It's been a lot of fun this Christmas trying to teach the older two kids that by giving gifts sometimes you can get the most joy. It seems for the most part, they're starting to understand how much fun it is to trick, tease, and outright lie - all in the name of the Christmas spirit.

Their school has really helped me in showing them how to be "givers" rather than just "receivers," during this holiday season. They host a little store where the kids are allowed to go in and make small purchases of donated items. I sent Taters and C-dub each with $6 last week and they were both very excited to be "rich." Six one dollar bills can turn a kid into a high roller. Just ask Taters.

Before they left the house, C-dub and I had a brief conversation about the holiday store.

C-dub: Mom, how'd dey get a store in da office?
Mommazilla: Well, they didn't actually bring a store in. They just use your library and fill up the tables with lots of good stuff.
C-dub: I weally hope they have Hotwheels. I need sum new ones.
Mommazilla: C-dub, you don't buy for yourself, you buy for me or daddy, or even Taters and Gunny. This is your special shopping trip for the family.

He looks a little perplexed, pissed off even. For a six year old, in the book of fairness, this just doesn't sit well. After a couple of processing minutes, he finally simmers down into the idea that he'd have to shop for us.

C-dub: You still like takin' pictures, Mom?
Mommazilla: I do. It's my hobby.
C-dub: Oh, do you need any camera caps? You said Gun-Gun stole some of 'em. I rack my brain to figure out what a "camera cap" is.
Mommazilla: Do you mean lens caps?
C-dub: Yeah, dat's what I said. Camera caps.

I dropped the kiddos off at school and returned home to take a long "Calgon Take Me Away" bath - wuth Gun-Gun of course. When it was time for pick-up. C-dub was happily waiting on the sidewalk in front of his classroom, clutching a fat paperbag he had obviously decorated himself. As he got into the car, he informed me the store was out of camera caps but he had found the next best thing.

C-dub: You wanna open your present, Mom?
Mommazilla: Nope, not until Christmas. I'm really excited to see what it is!
C-dub: Are ya sure you don't weally wanna open it? I won't tell Dad or the elf.
Mommazilla: No thanks, dude. Let's just get home.
C-dub: But I weally think you should open it. You could use it at yer work.
Mommazilla: But C-dub, you are supposed to wait until Christmas.
C-dub: You could dest wrap it back up again. Just take a wittle peak.

After his strong argument of it just taking a little peak and his promise not to rat me out to Dad or the elf, I carefully unwrapped the gift. He watched my face as I opened up my third identical school mug. I smiled and gave him a big hug.

C-dub: It's dest what you wanted, huh Mom. Now you can dwink all da coffee ya want!
Mommazilla: It's exactly what I wanted. Thank you very much.
C-dub: Don't worry 'bout those camera caps. I'll tell the elf you still need'em.
Mommazilla: That would be great.

One kid down, two to go - on the joys of gift giving this Christmas.