What I got for Christmas

My wife is usually complaining it's difficult to get me Christmas or birthday presents, as I never want anything. Well, for my incoming birthday it is easy: the cat chewed the cable of my headset, so I want a new one... And for this Christmas it was easy too: the Diceman series dvd collection.

Years ago, while I was in highschool (or maybe college?), there was this series on Discovery channel, with two guys traveling everywhere by using a dice to make decisions. Read more about it here if you want. I really, really enjoyed it (and the idea behind) and when a few months ago I discovered they have the entire collection on dvd, I knew (for once) what I want for Christmas.

And I got the dvds (as well as a surprise present)... but there is more to it than just some dvds.

It started before Christmas with my firstborn asking what I asked Santa for. I explained him the 'movie' I once saw, the idea of letting the dice decide everything and I told him that I hope Santa will be able to find the 'cds' for me. On Christmas morning he asked me what I got - I showed him the box, he recognized the dice on the cover and he was really happy for me: "Santa found what you asked for!"

On the evening of 25th, he asked me if we could watch that movie together, the one with the two guys who travel by rolling a dice. So we sat down in front of the PC, with him in my lap and we watched the first episode together, with me translating it all (as it's only in English).

The next day, he asked for a dice and most of our activities were decided by it. Should we play with Pokemon toys, enact a pokemon story, play with dragons, build some legos? Let the dice decide! Should he drink a glass of milk or some strawberry juice? Let's roll the dice! Dinner is almost over, how more bites should he take? The dice said 5... And so on.

And in the evening he asked me to watch the next episode. So I sit down in front of the PC, take him on my knees, start translating... and the little one is showing up next to us: "Papa Dede regard" ("Daddy and Dede are watching" in his form of French). So I took him on my knees too.

So for the next 20 minutes I sat there with my two little boys, watching together a series that I really really liked. And that was the best Christmas present ever.