the perfect present...

The "Birthday Fairy" went to different houses across the United States yesterday to collect presents for Brooks before dropping them off in our family room in the middle of the night.  When Brooks woke up he saw all of these great gifts waiting to be opened...

and you know which one was his favorite?

The telescope...

that was also a flute...

and a dog swatter that quickly changed into a...

dog tickler when he was told it was mean to hit his dog.

 It wasn't long until the inevitable happened...

and the tickler turned into the sword that it was destined to become.

But even that changed once he saw his orange car that must really be a ball...

because the ball turned his sword into a golf club.

And who gave this wonderful all-encompassing magical gift?  I did.  As I unrolled our last big black garbage bag this thick, skinny tube dropped out and wouldn't you know that this is the item that has captured his attention.  I know that babies often like the boxes their toys come in more than the actual toys, but that's because they don't know any better.  Brooks is sharp; he knows better...and he's not a baby.  However, this is proof that the imagination is a powerful thing and this boy sure has an imagination!