how do you explain the odds of winning things to a kid? we have been eating go-gurt by the bucketload, simply because my oldest son is convinced he's going to win the gameboy prize promised to him on the outside of the box. every time we open a new go-gurt, he goes into depression for about 3 good minutes. "how come i didn't win my gameboy, mom? it says on the box 'you may be the lucky winner of a gameboy advance.'" every time we buy a new box, i tell him "i don't think you will be a winner. only one person in a million will win that gameboy. please don't be disappointed."

still, he remains undaunted. i guess he's on a mission to eat a million boxes of go-gurt.

and then there's the whole wishing thing. they have a fountain in the mall where kids throw pennies and make wishes. last night, both kids threw pennies. my youngest son said "i wished that my brother would go in my ear and come out my nose."

now, my oldest, you don't even even have to ask."i wished for a gameboy advance. when will it get here?"

he's been looking for it ever since. he thinks it's going to show up in the mail today. i wanted to tell him that wishes are silly and they don't come true, but that just felt wrong. why shouldn't a kid believe in wishes?

this gameboy quest has been going on for two years now. he's obsessed. i haven't given in yet, because i don't want a zombie kid who's addicted to video games (too late). he got ahold of a gameboy on the way to montana when he turned four and THIS IS NO LIE...his thumbnails turned this funky blue color and FELL OFF.

he's efforts of getting a gameboy are quite impressive. he has saved up $60 so far, he has eaten his weight in go-gurt, he has wished himself silly, he even told his dad that if they found the right parts, he could build one.

despite all this, he is optimistic. he keeps looking at his calendar and calculating. i know what's going on inside that amazing head of his. he knows the exact number of days until santa comes. he also knows that santa delivers, santa is the KING of wishes come true.

dang. he has us over a barrel. who invented this santa guy anyway?