In the past year of so, Xander has slowly started to understand the concept of holidays and celebrations. For his birthday, he requested specific things on his cake, he asked for specific presents. And now, any time that he decides he wants something, he will say "Merry Christmas (INSERT ITEM HE WANTS), Xander, on December 25th" or "Happy Birthday (INSERT ITEM HE WANTS), Xander, on January 23rd."
This year, he had several requests to make for both of those events. Some, like finding a Norfolk Southern train set, were doable after a little searching (we sent the Amazon link to Grammy, who requested ideas for presents). Not CSX or Pacific Union mind you, but Norfolk Southern. He also provided a requested engine number, but we may have to use our creative skills for that to actually happen.
His other requests were along the lines of Despicable Me, one of his all-time favorite movies. One year he asked for a received the "Three Sleepy Kittens" puppet book from the movie, which actually exists. This year, he requested "One Big Unicorn" book, which does not exist. Not unless you want to pay an artist who creates props in California several hundred dollars. I didn't.
So enter Google images, some art supplies (which we always have in our house), and PhotoShop. And presto, we have a "One Big Unicorn" book by Gru, one of Xander's requests for Christmas.
Of course, he also asked for a real working freeze ray and a real working shrink ray. Also from Despicable Me. And not happening. Mommy can handle arts and crafts. Engineering super hero weapons that don't exist in real life, not so much.
So when I explained that he would not be getting those for Christmas, he nodded, and then moved on to his next line. "Happy Birthday freeze ray and shrink ray, Xander, on January 23."
Sorry, kid, not happening then either.