The Joyful Sound of Crying Children

Last night marked the start of Chanuka. We lit candles, sang together, and then out children began clamoring for gifts.

D. got a giant garbage truck that he had picked out some weeks earlier. At the time, Mr. WG told him, "That's for Chanuka." So that's what he calls it: my Chanuka. D. was thrilled. Baby J. was also impressed. He opened his gift, a large truck that holds a bunch of matchbox cars. He loved it. For about 12 seconds, whereupon he decided that it was the most horrible gift ever given.

"This is not a good gift!" he screeched. "I don't like it!" He flung it away and tried to stake a claim to D's garbage truck. D., of course, wasn't having any of it. "You wanna go to time out?" he demanded.

Baby J. did not, as it turns out. "I not going to time out," he yelled. "This garbage truck is MINE!"

And that's not all the fun we're going to have this holiday season. We still have to give S. the saddle for the horse she doesn't own. What's that? Oh, let me explain. S. made her own wishlist at Amazon. On it was this lovely item. Now, I know that S. looked at the picture, saw a horse, and put it on her list. Approximately 3 seconds later, my mother purchased it for her. Apparently, neither of them bothered to read any of the words, because it is JUST THE SADDLE.

But, WG, just return it to Amazon! Right, except that it was from an Amazon MARKETPLACE seller, who won't take returns or exchanges. So, list it on Craigslist! Yep, did that. Nothing. No bites. So, my brother suggested that we all go in together on the horse for her birthday. Which is February 28. Or, in S-speak, "A BILLION YEARS AWAY." So, I'm really looking forward to the night we give her the gift of a saddle that she has to hold onto and NOT USE for 2 months. I'll try to get it on video.