How Many Gifts Can The Wise Men Bring

And to think, I didn’t have to pay a penny to have my very own “Toys R Us” franchise. We took an empty house and stocked it with one of every toy that sings, bangs, crawls, runs and eats batteries, lots of batteries. We took two previously sane people; made them storekeepers and provided them with one wild consumer who spends every minute of every day testing the toys. Only this franchise isn’t selling, it just keeps accumulating inventory. Such is the post-Christmas Cartwright house.

Katie and I made a commitment before Christmas that we would get Elliott three gifts; symbolic of the three gifts brought the baby Jesus by the three wise men. But the wise men just keep coming and there is no longer any room at the inn for gifts, let alone the baby.

Such is the way it goes for baby’s first Christmas (well second, but last year was a different celebration). As dreadful as I can try to make it sound, it is priceless to look at Christmas again through a child’s eyes, especially when it’s your child. He didn’t much grasp the concept of opening gifts, but if he hangs out with mama long enough he’ll have that one down pat by next year. He did recognize something new when it was opened for him though, especially when it played a new song and provided the opportunity to choreograph a new dance. I watched him dance around the living room the other day trying to keep three tune tootin toys blaring at the same time. One would stop; he’d rush over and press the start button just in time to race to the next one that had begun to rest. None of them play the same song or even use the same instruments, so just imagine the sweetness of the sound.

There’s also the John Deere Gator. A toy without motor of course, but no less powerful. Don’t get run over by a bright green machine toting a child holding on for dear life, powered with 220 pounds of dad power. As a side note, that’s 25 pounds less power than last Christmas, but back to Elliott. Unfortunately, the toy was not designed for pulling, but he no longer knows that and reminds you by pointing at the belt, then pointing at the grill of the Gator. I guess it is motorized after all.

We were very blessed that Elliott could spend Christmas with his Ohio family. We’re thankful that God watched over our travels and kept us safe, allowing us to get Elliott to the point of spoiling.

We hope your Christmas was wonderful and that this is a blessed New Year for all.