Monster Truck Messiah

Today, finally---finally-- was the first day of December. And thank goodness, because if Owen had been forced to wait one more day before opening one of his three---yes, three--Advent calendars, he might have put me in a headlock.

It's just further evidence that I'm not as creative as I think. I thought an Advent  calendar would be fun because it would review number concepts and frame the holiday season. It would be a little activity we could share. My mother also had this thought. As did Owen's preschool teacher. Consequently, our fridge is Nativityalicious.

 (The third one is in a book).

As Owen was getting some milk, he looked at the fridge and said, "What's Jesus doing here?"

Oh, that Jesus. He's everywhere--kinda like a ninja.

He also made an Advent Wreath out of play dough and birthday candles.

In an attempt to teach ritual and piety, his preschool teacher inadvertently introduced yet another young boy to the joys of FIRE.

Thanks ever so much, preschool. If this progresses as it did with my brother, it's only a matter of time before Owen's creating Molotov cocktails out of lighters and aerosol cans of Final Net. I can smell the singed eyebrows already.

The ritual of the Advent Wreath is to mark each week of the Advent season by lighting another candle. Owen has decided that it's a glorified birthday cake. Each morning, we'll light the wreath's candle. He'll sing Happy Birthday to Jesus, and blow out the candles for Him. That's fine with me, because if the Son of Man came into my kitchen and blew out His own candles, I would totally shit my pants.

Owen is getting the concept that Christmas commemorates Jesus's birthday. As we were driving around, he mused, "I think that Jesus would like a monster truck for Christmas."

Of course he would. How else would he navigate those sweet jumps at the next rally? That Jesus.

I like my own version of Jesus---the lover of mankind, the bad-ass table tosser, the seeker of justice and ultimate model of humility. But yet, Owen's version---the Jesus that jumps out of the shadows like a ninja, who eats His birthday cake, and then takes His sweet new monster truck for a spin---I could hang with that guy, too.