the Nutcracker Suite. It’s been raining off and on these days here in Northern California, but luckily on the evening of the ballet, the skies were clear with no sign of rain. Woohoo! Instead of a raincoat, it gave my daughter the opportunity to wear her stylishly new le•top Pink Leopard Faux Fur Jacket with matching le•top Pink Leopard Faux Fur Purse from Bestdressedkids.com (they carry le•top in larger sizes: 5, 6 and 6x). And what did she put in her leopard purse? Lip gloss and a candy cane, of course! (too cute)!

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Crying Santa Photo Op

Aaaaahhhh!!!!!

Ho! Ho! Ho! Never having been taken to see Santa when I was a child (at least…not to my recollection anyway), this photo seems hilariously cute (or should it be ‘cutely hilarious’?)! And, having watched 24 hours of A Christmas Story over the holidays, I know (in the movies anyway) that kids seem to freeze (or worse) in the presence of Santa. But I wonder…who is more terrified? Santa or the kids?!? If you have similar photos to share (old or new), we’d love to see them and post them on le•top blog! Click here to upload your photos.

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My Friend in London

Annely and her cousin at the Student Centre 2008

I met Carol almost a decade ago when we both happened to be on holiday in the British Virgin Islands. It’s one of those chance meetings that turns into a life-long friendship punctuated by bursts of connection, recognition and catching-up, amidst sometimes long lapses in contact…but always just picking up right where we’d left off. It’s just that kind of connection. For the past four years, Carol has been sponsoring Annely, now six, who lives with her grandmother, sister, aunt and cousins in the Dominican Republic. One of the beneficiaries of Carol’s sponsorship is the Student Centre, Restauracion Infantil where Annely attends twice weekly health and hygiene instruction, recreational activities, social events, tutoring and educational classes and has regular medical examinations.

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