It's interesting because I did shop for the kids but I found myself making decisions about their gifts based on giving less to get more.

Like, I bought them a digital camera --a real one, not a toy one. The broke mine from constant use and abuse but instead of chastizing them for it I figured, now that they don't have it they will value having a new one and use it wisely. And in the process they'll learn a thing of two about photography, narrative, aesthetics and their own creative impulse.

Well, now my oldest has seen what he can do with it and has asked for a blog. He said, "I wish I had a blog so I can put my pics up".

I totally flipped.

So we'll have the youngest correspondent to date in our blog starting this weekend.

That camera is my way of giving my kids the net instead of the fish, if you know what I mean.