This year, like many other families, Ella and I decided not to exchange gifts for Christmas. We told our parents not to buy us any presents and agreed not to buy each other gifts "from the kids."
So while I did not get anything physical for Christmas (unless you count the thing with the ice, feather, and Tabasco sauce), I did get a GREAT Christmas gift.
Last year at Christmas time, we bought Zed lots of different toys. It didn't matter what the toy was -- a car, an animal, or a ball -- all he would do was drop it on the floor or table repeatedly. That was how he played.
This year was totally different. We got him a marble track (which can be pricey as hell but we found a 80-piece plastic set that was made in Italy for only $25) and he put the marbles at the top of the track and watched them go around the maze. We got him a Hot Wheels race set and he put the cars at the top of the ramp and watched them race. We got him an accordion and after I showed him how it worked, he played it.
His sister got a four-piece drum set for Christmas (we're idiots). He stood there and flapped for a good five minutes while she played. Finally, we asked Zoey to hand him the drumsticks. He delicately tapped the cymbal with one of the sticks. Once he saw how much fun that was, he started in on the tom and snare. He still prefers to work the bass pedal with his hand, but we think he'll get more use out of the drums than Zoey will.
Between the increase in language (he told me to "Get off!" him today) and the appropriate play with his toys, this was a great Christmas for our family and we're really looking forward to many more great things in the new year.
Song of the day: Pop Goes The World by Men Without Hats
The Christmas Gift
