A Five Year-Old Christmas

Like a second story burglar Christmas slipped into the high definition big screen TV of my life this year.  I'm late on just about everything.  Cards are leaving my out box like molasses in, well, December and decorations, presents and all that other stuff are all about two weeks behind.  I blame the new house and our big move from San Diego to Coeur D Alene but am willing to admit I'm just Christmas lazy.  If I'm honest, it happens most every year.

Doug, Mudgy the Moose, Katie and Dan

An early Christmas surprise has been the visit of Katie, our youngest, and her family.  They arrived this week and will head back to California this Sunday so that grandson Dan can have Christmas at home.  That means we celebrate early in rainy and cold north Idaho which should give the kid a taste of what the holiday was like for his grandparents during their Midwestern childhood.  Christmas was never 70 degrees and sunny back in pre-historic times.  As I recall, we were just happy to have enough snow on the ground to check for reindeer tracks.

"Hmmm…could this be a pool cue?"

It has been fun to experience the season through the five year-old eyes of our one and only grandchild.  He has already opened his presents which included his very own pool cue so that, with luck and training, he will always have pool hustler skills to fall back on should legitimate employment prove elusive. A Spiderman spinning rod was also in the mix in keeping with that old adage about "teaching a man to fish…blah blah blah".  I prefer to think of it as a ticket to one of the best sit down sports a boy can always enjoy.

Last night we took advantage of a boat cruise to Santa Claus Island that is a tradition here in Coeur D Alene.  Kids are treated to an unforgettable ride and light show that culminates at the North Pole where Santa and his elves greet them with a reading of the naughty and nice list for the year.  I'm happy to report that Dan made the 2014 nice list.  The relief on his face when he heard his name was priceless.  As an almost permanent occupant of the naughty list I was hoping to hear my own name upgraded to "nice" but no Ken was announced.  Perhaps my past misdeeds have been expunged?  

Dan scans the dark horizon for signs of Santa Claus Island.

Santa and one of the elves welcome us to the Island.

"And, one final name on the NICE list: DANNY!"

Dan waves good-bye to Santa, secure in his "nice" status, as the boat pulls away from Santa Claus Island.

 Like everything in life this Christmas is moving at warp speed.  The Valentines Day promotions most likely begin on December 26.  So, if you want to put this Yule in slow motion I recommend finding a five year-old to slow it down.  When you're five it seems that next Thursday will never come and no way will the anticipation exceed the reality.  The kids know that Christmas is the real deal.

Well, maybe one more trip to the toy store with grandpa.