Someone else's life

I just received a copy of an email that a friend wrote to his relatives regarding Christmas gift suggestions for his family. It is an amazing window into someone else's life. (Names have been deleted to protect the affected parties...and in hopes of not giving away any gift surprises)

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From: [Family unit representative]
To: [Relatives]
Date: November 17, 2008
Subject: X-mas

[Toddler son] is growing. He needs clothes perpetually. His belly is growing faster then his body so go wide. Seriously you may want to by a +1 size. IE 2T not 1T.

I like computers: theres a game that just came out called Fallout 3. Would love that. I also am tapped out on iTunes.

[Wife], you need to axe her. She likes house stuff the most. We just got new computer desks, new bedroom blinds and were finishing our kitchen table top. That might give idears. She likes iTunes as well.

We may be buying [pre-teen daughter] a new [surprise] for xmas. That might help you. She's also growing like a weed and always likes clothes for school.

[Four year old son]: no weapons, no pointy things, no caffine, nothing that can be used as a weapon or tool to damage a person or another object. No more plastic shit. Nothing electric, nothing that gets hot or even warm, nothing that needs a battery, nothing that winds up with a spring and can be launched at someone, nothing with a hook or the ability to snag something else, nothing that stains, can be stained or may absorb stains, like blood, nothing corrosive, nothing with rubber bands, no live animals, no dead animals or dead animal parts, nothing that attaches to a tongue or eyelid, nothing that may impede his rapid transportation to the bathroom, no bathroom toys that make bubbles or soap or noises, nothing that makes any sounds at all, especially if it needs batteries and he enjoys the sound, no items that can dig dirt, turn dirt, trow dirt, push or pull dirt or transport dirt from outside to inside, nothing that fits in my shoe god dammit, no water squirting, absolutely no vhs tapes (refer to weapons clause above), nothing that can be thrown with enough mass to hurt [toddler son], none of those hands on a stick things that grasp shit, and no peanuts of course. He likes trains.