Picture this story painted out Christmas Eve morning as I sit with my wife on the couch while Bug watches another round of the Disney Cars movie. This Christmas morning will likely be a Cars explosion at our house. We finally have a home large enough to house more than the four of us, so all the families will be gathering at our house on Christmas morning. We can not wait because it beats traveling around to all the other houses in a race before someone passes out (dad included).

All year long, my wife and I have been purchasing pretty much every new Cars vehicle we did not currently have in our son’s “collection.” He carries all of his little Cars around in a Cars backpack. The bag goes everywhere including to bed, the babysitters, and anywhere outside of the house. So to say he enjoys Cars vehicles and the movies is an understatement.

So my wife and I have decided there are just far too many to give to Bug over Christmas. Instead we will save some for potty training, good behavior, and future birthdays and holidays. However, some of them are Christmas related and need to be given for this holiday. We even decided to give Bug the “Mater Saves Christmas” book and a couple Christmas vehicles early so that he can actually enjoy them before the big day.

My wife read to Bug last night before bed, which inevitably was “Mater Saves Christmas.” Inside was a Santa vehicle which surely was not to be found in his backpack. So it was my wife’s mission to see if she could locate the Santa vehicle on the Eve of Christmas. So as we sit on the couch early Christmas Eve morning, my wife turns to me and says

Her: I could have just bought the Santa car and “Mater Saves Christmas” book together.
Me: Oh really dear, how much extra was it?
Her: Only $40 together.
Me: What? How much was just the book?
Her: $8
Me (to myself of course): Wow, only $32 extra for the elusive Santa vehicle?

I do not know if it is just me, but $40 is a lot of money for a book and some exclusive cars that are going to get thrown into a backpack and inevitably lose some of their Ho, Ho, Ho getting banged together.

Luckily, my wife was off to get her hair and nails done shortly after the conversation, so we might still have time for the stores to close and me to avoid the financial meltdown associated with the secret Santa vehicle.

Happy Holidays everyone!