Danger at the Manger

I'm always amazed at how different boys and girls play. Girls: dolls, princesses, queens, land of puppy dog tails, yada, yada.

Boys: pirates, knights, weapons, you get the idea.

Now, when I was growing up my mom had this caroling family that she set out every year at Christmas. I loved it and even asked her if I could have it when she died. She didn't like the idea of her stuff with a name tag on it waiting for her demise, so she gave it to me when I got married.

She used to let me play with that caroling family and I would make up little stories about them traveling from house to house, having tea parties, riding in their carriage to the next Christmas party, that sort of thing.

The tradition continues in my own home. I let the kids play with various pieces of our nativity sets, as long as their careful. Remember, boys play differently.

I was walking through the kitchen the other day when I noticed three wise men and a shepherd with a Pizza Hut coupon for a free personal pan pizza. They were all placed in such a way that it appeared they were carrying it. When I asked Jonathan about it, he said the wise men and shepherd were taking the coupon to their leader so they could fight the bad guys. I told him fine, just as long as they protect the oranges and don't fall and break.

Last week, David had his entire nativity set - three wise men, Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus - all on the couch. They aren't breakable so I wasn't too worried about it. What disturbed me was that they were on a stool on top of the couch and they were surrounded by the Imperial Army. Apparently, Darth Vader had found their location and there was serious danger at the manger. I noticed later on that the wise men had been moved from the stool on top of the couch and were attempting a sneak attack on the Imperial Army. Let's hope justice prevailed.

I have always known that the boys were creative and that their creativity always involved a war, nuclear attack, or pirates. Right before Thanksgiving, they were outside doing a joust then decided to fashion rocks and sticks into spears and became, no lie, "canniboobs". After holding in my laughter and doing a little investigation, I discovered they meant cannibals.

But is it okay to do that with a nativity set? You know, Baby Jesus, pure and innocent all of a sudden wrapped at the center of an intergalactic catastrophe? Is that okay?

Those questions will have to be answered later. For now, I'll have to settle for peace talks in the kitchen between Santa and the pirates. It's either jump down the chimney or hand over the loot. I think Santa has this all wrapped up.