One Long Car Ride

For some reason, I'm having lots of bloggable moments this week.  To the best of my recollection, this is a conversation between me and La Nina.  I was trapped in the van with her enroute to a play date.   Remember she's 6 so I'm trying to answer in terms she'll understand.  

La Nina:  Do Jewish people believe in Santa Claus?  

Me (my head snapped up so fast I got a kink in my neck):  Well, no.  Santa is part of Christmas and Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah.  

La Nina:  So, does he bring them presents if they're good?  

Me:  Well, no.  See he brings Christmas presents.  Jewish kids get gifts every night when they light candles.  (Thinking:  I hope that's right.  She's bound to track down a Jewish friend and check my information.)  

La NIna:  But the song says, "Every good girl and boy".  So, that means not Jewish kids.  

Me:  Well, Christmas is a Christian Holiday.  It's Jesus' birthday.  So, only Christians celebrate it.  Lots of people don't celebrate Christmas, so it's hard for Santa to visit them. 

La Nina:  Isn't Friend S Jewish?  

Me:  Yes (Rubbing my temple with one hand while driving...'cuz I'm afraid where she's going to take this.)  

La Nina:  But they have a Christmas tree.  

Me:  His Daddy is Catholic.  His Mommy is Jewish so they celebrate both.  

La Nina:  So, he gets gifts everyday and on Christmas.  

Me:  Yes, I think that's how their family does it.  

The conversation continued for several more minutes with La Nina listing friends and asking about their holiday traditions.  In some cases, I knew and in others I didn't.  By the time we arrived at her play date, I was exhausted from the strain of carefully choosing my words.  As she trotted into her friends house, her friend's mom came out to discuss play date details.  I whined about the questions.  My friend laughed and said, "At least she didn't throw Kawanza at you. I had to look that one up on line."  I guess she's right. 

What's amazing to me is that at six, La Nina is aware that different people celebrate different holidays.  I think I was 11 or 12 before I figured out some people don't celebrate Christmas.  And it's good that she understands the cultural differences of people, but from a parenting perspective, it's harder.  It exposes the myths of Christmas so much earlier and tests my knowledge not only of other traditions, but of my own.   I hope I passed today's test.  I'm planning to get a good night's sleep tonight, so I can be rested for tomorrows. 

Where's the Magster?

With only a couple of days left before Christmas, we finally took the girls to visit Santa.  Alas, one girl wouldn't get within 25 feet of the bearded one.  The other, worried she had not formally requested a Nintendo DS, plopped herself in his lap and had a conversation.  (And I have no idea why this is underlining everything?

Dust Bunnies Threaten Local Family

MY HOME TOWN:  A local woman reported a dust bunny the size of a mountain lion in her suburban home yesterday.  

The woman had just returned from Christmas shopping when the bunny dashed across the entry of her house.  

"At first, I didn't think I saw it right," said the woman, who asked her name be withheld, "but then, it came out and looked me in the eye.  It wasn't even scared. And it wasn't a bunny.  It was the size of a cougar."  

The woman reported the dust 'cougar' threatened her dog before sliding under a credenza in the hall.  Animal control officers were called to the scene to help secure the home.

"We arrived at 2pm and found the woman and her dog penned on the couch," said Officer Smith.  "The bunny was rolling in front of them like a big cat."  

Officer subdued the beast with a high-powered vacuum, then searched the home for any other critters.  According to animal control, six more dust cougars were found hiding in corners, under beds and behind the Little Pony Palace.  

Experts say evil dust bunnies tend to run rampant this time of year.  Women, distracted by shopping, wrapping, baking and parties common, often fall behind on household chores giving bunnies a toe-hold.

"Once those little devils get in some place, they multiple like rabbits," said Smith.  

The dog was removed from the home as a precautionary measure and the woman was given a book of housekeeping tips by Martha Stewart.  The woman, stressed by the holidays, uttered an obscenity at receiving the book and tossed the officers out.

A Wii bit of a dilemma

So, big news in my household.  I won a Wii.  Yep, out of no where, my name was drawn in a contest I never entered and I was the lucky winner of a Wii.  I found out via email early yesterday morning and ran into the bedroom to tell the sleeping Dad.

"Honey," I said giving him a hard shake.  "Honey, I won a Wii."  

"Huh?"  

"A Wii.  I won a Wii,"  I said again.

"If you want to wee, then go."  He rolled over and went back to sleep.  

"No, I don't 'want to wee', I won a Wii,"  I shook him again, then left the room.

It was too early to call anyone, so me and my good news had to just wait around.  When the Dad finally did wake up and realized I didn't have to use the restroom but won a new video game, he was excited.  But little did I know, it would be a big disappointment to someone.  

My stroke of good luck ruined all my mother's plans.  She bought us a family gift this year for Christmas and guess what it was, a Wii.  Yep.  My poor mother who does so much for us was totally messed up thanks to my good luck.  While she's trying to decide what to do with an extra Wii, I thought I'd ask all of you for advice.  She reads this blog and could probably use some help.  Any ideas?  Please comment away.  And Mom, read the comments for some ideas.

Show TIme

Today was quite the day in our house.  We had not one, but two performances to attend.  First, La Nina appeared in her third Nutcracker.  This year she was again a Gingerbread.  Poor La Nina...since this is her second year and because we were so busy today, we completely forgot to snap a picture of her in her Gingerbread outfit.  So, I'm putting in this picture of her.  It was taken last weekend at her dance competition.  She's wearing her competition costume and it characterizes how her day went.  She got up on stage and just nailed her gingerbread dance.  She loves performing.  We were so proud of our little Gingerbread today.  

After a quick lunch and change of clothes, we were off to Maggie's piano 

recital.  She gets very nervous before each recital.  And today was extra tough.  She was up first.  She was slated to play two pieces.  The first went off without a hitch, but there was a communication problem on the second piece.  She practiced a left handed piece all week, but her teacher thought she was playing an easier piece.  So, poor Maggie.  It took a couple of false starts to get her second piece going.  She did fine, but it was unrehearsed.  And she was devastated by the false starts.  In reality, she did an amazing job, playing a surprise piece cold.   And as I told her, it doesn't matter if you're perfect when everything goes as expected, it's how you react to the unexpected that is the measure of a person.  And she measured very tall today.