I have a love-hate relationship with the holidays.

The excitement and joy captured in my daughter’s eyes this year was priceless.  She barely slept on Christmas Eve, and then ran excitedly down the stairs the next morning to find Santa’s cookies half eaten beside the fireplace and gifts tucked gently beneath the tree.

Every gift, no matter how large or small, or even if she had no idea what it was, was “exactly what she wanted for Christmas!”

However, along with the magic usually comes the merriment of last minute shopping, fighting traffic, and what has become a tradition in our house, extreme trickery.

I am willing to admit up front that I am usually a guilty party.

Okay, maybe always.

Anyhow, this year was no different. Especially with the threat of another car accessory gift looming over my head.

I had to put my A-game on for Dadisodes.

For over a year now I have wanted to replace our TV. Not that we watch a ton of television in our house, but it would be nice to have TV that was not such an eyesore.  Honestly, if you came over and turned it on, you would be surprised to see the picture in color.

A new TV is certainly a big-ticket item, but it is something the entire household would utilize.  So this year throughout all of November and December, Dadisodes finally began hinting at buying a flat-screen replacement for Christmas.

Of course, the skeptic in me who has been staring at the same 500-pound elephant in the room for the past year had it’s doubts.

But I played along.

“I really think the 47 inch TV isn’t necessary, honey.  A 40 or 42 inch would be just fine for our living room.  No need to spend the extra money.”  I’d say.

And while Dadisodes took a late shower on Christmas Eve, I laid out my master plan for Christmas morning.

A scavenger hunt…

…for a Blu-ray player.

Now for those of you who do not know me, I am technology challenged.  I think I can use 4 functions on my Blackberry.  Me shopping for a Blu-ray player is like my mom shopping for the latest style of metallic skinny jeans.

No level of pubescent, minimum wage employee expertise would help.

So on Christmas morning, after everyone opened their gifts, I handed Dadisodes his final present wrapped in a generic, medium sized box.

Inside was just the beginning of the mayhem.

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