Friday, December 21, 2018

7 Quick Takes about Nativity Mashups, Positive Affirmations in the Rearview Mirror, and Moonwalking to Classical Music

It's 7 Quick Takes Friday! How was your week?

1


Merry Christmas from this broken wise man! He's been sitting on the counter waiting to be Crazy Glued for 2 weeks so yeah, I guess you could say Christmas prep is going swimmingly.

7 Quick Takes Friday is a good way to laugh, cry, and laugh again about the chaos that happens in a big family. I'd be honored if you laughed along at our holiday-themed parenting mishaps of the last 7 days. #7quicktakes #7qt #bigfamily #largefamily #momlife #real #unremarkablefiles
Thinking it might be easier to just change this wise man to John the Baptist and leave him this way.

I'm writing this on what feels suspiciously like the beginning of a stomach bug, so it isn't looking like this guy is getting his head back anytime soon, either.

2


Speaking of nativity sets, we also have a plastic Little People Nativity. We got it several years ago and bring it out every year in December for the kids to play with.

7 Quick Takes Friday is a good way to laugh, cry, and laugh again about the chaos that happens in a big family. I'd be honored if you laughed along at our holiday-themed parenting mishaps of the last 7 days. #7quicktakes #7qt #bigfamily #largefamily #momlife #real #unremarkablefiles

In theory, it sounds like a great idea. What could be better that a Jesus-themed toy at Christmas? Except that the actual nativity story gets acted out for about 2.5 seconds and then it's all, "AGGGGGHHHHH! Baby Jesus is falling off the cliff!" and their imagination takes it about as far from the scriptures as it could go from there.

Seriously, though, I do love the Little People set. I use it in my nursery lessons and teaching my kids about the first Christmas and my daughter even brought it to kindergarten once for show-and-tell. I think it even comes in time for Christmas if you get in on Amazon today with my affiliate link here.

Just don't be surprised when you see the set used for some unconventional play. Last I saw, the kids were spooning the figures out of a salad spinner with a ladle.

3


At school my kindergartner filled out this "About Me" booklet, with a different prompt on every page about their favorite thing to do, the food they like best, and so on.

I have never been prouder when I turned to this page:

7 Quick Takes Friday is a good way to laugh, cry, and laugh again about the chaos that happens in a big family. I'd be honored if you laughed along at our holiday-themed parenting mishaps of the last 7 days. #7quicktakes #7qt #bigfamily #largefamily #momlife #real #unremarkablefiles
You don't have to know how to spell to love Dollar Tree.

I legitimately love Dollar Tree. Yes, it does carry some things that are just junk and you have to know to avoid them, but mostly it's just awesome. If you buy stocking stuffers, gift bags, posterboard, kids' craft supplies, or toilet bowl brushes anywhere else, you're doing life wrong.

I could go on. Watch my infomercial at 11.

4


One of the things I appreciate about my kids is how they never write "WASH ME" in the dust on the rear window of the van. They're way more creative.

Sometimes what they write is Harry Potter-themed, other times it's just funny drawings. Or sometimes, like I noticed while sitting at a red light and looking in my rearview mirror, it's a nice little message for the drivers around me:

7 Quick Takes Friday is a good way to laugh, cry, and laugh again about the chaos that happens in a big family. I'd be honored if you laughed along at our holiday-themed parenting mishaps of the last 7 days. #7quicktakes #7qt #bigfamily #largefamily #momlife #real #unremarkablefiles
"I love evryone. Have a nice day!"

Maybe the kids want to spread a little holiday cheer and goodness, or maybe they know what a bad driver I am and they're trying to soften people's attitudes when I accidentally cut them off in traffic.

Either way, I appreciate the effort.

5


One of our Christmas traditions is going somewhere to see The Nutcracker ballet with whichever kids are interested in seeing it.

This year, though, we decided to try something a little different. We went to The Hip Hop Nutcracker.

7 Quick Takes Friday is a good way to laugh, cry, and laugh again about the chaos that happens in a big family. I'd be honored if you laughed along at our holiday-themed parenting mishaps of the last 7 days. #7quicktakes #7qt #bigfamily #largefamily #momlife #real #unremarkablefiles

I didn't really know what to expect, other than hip hop, obviously.

The show was set in modern-day NYC (although they did travel back in time to an '80s nightclub called The Land of Sweets,) and just like in the original the story was told through dance (although it was popping and locking instead of arabesque-ing.) Drosselmeyer was like Michael Jackson in a cape. It was pretty awesome.

Before the show, an emcee came out to pump up the crowd with some old school hop-hop and get everybody in a partying mood. I may or may not have lost my voice a little. (Note: only take your 14-year-old to an event that involves you jumping to House of Pain's "Jump around" right next to them if you have an extremely secure relationship.)

7 Quick Takes Friday is a good way to laugh, cry, and laugh again about the chaos that happens in a big family. I'd be honored if you laughed along at our holiday-themed parenting mishaps of the last 7 days. #7quicktakes #7qt #bigfamily #largefamily #momlife #real #unremarkablefiles
DJ Boo, mixing the music for the show.

We probably won't see this one every year, but it was fun. It was breakdancing and Tchaikovsy, what else can I say?

6


I finished addressing the last of our Christmas cards and did something I've been meaning to do for a long time.

Not only is it super-annoying and time-consuming to flip around the pages of my address book, but it's dumb because the only time I even use my physical address book is to address Christmas cards.

Several people have married/divorced and changed their names, but I never updated the book. Others have moved into their late parents' houses but I was too lazy to find a pencil and eraser so I just left both entries. Plus, my book dates back to 2001 so I don't even remember who 25% of the people in there are.

It's a mess in there.

So I finally chucked my book and made a spreadsheet on my computer to use for Christmas cards next year. It took 15 minutes and is infinitely better. I don't know why it took me so long.

Same reason I never just got out an eraser, I guess.

7


I'm so excited for the end of the day today, when school and work are done. I used to feel bad for people who said they were doing "nothing" over holidays, but now I know that's the most delightful thing a busy family can possibly do together.

We haven't even seen a Christmas movie yet because there hasn't been a 2-hour stretch where everyone is home at the same time (and doesn't have homework.)

My first thing on our Christmas break to-do list was watch Elf, and you can hardly imagine my disappointment when every single one of my kids vetoed it. Loudly. According to them, Buddy creates such awkward social situations that it makes them physically uncomfortable.

So I guess I'm the only member of this family who enjoys social awkwardness. Go figure.

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2 comments:

AnneMarie said...

Now that my oldest is 2 1/2 and very aware of all things Christmas and Advent, our Little People set has gotten all over the house. I'm seriously finding the figures in all sorts of random places! Okay...that hip hop Nutcracker has me intrigued. Part of me is repulsed by the idea, but part of me thinks that it could be cool (like the Hamilton musical, except for the Nutcracker). Hmm. I'm glad that you enjoyed it!

Jenny Evans said...

I have found all the pieces everywhere, too. Last year several months had gone by since we put all the Christmas stuff away and I found the angel under the baseboard heater in the bathroom.