The best gift I've ever given my husband was on Christmas in 1995: a little book of our son's funny comments from ages 3 to 6. Keep a notebook handy to jot down the things your little one says and does, or keep track of them on your smartphone; they can be compiled into a gift that will bring your family joy for years.

Reading that book I gave my husband is even more meaningful now that our son is about to graduate from college with a degree in computer engineering. Here are some gems from his tattered but true treasury:

Observations about a preschool Christmas pageant: "Mary is going to be Mary. Isn't that great? She won't have to change her name. And Molly is going to be the generator ... you know, the one who says the words."

Directions for Santa: "Where the tree is, that is where Santa should leave my presents. If there is not enough room under the tree, put them on the side."

"There's only three weeks left in school? We don't have enough time to learn all the numbers."

"These Newtons aren't big. Why do they call them Big Newtons?"

On a lifelong love of free-form Lego creation: "I know I didn't follow the map, but that's OK."

"Does God ever skip days?"

"A circle is 360 degrees? How do they make a circle so hot?"

"Some dinosaurs have plates, but you cannot call them dishes."

"If I use my tent in the woods, I am afraid an animal will come along, lift his paws up and untie the strings."

"Does my dad spell letters at work?"

"A power meter is where a whole bunch of power meets."

Getting ready for bedtime: "You can't just start taking somebody's pants off without telling them."

"I don't want to be a firefighter: You have to spring into action. If the bell rings, they can't watch their favorite TV shows. And sometimes they don't get a good night's sleep."

Jumper cables are "extension cords for cars."

Learning to write: "These are the words, but it is not how they are lined up."

About slippers being on the correct feet: "Do these shoes care?"

"Will you do me a favorite?"

And last: "A goodbye isn't bad if there's a hug."