Let the fun begin - by Tom

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I can officially start panicking about getting my gifts completed in time. This year, with the recent move, made it difficult to start any earlier. I’ve done a lot of thinking ( like every year ) about what to do, and didn’t have any solid ideas until just a week or so ago. I’m still trying to finalize the list and then comes THE PLAN – when to work on them, how much they will cost, how long it will take to get them done, how to do it, etc. – this is still going on. I need to write this stuff down or I will forget something – not MIGHT forget, WILL forget. Guaranteed.

The kids have had their Mom ideas solidified for a long time. In fact, for the last month or so, the kids have been saying “Dad, we really got to get started on my gift to Mom – we really do” . And then we agree and then get on to something else and forget about it for a bit. They come up with some really clever ideas, but the gifts usually involve some cutting, drilling, sanding, etc. that requires my oversight. It has been a lot of fun to teach then how to use the various tools and pass along all the lessons that I had to learn the hard way!

Backtracking a bit, since the kids have gotten older ( happens every year – must be the water ), the gifts have gotten more complicated ( from painted ornaments to walking sticks, windchimes and jewelry boxes ). When they get an idea, they come to me and say “Dad, I’d like to make this for Mom. Do you know how to do that?” I, being the ever optimistic guy, say “I have no idea how to do that, but let’s give it a go anyway!” It’s the learning along the way that really is fun for me. Emma and Maggie have proven to be very capable problem solvers as inevitably we run into a bunch.