Playing (Reindeer) Games

May I just say, for the moment, how appalled yet secretly pleased I am that Christmas has come upon us again so doggone quickly??  Wasn't it just so recently that we were packing up the tree and telling Samantha that Santa would come to visit again in 12 more months, worrying about how she'd handle such a long break away from the sparkling bulbs, twinkling lights and front-yard glitz (read:  tackiness) of the holidays?  Those are among the long list of things that makes this time of year so special, the things that bring the glow of excitement to the faces of children, the bubbling warmth in the hearts of parents who see it.

While many (primarily in the retail industry) argue that Christmas is perfectly justified in beginning before Halloween costumes have even been folded up and packed away, before the orange pumpkin buckets have even been emptied (this does not, however, include the poor retail associates and managers who are stuck listening to endless loops of holiday tunes, day in and day out - I know this from nearly 20 years of experience...), we follow English (or at least Steve's) tradition of putting our tree up on December 1st (when the Advent calendar begins), removing it by the 5th (or is it 6th?) of January, the 12th day of Christmas.  Traditional American views put the official start at the day after Thanksgiving, which is absolutely fine by me, as by that time I have personally (mostly) reconciled the rapid passage of time and the full year older that I have become and am ready for it all to begin again.

Friday I ventured out, intrepid (and childless - what, d'ya think I'm completely nuts?), into the wilds of the local mall.  Actually, it wasn't all that bad, and I was in and out in about an hour after hitting the 3 stores I wanted to visit.  I won't talk about how dreadful Bath & Body Works was, packed all the way from floor to ceiling with merchandise, the spaces in between filled in by the hundred or so people crammed into the tiny store.  And yes, I actually stood in one of the 5 lines to make a purchase, and no, it wasn't even for a Christmas present - I just needed to get one of those thingy-ma-bobs that you plug in that make a room smell good so the stench that normally comes from the basement bathroom where the cat litter boxes live wouldn't waft up the stairs and into the living room anymore.  Ugh.  (But for those of you who are curious - it seems to be working so far!!  Worth the wait!)  Oh yeah, and while I was in there, some crazy chick with a long, double stroller, a toddler and a newborn baby came in.  WTH?  When Sammi was a baby and in a stroller, there was no way in H-E-Double-Toothpicks I'd even attempt that.  And of course, one of the kids had a major meltdown while they were in there.  Lovely.

Soooo, back to the title of this post...  We're having a slightly difficult time trying to figure out what we can get Samantha for Christmas.  I mean, she has a lot of stuff, but I'm not convinced that it's all age-appropriate and stimulating.  I want things that will help her learn while still being fun.  If you ask the Princess what she wants Santa to bring her at Christmas, she states, simply, "books."  Works for me!  If you press her further, asking what kind of books, she'll reply, "Biscuit books."  Just goes to show her ever-increasing love of reading.  One other thing we're contemplating is a cash register.  She loves pretending to run a store or a restaurant, right down to fleecing me, highway-robbery style, on simple purchases ($10.00 for a banana, anyone?).  But currently our money is imaginary, and as math concepts are soon to be introduced at school, we'd love for her to be prepared. 

However, I'd like her to have some games.  She has Candyland and has played Chutes and Ladders, but can someone please tell me what the heck they were thinking, having such long, drawn-out games with so few rewards for young children with notoriously short attention spans?  She's pretty bored with them.  Come to think of it, so am I.  So on goes our quest for bigger and badder, age-appropriate, entertaining games. 

Suggestions, anyone?

In the meantime, let the decorating and front yard transformation commence.  I'm leaving that department to Steve, who is raring to go, dusting off the old and bringing in the new, ready to create a child's Christmas paradise in lights (and other stuff).  Mind you, our front yard is about the size of a postage stamp, but he's sure to make some pretty fun, lasting memories to reach the eyes of our 3 1/2' tall munchkin, who is ready and waiting to be dazzled.