My 9 year old grandson, Evan, spent Christmas with us.  We spent a whirlwind 24 hours opening gifts, eating Christmas dinner, playing Monopoly, making necklaces, visiting our favorite store to redeem his gift certificate, reading comic books aloud, playing with his new Nintendo 3DS, and taking a walk to visit the Secret Garden.

“I don’t really believe Santa comes down the chimney…I think he once walked the earth and probably was a Saint, but… (Evan then looks at the fireplace and chimney)…he doesn’t come down the chimney…that doesn’t make sense…”   This was one of the many discussions we had while spending time together. 

Much of our time was spent playing with his Nintendo 3DS hand held gaming center.  This little gem plays games, records voice (forward and  backwards), texts, creates Mii figures, and takes amazing 3D pictures.  We had so much fun recording sentences, singing together, and trying palindrome words to listen to backwards to see if they sounded the same.  At one point Evan said, “I’m saving all of these!  These are some fun memories…,” as we laughed through another set of recordings.

Christmas evening we all played the new Monopoly.  The game is the same as we all remember, except there is no more cash for money, there are only credit cards which start with 15 million dollars to buy property, build and pay rents. 

Evan began as the property manager giving out the properties as they were purchased.  But, when he saw his dad using the electronic credit card machine to withdraw, deposit, and transfer funds from one player to the next, Evan wanted to be the Banker.  His dad then showed him how to use it.  Transactions were tricky at times and millions of dollars were being transferred from card to card with a 9 year old as the Banker. 

As one of his presents, I had given Evan a gift certificate to the Dollhouse, Trains and More store in Novato.  The day after Christmas, we spent a few hours there looking at everything before he chose a few miniatures to add to his collection.  As we left the store with complimentary popcorn, we sat outside on a bench in the sun filled blue sky, and decided to take a walk to the Secret Garden.  

I had taken Evan to the Secret Garden about a year ago and he was excited to return.  As we left my front door, I told Evan he would take us there and I would follow him.  He looked at me with surprise in his eyes and said, “I don’t remember how to get there…”  I said that “all roads lead to the Secret Garden, so just start walking and you will find it…” 

He wasn’t quite sure what I was up to but began to walk as I was just a step behind him.  Each time he would ask me which way to go, I would say, “All roads lead to the Secret Garden.”  As we walked around the path (which is a one mile loop) Evan seemed unsure but confident in his stride. 

As we got closer he said, “I’m having a memory wave…”  Evan eventually led us to the Secret Garden where we sat on a tree stump, listened to the silence and took in it’s gentle beauty.  

It was a magical 24 hours filled with creativity, laughter, fun, imagination, and the creation of more memory waves. 

Until next Wednesday, remember, it’s all “for the love of kids…"

In joy, Marilyn