Jospeh gets Christmas

this morning, Joseph asked me if i wanted a present. I told him i would love a present.
'if i get you a present, you have to get me a present,' he said.
'ok,' i told him.
so tonight i was checking my computer, when Joseph again asks if i want a present. again i told him 'yes.'
'if you are nice to me i will give you a present.'
i'm not a bad parent, but still hope he isnt trying to say something. i gave him a hug and told him i would be nice to him.
five minutes later, Joseph comes up to me with his cooler and asks me to open it. inside i see his small blanket wrapped up.
'unwrap it,' he says.
inside that i find and large handkerchief.
inside that a find a book about letters, you know, the one with really thick pages so babies can gnaw on them, and pictures of items that all start with the same letter. i mean, its a cool book, but its from my son, giving me a present. i was getting a little choked up.
not really, cause im a guy, but a little.
i read a couple pages of the book, acting really excited about it, and give Joseph a big hug.
'now you give me a present.'
'ok, i will get you your present tomorrow,' i told him.
'how about,...you give me my present tonight instead.' he really is good at negotiating.
'ok, go wait in your room so it can be a surprise.'
'you can put it back in my box when you are done,' and off he runs.
last year for the boy's birthday, their Aunt Kim got them some leapstar handheld consoles. the boys were really excited about them, but as with all toys, they started migrating to the bottom of the toy box, so about 2 months ago i rescued them and put them up.
i grabbed Joseph's, wrap it up and go running into the boys room with a grin and a skip that as a guy, i will never show anyone except a 4 year old, who wont remember their dad skipping like that when they get older.
Joseph, with a grin, starts to open the box. now i figure this can go two ways. he will be mad that i didnt get him a 'new' never before seen present, or happy that i got him one that he at least hasnt seen in a while.
'its a game!' he was excited and i was excited.
'is that a good present Joseph,' i asked.
'yes, i love this game.'

for those of you with multiples, you can kind of see this snowballing, right?

five minutes later James brings me the cooler, and sitting on the bottom is a play syringe.
'cool, my own syringe! im gonna give you some shots,' and i start play jabbing him.
'now you give me my present.'
so i make him go downstairs, grab the other leapstar, put it in the cooler, and give it to him. again, excitement all around, and the boys were playing with them like they hadn't in a long time.
Joseph then turns to me.
'im gonna get you another present.'
'but i dont have another present for you tonight, so lets do it tomorrow, ok,' i ask.
'you dont have to get me another present dad.'
again with the choking up bit.
while he is gathering up the next present, Emma hands me the number book, the companion piece to the already mentioned letter book, and says 'present.'
'now you get me present,' she commands, and the the ritual is commenced.
well Ben got a picture of Papa and Grandma Reid, and Emma got a Harry Potter advert for wands and memorabilia, but had somehow traded when i last checked in on them.

five minutes later Joseph comes back with the cooler. i open to find some train tracks and a train to go with.
'this is awesome, i love this,' and i start to pull the pieces out of the cooler, and Joseph grabs them and starts putting them together in an oblong circle.
'Joseph, i think i need one more piece,' i point out.
'no,' as he finishes putting them together with a gap between two pieces.
'this is the Polar Express, and this is where the ice is.'
we play with it for a little bit, then Joseph asks me where i am going to keep it.
'im gonna put it in my room,' i tell him.
'you can keep it in the box, and the book and the shot. and if you want to play with it in your room, you can.'
by this time i can't stop smiling.
well Emma later asks for the book she gave me. i had put it by the computer, with the other gifts, but it wasnt there anymore. recalling Joseph telling me i could put the items in his cooler, i went to the kitchen to look in the cooler, but it was also missing. down the hall and into our bedroom and there the cooler was, next to the bed.
i wonder if i should set up the train set under the bed, or leave the book out with the other books i have next to my bed.