December 15, 2006

A Step In The Right Direction


Christmas cards are mailed! As is the packet of art work and photos for Little BIL in Korea. I'm feeling very accomplished at the moment. Now if only my house would clean its self...that would be something! Maybe I need my own Aunt Bea.

I haven't heard how bad it is up Inkling's way, but rumor has it's not good. I'm beginning to wonder how Henry David had the nerve to drag her off to Canada to endure all kinds of nasty weather. What we'll do for love.
I made B.B.'s "tocolate take" yesterday. Every time I turn around he's rolled a kitchen chair up to the island, pried the lid off the cake pan, and is sticking his fingers in the frosting. If you were to come to visit, I'd offer you a piece, but I don't suggest you eat it.
Baby Girl has been asking for a Fairy Wishing Dora for Christmas. I checked it out at Wal-Mart on Tuesday and was totally unimpressed. It was hard plastic and talks. That's it. How is she supposed to play with that? I told her we weren't getting it (Husband agrees with me) and she was not happy. I believe it went something like, "Then you're a bad mom and I hate you." Sorry, Baby Girl. I'd rather you had a toy you'll enjoy for more than 20 minutes.
What ever happened to toys that would stimulate their imaginations? I had a cardboard kitchen that lasted until Bubba became mobile. Baby Girl's plays music, lights up, and uses ice to color change the food in the oven. My baby dolls came with a bottle and a blanket. Now they poop, and learn to talk, and grow, and can recognize food props. And don't even get me started on Furby...I realize Furby's old news (not even sure you can find them now), but I despise the things. Give me a naked baby doll, a dish towel, a plastic dump truck, and a big cardboard box any day.
Maybe this is why we don't do big things at Christmas and Birthdays. Don't get me wrong, they get toys. They get clothes. They just don't get enough to fill their bedrooms each holiday. A few (2-3) toys each, a pair of PJ's, and a book or two. I want them to enjoy the holidays, but I want them to remember the real reason we're celebrating...and it isn't because Barbie has new Bling!

5 comments:

Inkling said...

I think you should give Baby Girl a big cardboard box, some wallpaper scraps, some tape, some crayons or very washable markers, some fabric scraps, and tell her to make her own fairy castle. Then I'd come and play with her. Who needs a dumb plastic Dora doll? Surely the toy company knows our imaginations are better than THAT!

And by the way, yes, Canadians regularly celebrate Christmas. It's the day before Boxing Day, you know. It's just that my church didn't exist before last May, so this is their first Christmas. In May they became a church split or a plant......depending on whether your pessimistic or optimistic. =)

Nan said...

FW, I wrote about this last year, but I don't think I knew you then. I got the gkids a little nativity scene at Kirklands, then counted the figures so it would come out right. Every day they add a new figure, saving baby Jesus until Christmas morning. Then when they get up, before they open their gifts or anything like that, they add baby Jesus and sing Happy Birthday to him. I thought you might enjoy that with your kids.

Lauren said...

cate, what a neat tradition! my baby is getting the fisher price little people nativity set from her gramma, so maybe i'll start that next year!

you're right, farm wife, teaching them to remember the real reason we're celebrating is so important!!!!

i have a cousin who took her family on a mission trip with YWAM one Christmas... they called it "giving christmas back to Jesus."

Lauren said...

oh, and baby bear has toys in the next room, but guess what she wants to drag out? the pots and their lids.

Anonymous said...

A friend of mine gives each of her two children three gifts each, using that to retell the story of the birth of Jesus and the three wise men.

I think you have the right attitude and even though you are getting lip right now, well I am sure it will pay off later on when they find themselves remembering the true meaning of Christmas.

-Ragged