The Dark Side

"You are not a jedi yet," our Christmas tree tells us. It's all a talking Darth Vader ornament hanging on one of the lower boughs. He's plugged in with the lights - he talks when the tree lights first get turned on. Madison informs me each time: "He said I'm not a jedi yet."

She almost seems so let down!

One year, the Darth Vader was plugged in a strand of blinking lights. The end result is that you'd hear his breathing - and then it would turn off. Then you'd hear his breathing again as the strand of lights blinked on again. Over and over again this would happen - and our Christmas tree sounded like it was just sitting there in a corner, breathing. Most people would be creeped out by this, but we found it hysterical!

So we have our tree up, and Madison has also decorated her tree as well! Her small pink tree has been with us about three years now - click here to see her the first time she saw the tree in 2009. It's a cute little treasure that Madison enjoys having nearby at Christmas time. It's the new nightlight, but it also is the place where she may find some gifts Christmas morning.

One thing she's hung on her tree is her new Minnie Mouse Ballerina ornament. Also, her Disney Princess ornaments from last year. Another thing she's just hung on the tree are fruit ornaments. Okay, they aren't technically ornaments - they're different fruits on a key ring. All the kids got these at children's church today as we approach the end of our Fruit of the Spirit series. Madison has really enjoyed this series a lot, from skits to videos to the overall message about Galatians 5:22. Of course, she can't list them all. But it has served to instruct her about behavior - how to act and not act with others.

WHICH reminds me: "DON'T BITE YOUR FRIENDS." This may be common sense, but still the folks at "Yo Gabba Gabba" have come up with a catchy song to remind you of just that. For some reason, above all the others, this is the song that Madison wants to sing. "Don't... don't bite your friends!" And soon, the entire family is singing it as well, regrettably. As you can imagine, we've had great fun with this. But it does beg the question: Can you bite other people instead?

This show is so weird. I'm still talking about "Yo Gabba Gabba." It's like an 80's tribute, with quick segments and all sorts of unusual music and dancing. Mommy and Daddy stare at it, trying to figure it out. But Madison loves it right now over most of the other programming on. She's been watching a little "Handy Manny" lately, and of course some Christmas specials. But once the season is over, I fear that it'll be back to even more "Yo Gabba Gabba."

Speaking of not biting your friends, we're putting batteries in some pretty fun Christmas presents that we'll give to our friends at the office. Just testing things out, but it's pretty funny right now. Madison is helping out, and even tucking some of our presents into her nursery upstairs. I was going to write out exactly what it is I'm talking about - but maybe someone is reading this and I don't want to give it away!

Finally, in the news, Daddy is excited that the Gävle Goat was set up in Sweden today. This is a Christmas tradition that goes back quite a few years, but more unusual is the tradition of vandals to burn it down. It's been a back-and-forth sort of battle between those who erect the thing, and those who believe it absolutely must be burned down.

Each year the pro-Goat forces escalate their efforts to keep the Goat standing, by way of guards, webcams and even fire-proof substances. Still, the Goat has only a 45% chance statistically. As of 2011, it has been burned down 32 times, vandalized 7 times, run over once and stolen once. The highlight (or lowlight, depending on your perspective) might be six years ago, when a people dressed up as Santa and a Gingerbread Man shot a flaming arrow at the Goat, burning it down again. Two years ago, there was a burning incident - but last year, the Goat survived. This year, everyone's eyes are on the Gävle Goat once more as it bravely goes up. Here's the Gävle Goat in its own words, taken from its blog this year:

"I am totally exhausted after tonight's inauguration and the celebrations at Castle Square. Thanks to all artists who performed, it was both atmospheric and groovy! I found it hard to stand still at times because it was so groovy. And Rickard Olsson, the compere, did an outstanding job. But I got a bit worried when he said that I was "smoking hot", I'm not sure I liked that.

Thanks to everyone who came to the inauguration despite the weather. It has been pouring rain in Gävle tonight. Rain at the inauguration, that was long ago. The raining increased during the beautiful fireworks that ended the inauguration. As you know, I'm not a big fan of flames, fireworks, pyrotechnics and such, I am always a little ambivalent about the fireworks at the inauguration. But this year it was more beautiful than ever!

Now I'll just stand here tonight and feel happy. And I´ll be dreaming of a white Christmas in Gävle!"

Anti-Goat forces are no doubt planning just the opposite for this poor goat. Even now, they are lurking in dark and shady places, plotting their next strategic attack. The dark side is strong with them!

"The Force is strong with you young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet."

- Darth Vader