Okay, now that we’ve had our first real snow here I can’t help but think about that holiday season. After all, it is only a month and a half away.  The decorations are up in the stores, the Christmas music is playing, the toy catalogs are invading our house.

Ahhh, the toy catalogs.  Remember when you were young and the Sears Toy Catalog was the big thing to come in the mail?  (I know I am dating myself here!)  Now various ones come every week, and they start to clutter up our kitchen island as Scout needs to peruse each and every booklet–circling, circling, circling all of the things he wants to put on Santa’s list. Yes, at 9 years old he still believes in Santa.  And I’m at the point where I want him to know the truth already, as the older the kid gets the more expensive and out of reach Santa’s list becomes!  Alas, the crippled economy is even effecting dear old Santa.

Honestly, I have no idea what to get Scout for Christmas.  He doesn’t need anything.  He adores toy cars, as in Matchbox and the like, but the boy has those things coming out of his ears and I am loathe to buy more.  I’ll definitely get him some books, which are always a hit.  He loves the Eyewitness series, it doesn’t even matter what they are about.  And of course the Guinness Books are always coveted. (last year I waited too late to buy it and they were all sold out!)

I guess a couple of things on his list are those weird techno-bug-like-things they sell at Target.  They are really weird, right up Scout’s alley.  A thing you wonder what they heck he’s really going to do with after the first 10 minutes or so.  I guess I can always order another Automoblox or two…honestly, these are probably my favorite toy (s) that Scout has.  They are the most beautifully made wooden cars and trucks that you can take apart and put together many different ways.  They are so cool and retro looking…right up my alley!  He has a few of the little ones and I can tell you they are one toy that will most likely get packed away for his own kids someday…and in my opinion there aren’t many toys these days that have the potential to stand the test of time. I completely recommend those, for those of you who are wondering what to do for your not-too-little one.

Usually, though, I have an idea for one ‘big’ gift.  Something special from Santa.  If it were Scout’s choice it would be a Nintendo DS (NOT going to happen….as you probably remember from a previous post, the iPod Touch is already dangerously close to the window…!)  or Mario Kart for Wii, which probably won’t happen either.  Talk about an obsession, oh my goodness. I shudder to even think about that.

It certainly gets harder to think of gifts as a child gets older, and with an Asperger’s kid there is always the question…do you want to get them something that will only add fuel to the fire of an obsession??  If that’s what they really want, do you get it for them and all learn to deal with it, or avoid it like the plague?

Ah well, I’ll try not to worry about all of this and get into what REALLY matters…the season itself.  That stuff will all fall into place and you know what?  If Santa doesn’t bring what Scout really desires, it’s a good lesson learned that Santa has his best interest–and his parents’ interest!–in mind! Meanwhile, bring on the tree-decorating, the music, the goodies!!!!!