Here is one of my favorite Christmas memories:

Our oldest son Shayne had been asking for a dog since he was able to speak.  We would always tell him “when you’re 10”.  After a few years he stopped asking.  And then, years later, after we had assumed he had completely forgotten, he turned 10.  And then, as though we had just had the conversation yesterday and not 6 years prior he says “so now I can get a dog, right?”

My wife and I decided to surprise him at Christmas along with our other two kids, Jakob and Claire (age 6 and 3 at the time).  As Shayne came out of his room (well prior to dawn!) on Christmas Day he was greeted by a furry ball of energy Norbert who immediately attempted to lick Shayne’s face off.  Shayne played and wrestled with our little beagle puppy for about ten minutes before looking up at us and asking “so, uh, whose puppy is this?”  Shayne, never being a morning person, apparently hadn’t caught on that this was the newest addition to our family.  Four years later, Norbert still follows Shayne everywhere.