Christmas 08

Christmas is a perfect example of the complexities of life known only to a parent.

This year Esther got a Mrs. Potatohead doll for Christmas. Now, just a touch of background here…the first Mr. Potatohead I remember seeing belonged to Nicole Oilier. She owned one when we lived across the street from her on 900 W, and for me it was love at first sight. I mean, the doll has tons of accessories which can be attached anyway your heart desires and then they can all hide in a special secret compartment. Since that day, I always wanted one. BUT, it was John who chose this particular gift for the little princess. Okay, so in fact I was a touch excited; no, I would not be the proud owner of a Mrs. Potatohead doll, but by bestowing this Holy Grail of toys upon my own child, I would be in close proximity to it. Soon after Mrs. Potatohead emerged from her box, her true character unfolded. Poorly designed, the pieces fall out of the holes, and the union-suit like trapdoor intended for storage almost never stays in place, opened or shut. Esther and I quickly discovered that Mrs. Potatohead’s glasses, earrings, and lips stay on a human better than the artificial tuber. Pieces of Mrs. Potatohead litter the house. Though far from the bane of my life, I gain little pleasure from this long anticipated gift. But Esther cracks me up every time she asks for different pieces of this perpetually disassembled puzzle. “Where’s tatohead?”

This Christmas Erin dispelled another long held wish when she gave me a Chia Pet. Hey, I saw the commercials how many years ago and instantly felt drawn to them. Christmas morning I opened that hippo Chia Pet and quickly got it soaking in water to plant the next day. I carefully followed all the directions and soon “Hairy Hippo” was looking fine. My Chia also came with a little alarm clock which plays the Chia Pet theme song. I chronicled the development of Hairy by photographing each day’s growth, and considered starting a website dedicated to my Chia Pet’s life. About 13 days after Christmas, Hairy sported the perfect Chia coat. 15 days after Christmas Esther gave Hairy a haircut by pulling out all the plants on one side of him. Three days, and 2 “haircuts” later I gave up on dreams of becoming a window horticulturists. The good news is, Hairy was the perfect example for my Relief Society lesson when we read Matthew 13:20-21

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.