Last weekend we took Simon to Toys R Us to purchase a few toys using the gift cards he received for his birthday. Simon is really interested in the sirens he hears going by the house. Being that we are in the city and relatively near a high rise home for the elderly and a children's hospital, we hear sirens quite often. Usually, Simon stops what he is doing to listen and then asks to "see it?" We explain that the siren can't be seen, it's on a different block. Our front windows look out on the courtyard of the complex and our back windows look over an alley and the backs of other buildings. Even if we rushed to the windows at the first sound of alarm, there would be no opportunity for emergency vehicle viewing. So we decided the perfect gift for Simon would be a fire truck or an ambulance - something with lights and a siren. You would think the task would be easy (and here is where you should feel free to recommend small toys that match that description) but as we meandered through the store it became clear that the perfect emergency vehicle was nowhere to be found. Don't kids love trucks with lights and sounds? Maybe fire trucks are not in season. In any case, we finally discovered this truck. It looked pretty cool on the outside of the box so we brought it home. We put it together and then searched the empty box to find the fireman who works the moving parts. No fireman. "Action figure sold separately" can be found inside the manual inside the box in very fine print.

Simon woke up from his nap to find the fire truck in the middle of the living room. At first he was really excited, then he was perplexed, then he was frustrated, and then he was angry. He tried putting his foot in the fireman's compartment to see what would happen before giving up. What is fun about pushing a truck around? "See? You can move the ladder!" said Hava. "Push da button!" cried Simon. (In the world of Simon every toy has a button.)

Matthew saved the day by walking out in the intense heat to the store (next door) to purchase batteries (not included). Lights flashed, sirens roared, and the toy was given a temporary reprieve.