It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Yoda

"We need to get Zane an Advent calendar," I said.

It was a couple of days after Thanksgiving. Zane had been telling us that it was Christmas every single day...since his birthday in October. And yes, that did get old very fast. Finally, my tiny brain lit up with the idea of the Advent calendar.

The Advent calendar is a way to count the days until Christmas. Each day the child(or adult) opens a little door on the calendar and gets a treat. The treat is usually a piece of chocolate, but there are other calendars out there that have other special treats.  I am trying to get into the spirit of the season; what better way to get into the spirit than with a piece of chocolate a day?

"Lego makes an Advent calendar," Larry replied to my suggestion of the calendar. "They make a Lego Star Wars Advent calendar, too."

I couldn't help but have an involuntary reaction at the idea.  My eye twitched at the thought of yet more tiny pieces lurking in my carpet waiting to jab me in the foot, but if Lego Star Wars would help Zane count the days until Christmas, I would do my best to live with it. Plus, it would be worth it for the little Yoda minifigure in the Santa outfit. We purchased the calendar.

The night before December 1st, I found my husband looking at a tray full of tiny Lego parts. He had opened the box and pulled out everything. I screamed a little; I had assumed that he knew how Advent calendars worked. He did not.  He's from East Texas;  they only sell fruitcakes there.  Well, fruitcakes and nativity scenes made of extra deer parts.  I made that last part up.  I hope.

"You don't know how an advent calendar works?!!!"  And of course I got that tone in my voice.  The "Are you an idiot?" tone.  It's not what you say, it's how you say it.  The secret to a harmonious marriage is to never use that tone with your spouse.  After several minutes of irritated and annoyed whispering(Zane was asleep in the next room), peace in the house resumed.  I showed Larry how to put the calendar back and we taped up the box.

December 1st dawned, and Zane seemed pretty excited about opening the first door and putting together the little figures with help from his father.  December 2nd was also fun, as was the 3rd.  The 4th...

You know that rule about fish and house guests stinking after three days?  The rule also apparently applies to Advent calendars.  Zane lost interest. To be fair, he's only four.  The average attention span of  a four year old kid is what, 43.6 seconds?  But it's all good--Larry has been having a great time opening up all the doors and putting the figures together. 

On the plus side, Zane has stopped asking if it is Christmas yet.