looking forward to the spring version ….

This year I've noticed there is hardly a mention of toys on my kid's Christmas lists,
a sad reminder that they are ‘growing up'.

But not as sad as this Furby I photographed inside the research lab at the Hasbro toy company. Here the toys undergo quality assurance tests to simulate consumer usage. It’s all done in a well-meaning attempt to prepare the toys for the horrors they’re likely to face during your standard holiday vacation week. Merry Christmas Furby!

hInside the Hasbro toy company - USA TODAY: Latest Worldasbro

Once when I was a teenager I visited my mom at her job in the kitchen of the Sheraton Tara. I was shocked to find her standing at the end of the line, prepping salads and sticking toothpicks into rows of club sandwiches. Here was a woman who could make her own pasta, lasagna from scratch, hand-rolled gnocchi -- everything we now refer to as artisan peasant food. She told me with admiration in her voice that the head chef was educated.

The years at the salad station really did a number on my mom's feet. Every weekend before Mass she'd bend down and squeeze them into her best pair of dress shoes. Like the black pumps she's wearing in this photo, powdered with the flour from Sunday's raviolis.

When Walter and Lucy were born, I spent the first few years photographing them like crazy. I had this notion of a baby book titled, "Not Yet Three", with an intro page featuring Jonathon Richmand's lyrics 

You think I should be tired now
But my body's all inspired now
And yes it's true that I'm not yet three
But I'm stronger than you
You're simply bigger than me

Now thirteen's around the bend, and Walt's had enough with the pictures, but there's this Alex Chilton song…. 

Won't you tell your dad,"get off my back"