We heard the car door slam outside.  Quick footsteps and excited chatter followed.

You were the first Clickman to enter our kitchen late Christmas morning, and you weren’t messing around.   You immediately gave us the imaginative present you had so thoughtfully made. You couldn’t wait!

I was taken aback at first glance because it was so instantly captivating, unique and colorful. It  was something that might have been conceived and created by a much older child…. IF they were blessed with your talent…

You crafted your psychedelic submarine out of Model Magic.

I love the way the colors blend together but each stands alone.  I love the driver and squiggly green antennas.

It’s a psychedelic vehicle of creativity and love from our magical little artist.

I hope it stays intact a long time and never fades away, like our love for you.

Merry Christmas Emma!

Grammy and I walked in the door and were instantly greeted by you.

In addition to your wonderful smile, hello and hug you had paper bags – lunch type bags – for each of us.  You said “I made these for you.”

I looked in and found a book about Pirates and a blue scarf.  “I made that scarf,” you said, which blew me away.  How on earth did you do that?  “We did that at school and I got some help from the teacher.”  It was the nicest scarf I had ever seen… I put it around my shoulders.  The book was one of your books – it was one I was familiar with – so I asked why you were giving it to me.  “Because I know you like pirates!” you said in a surprising voice.

Grammy peeped inside her bag and found a book about Cinderella, a pink scarf and a sandwich bag with a tiny pair of earrings.  Same deal with her book… you gave it to her because Cinderella has always been Grammy’s favorite princess.  The earrings were yours… earlier this year you got your ears pierced but didn’t stick with the program and the holes closed up.  So you wanted Grammy to wear them.

When I talk about your kindness and generosity… this is exactly what I mean.

First, you surprised us out-of-the-blue on an ordinary night (we were at  your house to be with you while your Mom & Dad went out to eat).  Second, you had taken the time to think about what each of us liked…. and assembled special presents that would have personal meaning. Unbelievable thoughtfulness!

Later on that night we did some ‘craftses’… you drew a replica of an Elf placemat on your dining room table and called him “Chippy.”   I couldn’t believe the accuracy and skill from a six year old. Honestly, your drawing looked better than the placemat!

You’re a talent Emma, and a very special girl. I love you lots.

your incredibly thoughtful and personal gifts for Grammy & I

happy Emma after winning the second game of Clue

When you and Ben were younger, we often played “board games,” but as you can now understand, the versions were always abbreviated and greatly simplified by Papa.

Now that you’re older, we’ve started revisiting the same games, but playing them the right way, or at least much closer to the actual directions.  This is adding a magical component because the old games are taking on a new, more interesting life.

Clue is a good example.

It took awhile explaining the magic of the three Clue cards in the mystery envelope – one character, one room, one ghost (this is a Disney version so the classic “weapon” is replaced with ghost figures).   The winner correctly answers the question, “Which character was haunted by which ghost in what room?”

On the first go-round, Ben won.  I thought you might be upset, but you weren’t, and wanted to play a second time, as did your brother.

I gave  you a little help organizing your cards, keeping your “checklist” updated and figuring out which combination of three had not been selected.  Then we figured out the magical combination and you exclaimed “Pluto in the dining room by the Opera ghost.”

You had won the game.  Ben was happy for you and I was proud.  The magical eye glint that appears when you’re happy made its appearance. I love seeing you that way.