Some people have kids... and they can get a little, oh, rambunctious and restless while you're trying to have a nice little dinner at a restaurant. So I invented the Kid-O-Quieter 3382! Okay, not really, but I did come up with something that you might like.

When I happened upon Crayon Rocks, the fit seemed perfect. Kids have, shall we say, short attention spans that don't necessarily last the length of a meal. Drawing keeps 'em occupied, at least for awhile.

Crayon Rocks aren't your ordinary Crayolas. They're made at a candle maker's shop in El Monte, California, about 120 miles north in L.A. and are made from soy wax which comes from the mid-west (Kentucky, Nebraska, etc.). Normal crayons are made out of petroleum. All the colors are made with mineral powders which make for richer colors than the dyes that some crayons use.

Lea, our artist-neighbor, made some wonderful placemats to color on, and of course we printed them on Green Field's 25% hemp / 75% post consumer recycled paper. This is definitely something you'll want to hang on your wall after your offspring have put their finishing touches on it. And if it doesn't turn out well, you can always send it to the in-laws.

Next time you're here with the young'uns, be sure to ask for some placemats and crayon rocks!