In which Santa brings him gifts anyway.
This morning, as the third day's freezing rain added a layer of ice to the already slick streets, I was driving Owen to his grandparents' house. They were babysitting so that I could work on my day off.
Because nothing says "Holiday!" like a mandatory 2-hour morning meeting.
"Hold on tight," Owen shouted from the back seat.
"Yes," I answered. "When it's slippery outside we have to hold tight so that we don't fall down."
"No," he said. "Hold on tight to the steering wheel!"
I was only driving with one hand, you see. Thank heavens for my two-and-a-half year old backseat driver. He's becoming increasingly bossy: ordering us to drive faster (or, in him mother's case, slower) and to stop singing.
And, when orders don't work, he's a brilliant manipulator. A favorite maneuver is to smile sweetly and ask, "Do you want to play with me?"
He knows that most adults will respond by repeating the question, "Play with you?"
"You do," he exclaims. "Okay!"
And then you're trapped.
In short, he's becoming the perfect only child. And there's nothing only children like more than a gift-getting occasion. (Robin and I both know from experience.)
Christmas, both the American and Russian version, came and went. And although we are moving on to new adventures, I thought I would be remiss without a few pictures of the event.
Uncle Kirk reminded Robin and me this afternoon that it was almost exactly two years ago that we were boarding a plane for Kazakhstan to fetch our little proletariat. Little Valyka has come a long way from his days of playing with bedraggled stuffed monkeys in a metal orphanage crib!
We celebrated the holidays at least five times (with a sixth planned for this Saturday!). The first was in the hospital visiting Uncle T (who is now home and recovering well). Then we went to Aunt Loretta's. After that, we visited the store in Tightwad. On the actual day, we partied at home with Grandma Pat (also doing well, despite a cold) and Grandma Gloria and Grandpa. And then, finally, godparents Melissa and Dan came to visit with Jack.
We'll exchange gifts with Lisa, Tad and Holly on Saturday and then we're officially closing the books on Noel.
Owen more than raked in the gifts. Santa and company did their best to wean him away from cars and trains by introducing doctor kits, dolls, electric violins, a chainsaw(!), a work bench with very real looking tools and, sadly, a drum. All of these were interesting... briefly.. but it was the car and train paraphenalia that continued to win the day.
As a note of warning to future parents on that issue, no matter how limber you think you are, you are too big and clumsy to get into the Thomas the Tank Engine tent. No matter how much your son begs, just say, "No."
Still, there's been some post-Christmas intrigue. I've had my heart listened to several times and my temperature taken more than once. The drill on the workbench runs incessantly. We've also played "Chase!" with the chainsaw (which I'm sure will come back to haunt me in some way later on).
On that last item.. well, I'm going to have to chat with Santa about some of his choices...
