Playing Santa

Felicia at Go Graham Go agreed to let me “Play Santa” over at her site and pontificate on a few top items on my children’s Christmas List.  Per usual, I am woefully late in fulfilling this mission.  Everything around here has been incredibly late, or just plain old incomplete.  Still my children have compiled lists, emailed Santa, refined lists, re-emailed Santa with edits, and sobbed because they received a “C +” on an online Santa Claus behavior quiz.

(That was today at church when Edward shared his less than stellar score with another little girl who claimed to have received an “A +” on her behavior quiz.)

“What can I do to improve my behavior grade for Santa?  I’ll do anything!  What in the world can I do?”  He cried woefully after sharing this sorrowful tale of mediocrity.

“Well, maybe just clean your room and stay seated at the table during meals.  Those were two heavily-weighted questions,” I encouraged.  “Oh.  Well, that’s impossible…impossible!” he countered.  “I guess I’m stuck with a C +.”  He ran away happily.

It’s encouraging to see a child who so readily accepts average when it comes to behavior…

At any rate, my children have many items on their respective lists, the top one on each child’s list (if you combine all descriptions) being a “live, newborn Boston terrier girl boy puppy.”  Yes, it’s Sue who emphasizes the word “live” each time she is asked by friends and strangers alike.

“So what do you want for Christmas, sweet girl?” the hapless stranger or relative asks.  “A LIVE dog.  A live one.  He’s got to be ALIVE!” she shrills.  Apparently she’s seen battery-operated animatronic pups and she will have none of that!

Here’s her list written in her own three-year-old hand.  You can barely make out the word “dog” there with all the “Ho Hos.”  Still it’s there…

Yet back to Felicia’s project.  Since we have not received any of our gifts thus far, I believe I’ll share details on some perennial favorites during my almost 9 years of motherhood.

Every child needs a Cozy Coupe:

It is simply one of the grandest childhood toys around.  Joseph received one on his first birthday (he’s almost nine) and that same coupe has seen us through two additional children.  It has served as a fort, had three children stand on it at one time, careened down rocky hills containing children, stuffed animals, Star Wars action figures, been turned upside down and jumped on, sat out in the rain for years on end, had birthday cake and sidewalk chalk smeared all over it, and housed science experiments in its “trunk.”  It still looks fine with bright colors and is…well…see for yourself:

There are countless years of fun left still in this coupe!  (Yes, it really is my old Mrs. Beasley doll!)

We also have the Police Car coupe which I believe is a must for those with two or more children.   I’d personally love to see my old Shirley Temple doll gracing the back seat of that police coupe!

The other items we have thrilled to for years include anything Little People-related.  We currently own the Farm, Zoo, Princess set, Doll House and Nativity.  Again, many of these Joseph received from a wise Santa during his first Christmas!  Those durable Little People can battle Darth Vadar, withstand bubble baths, become mowed down by Hot Wheel cars, get lost in the van for years.  They are just fun, high-quality toys.  Sometimes I’ll put them up for a few months and when I get them back out, it’s honestly like Christmas all over again…

Our favorite is the Navitity set:

Now there’s a set I firmly believe every child should own!

Remember the reason!  Merry Christmas!