The Joy of Gift Giving

My boys spent the majority of the morning piling my bed high with all the pillows in our home. Then they took all their "pets" (stuffed animals) and placed them in their fort with them. They were even so kind as to put the tiny pet animals in little sleeping bags (my socks).

Then they found and empty shoe box. Now they are taking turns filling the box with toys and trinkets and giving gifts to one another. There is pure excitement on their faces as they pull the familiar toys from the tissue paper. I love listening to their exclamations, "Oh I really wanted this!" or "I have always wanted one of these!". A couple gift exchanges ago, they are on about the 6th one now, Oscar pulled out a pair of underwear that was so gingerly placed there by his brother. Angus was hysterical. They both laughed a guttural laugh as Oscar then sling- shotted the undies across my bedroom. Kid laughter is some of the best kind of music around.

Angus' underwear gift reminded my of some of my gift giving days from yester year. I know one year I took a spoon half full of cookie dough, I had licked the other have of it off,  and put it in a box. I wrapped the box in Christmas paper, addressed it to Julia and put it under the tree. I know there was something else in there too. Julia do you remember what it was? Underwear? A dirty Sock? A booger encrusted tissue? Anyhow, I can still remember the pure elation I felt as she opened my trick gift. The look of confused disappointment on her face sent me into a tizzy of triumphant laughter. Horrible, right?

It was awesome...for me at least. I am pretty sure she would have liked something other than a sucked on spoon with dried up cookie dough on it for Christmas.

Oh the joys of gift giving.