To the giftgiver who gave this to Thomas.
I know who you are and, believe me, some day, some way, I will have my gift-giving revenge! Maybe your eight-year old has the mental capacity to build this contraption, but it took an eight-year-old, and two 40-something -year -olds to construct this beauty over a period of three nights (with very little help from the eight- year -old!). Now that it is complete, in all its glory, where the heck do we put it? We have invested so much blood, sweat and tears into this project, it will be our dining room centerpiece for a time, I guess. It does look lovely with the decor, don't you think? And we spend countless minutes just staring at the marbles rolling down the tracks only to be lifted by the conveyer belt and back around again. Sometimes we can get ten or more going at a time for a truly mindblowing experience!
So, to the generous person who thought this was a good idea, I am giving you fair warning of what to expect next Christmas, birthday, or groundhog day...
Here is my list of ideas, so far
1. drums, lots of them....high hats, cymbals, snares. You name it.
2. makeup for your three year old. Bright pinks and purples, green eye shadows. The kind that frightens the pants off you when you find the little princess in the bathroom mirror thinking she looks so beautiful!
3. Play dough. Tons of it. See, I like playdough, but realize I am in the minority, so I think a few gallon drums of the stinky stuff should be sufficient to crust up your carpet and change the contents of diapers into impossible colors.
4. A gift that we actually received about fifteen years ago for one of our older children deserves to make a comeback.. it was actually called "10,000 Beads" (yes, 10,000!) I may still have it, because I hid it so well from my girls at the time I never found it. It's not that I am not a fun mom... but I think 1,000 beads would have been more than enough, don't you?
5. Finally, the entire collection of Raffi CD's. Yes, he had his moment back in the eighties, but he's back and ready to annoy a whole new generation of listeners. Starting with you and your children. Songs like Baby Beluga and Mr. Sun ( made popular by another favorite of mine Barney, the purple dinosaur) will drone on in your head for days at a time. And the beauty of this is, like Barney, all the kids love him, so you can listen to his droning music or the droning of your little ones whining in the back seat for more Baby Beluga. Your choice!
Holding my sides laughing. I'm so glad it wasn't me!!!
Posted by: Mary Ellen Barrett | January 10, 2009 at 08:39 AM
Thanks...now I've got Raffi running through my head. HELP!!!
I'll add "trumpets" to your revenge-gift list :)
Posted by: Barb Szyszkiewicz, sfo | January 10, 2009 at 10:01 AM
I found your blog through a link over at the Bonny Blue House. Love the post. I'll have to remember you're list as I have a few "payback" moments in store as well.
Posted by: Kristina | January 10, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Phew, so glad that gift didn't come from me!!!
And I will not be getting you that K'nex roller coaster/ferris wheel my daughter has been working on. Larger than life with ten million tiny pieces.
Posted by: Alice Gunther | January 10, 2009 at 12:43 PM
LOL!!!
Posted by: KC | January 10, 2009 at 07:25 PM
I'll make sure my husband reads this one. He is the one here who hates noisy toys. Too funny!
Posted by: Our Magnum Opus | January 11, 2009 at 10:50 AM
found you thru the Bonny Blue House. My 7 yo actually got 10,000 Beads this past Christmas. What a thoughtful gift, esp since I also have a 5 mos who is fixing to crawl in a month or two who can pick up those beads and swallow them. Its not only a gift, its a choking hazard! ;)
Posted by: Heidi in NJ | January 13, 2009 at 06:07 AM
My ten-year-old has a new gift with 7,000 beads! Her sister got a set of garish makeup, and someone else gave them markers and stickers. Aarrgghh!!
There is actually a set from Oriental Trading that includes, no kidding, 35,000 beads. (See these at http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse/processRequest.do?demandPrefix=12&sku=57/13&mode=Searching&erec=53&No=0&D=pony+beads&Ntt=pony+beads&Ntk=all&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&y=0&N=0&requestURI=processProductsCatalog&x=0&sd=1+Lb.+Of+Sensational+Seed+Beads )Maybe send this to them, and also a set of Sharpies, which my father-in-law gave to my kids.
Another good gift, a hamster. Just the hamster. No food, house, hut, etc. Just a hamster who has nothing to do but eat the box he/she came in. Better yet, a boy AND girl hamster. ;-)
Or, a pet snake, lol.
In Christ,
Leocea
Posted by: Leocea | January 13, 2009 at 03:04 PM
just make sure the makeup kit to the three year old includes nail polish. lots of it...with glitter...in really tiny bottles...in colors so bright you have to avert your eyes. i find this is the kind that looks "best" on the white carpet.
Posted by: Heather | January 14, 2009 at 06:23 AM
Heather, and everyone else who had ideas to add to the list... you guys crack me up!! Glad we can keep each other smiling!
Posted by: ChrisV | January 14, 2009 at 07:39 AM
I've had every one of those gifts...isn't it funny how things mysteriously disappear around your house? :)
Posted by: Sarah | January 14, 2009 at 04:07 PM
haha! I have Raffi on right now!
"Ring ring ring ring ring ring ring, Bananaphone!"
Posted by: mel | January 16, 2009 at 03:39 PM