As if the pressures of the Christmas season aren’t overwhelming enough. . .  The commercial advertisements for the kids’ networks flash every single new toy in existence resulting in ear-piercing shrills throughout our homes of, “I WANT THHHHHATTTTT, MOM!”

But apparently kids today are starting out younger than ever raising the bar of expectation for Santa.  This is yet another reason why I have such a struggle with the whole concept. But I won’t jump on my soap-box.

Maybe I’ll just see if the fat man in the red suit can handle Sophie’s latest desire.

Yesterday Sophie and I braved some last minute shopping.  I pulled up to the Beef Jerky Outlet to purchase my father-in-law’s present.  Yes, we have one of those.  It’s in the shopping center next to Bass Pro.  Where else would it be?

I guess all of the shopping centers look alike to Sophie.  She very excitedly said, “AWWWWW, VERIZON! So I can get a new phone! Because my Blackberry doesn’t work.”

Sigh.  I did not laugh out loudly but rather muffled chuckles.

In case you’re wondering, she has what I have dubbed a FAKEberry.  It’s one of those very heavy things that pose as a Blackberry chained to the displays in the Verizon store.  It feels and looks like a Blackberry at first glance but alas, it is a FAKEberry.  One of the employees happily gave it to Sophie when we purchased our first phones during the Alltel/Verizon merge.

Apparently Sophie is no longer fooled by the fake phone.  She is, however, well learned in the use of my LG Envy Touch.  She can quickly find my favorites, locate the picture of the person she wants to call, and she’s in business.  It’s quite entertaining, actually.  She has called her Poppy to tell on Cammie several times for not letting her hold baby Gavin.  She’s told her Nana that I needed her to come over to help me make her dad’s birthday Sugar-free Mississippi Mud and on another occasion that I said for them to come over.

And then last week, I received a call from Courtney while she was in between classes at school.  “MOM, Sophie keeps calling me.  Tell her to stop.”  Guess someone shouldn’t have her cell phone at school.

I suppose we’ll see if Santa is part of the Verizon network.

Can you hear me now, Santa?