By Winter D. Prosapio

I’d like to propose we permanently get this extra week to get ready for the holidays. Thanks to the early Thanks-giving I’m in great shape for Christmas. I’ve already made several dozen cookies, purchased half my presents and ordered holiday cards. Our tree is up AND decorated. The holiday decorations, including the themed kitchen towels, are in place. We’ve had a party already.

Will the Christmas miracles never cease?

What’s next – leaping stacks of wrapping paper in a single bound? Children diving into their holiday dresses faster than a toy locomotive? Gifts to people from out of town arriving on time?

It’s never looked so good.

Mireya is also way ahead of the curve. She’s written not one, but three notes to Santa. Actually they are little books tied together with ribbon. All of them go something like this:

I love you Saint Nick. I want a blow up igloo. Come to my house. I love you. Come today.

Then there’s a picture of her and Santa and a rather large igloo like object. That girl is taking no chances.

Sierra has also made her list, which includes one item that doesn’t exist. This is a tradition, of sorts. Five years ago she wanted the power of flight and had refused to take our family portrait until after Christmas because she wanted to be photographed while flying. Then shortly after that, she requested a toy horse she could run alongside. A toy that doesn’t exist, but at least it was an actual toy.

Then there was the giant reindeer request, preferably large enough to sit on. Fortunately those do exist, although since they are shipped from such a distance they require Christmas Eve stuffing and the access for the stuffing is right below the tail.

There’s nothing quite like spending Christmas Eve with your entire arm all the way up a reindeer’s…

I’m sure you get the idea.

The tradition of the impossible gift continues this year. She wants a bean bag chair with a certain animated character who, frankly, has not inspired a single toy tie in.

Luckily this year I have time to figure out a work around.

(If anyone knows someone who can draw a decent cartoon version of Ace from the Loonatics with a set of shar-pies, let me know. Otherwise, I’ll be going through a half dozen beanbags and an equal number of markers.)

Fortunately I only wanted one thing this Christmas. An extra week. This year, I got my gift early.