Monster Man

Ever since Andy returned from his night at the Monster Truck Rally, Alton has been eager to see big four-wheelers everywhere! He has a few books that mention monster trucks in them, but lately any pick-up larger than a Ford Ranger (and sometimes he even makes those an exception) has been referred to as a "Monder Guck." Our next-door neighbors' truck is lifted, and Alton excitedly points out this monster specimen each time we pass it.
Recognizing this new fad with the little guy, his Grammy and Grandpa decided for his birthday to give him some monster trucks of his own: his first Hot Wheels! The set arrived with a teeny truck-jumping arena, complete with crushable cars to jump over, a spinout, and a slingshot to launch the little trucks into the air. The arena might still be a little advanced for him (you have to be really strong to pull back that spring to launch the trucks!), but the three little monster trucks he received have gotten a LOT of attention over the past few days.
Here he is, excited for Mommy to hurry up already and open up the box.

Pieces!!! Even though I don't know what they do!!!

The trucks are inseparable and he insists on always playing with the three of them at once. He lines them up, drives them over table and couch terrain, hides them behind furniture--the works.

We found out that the trucks are actually diminutive replicas of real vehicles in the professional monster truck circuit (scary to think that in the future Alton might already know this without us having to look it up!), and the "Blue Thunder" on the far right was Grammy and Grandpa's way of giving Alton his own little truck that is blue like Daddy's! The truck in the middle is detailed to look like a dog, complete with a tongue hanging out of the front grille. Alton says "Tongue," and sticks his own out every time he sees it.

Gotta go--Alton wants to off-road over the keyboard.