Santa Claus

1 Comment Posted on December 16, 2014December 18, 2014 funny, parenting, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: Meeting Santa With Sophie At Bass Pro Shop (Lexus RX 450h Weekend)

4 years, 1 month.

Dear Jack,

Two years ago, when you had just turned 2, Mommy and I took you to go meet Santa Claus for the first time at the Bass Pro Shop in Nashville.

Last year you expressed zero interest in seeing Santa again, so we let you off the hook.

But this year, your best friend Sophie just happened to be visiting Nashville again since she moved nearly a year ago, in February.

As expected, you brought your illuminating sword we had bought you the night before at Marvel Universe Live. Just as appropriate on her end, Sophie brought her Anna doll.

I enjoyed watching the two you play together in front of the fish tank with your gender-specific toys.

Having still an hour to go before your appointment with Santa, we decided to hang out at the Lexus RX 450h that our family was reviewing this week.

With Sophie’s 4^th birthday on December 21^st, we decided to give her both her birthday and Christmas gifts there in the back of the Lexus; which sort of transformed into a stage, as we parents watched the endearing entertainment.

Your birthday gift to Sophie was very special; a penguin from Whole Foods- the exact same one as you have, who you named Pingy.

We still had a solid 30 minutes or so after, so we headed back into Bass Pro Shop to check out the activities for kids; like coloring funny pictures, racing cars, engineering trains, and “hunting.”

When it came time to go see Santa, we learned that Sophie is troubled by gloves; she just doesn’t like them.

So I explained to Santa and he agreed to remove them for the picture, which he gladly agreed to as he did his best to hide the confused look in his eyes and as I tried not to laugh. Notice the picture below of him removing them…

As you can see from the picture at the very top, Santa was wearing no gloves for the picture of you and Sophie on his lap.

And of all random things, the one and only thing you asked Santa for was… a pinball machine.

Yes, a pinball machine. Granted, our new house is going to have more space than our town house that we’ve been living in all these years, but still, I don’t think you’re exactly sure of what a pinball machine really is.

Turns out, I learned that last week your teacher Ms. Michelle created a pinball machine concept for your class to play with. So that’s where you got the idea. Now to figure out how I’m going to arrange that with Santa. Time for me to start Googling “small pinball machines”…

Fun and unforgettable memories were made, that’s for sure. And if it all works out, we’ll be visiting Sophie again the day after Christmas, while reviewing another Lexus.

Love,

Daddy

Catch up on the entire series of the Lexus RX 450h Weekend. A lot of exiciting things happened!

2014 Lexus RX 450h 5-DR SUV (DVD Player Equipped): Family Friendly Review

Dear Jack: Marvel Universe Live- Family Friendly Review (Lexus RX 450h Weekend)

Dear Jack: Meeting Santa With Sophie At Bass Pro Shop (Lexus RX 450h Weekend)

Dear Jack: Jacob’s 5th Birthday Party In A Tractor Store (Lexus RX 450h Weekend)

Dear Jack: The Old Abandoned Silo Tower On Main Street in Spring Hill, TN (Lexus RX 450h Weekend)

Dear Jack: Our New House’s Shutters, Mailbox, & Interior Paint (Lexus RX 450h Weekend)

Leave a comment Posted on December 4, 2014 funny, infographic, Uncategorized

New Infographic: What Would It Take to Store Santa’s Gifts?

I assume, like most kids, I was confused and troubled by the complicated logistics involved in Santa’s overnight delivery to all the (good) kids in the world… in a single night.

Not only would there be physical restrictions, but financial ones as well. Even with all the free labor (?) of the elves, I still questioned how Santa could budget such a feat.

Now, as an adult, thanks to this new inforgraphic, I can get confirmation that I had everyone reason to feel unsettled aboutall this.

So here it is, “What Would It Take To Store Santa’s Gifts?”

Enjoy.

Courtesy of: SpareFoot Storage Finder

Leave a comment Posted on November 4, 2014November 4, 2014 reviews, Spirituality, Uncategorized

Buck Denver Asks… Why Do We Call It Christmas? DVD: Family Friendly Review

This past Saturday evening we had a “family movie night”… we saw the Buck Denver Asks… Why Do We Call It Christmas? DVD.

It is made by the creator of Veggie Tales, Phil Vischer, so you already know that it’s a quality production.

Not only is it high quality production, but it is also very informative, as well as funny.

My son’s favorite part was the blue flying squirrel. Of course, there are also robots and pirates!

The Buck Denver Asks… Why Do We Call It Christmas? DVD does a great job of giving answers to the questions about the traditions of Christmas that most of us have never got around to asking or looking up:

Why is it called “Christmas?”
Why do we celebrate on December 25th?
What year was Jesus really born?
What do Christmas trees have to do with Jesus?
Where did Santa Claus come from?
Which came first – Christmas or Hanukkah? And which one did Jesus celebrate?
What are the “12 Days of Christmas?”
How does the name “Emmanuel” explain the real meaning of Christmas?

The humor is aimed at adults as well as kids. I feel that had this been a Disney production, the jokes would have contain innuendos.

But with the Buck Denver Asks… Why Do We Call It Christmas? DVD, I feel the humor is instead a capitalization of “awkward moments.” The puppet characters are more relatable and lifelike because of it.

I’m not sure that it’s being marketed this way, but in addition for home entertainment, this DVD would make a perfect and extremely addition to your church library.

In fact, I would even say it would make an essential addition.

I noticed that this the Buck Denver Asks… Why Do We Call It Christmas? DVD is very “Catholic friendly.” I know that might sound like a strange comment, but it’s evident to me that this DVD is not simply geared towards Baptists, as I feel a lot of “Christian entertainment” is.

Though I’m not Catholic myself, I sort of feel like Catholics get the short end sometimes in regards to being marketed to alongside Protestants.

However, the approach and narrative in this DVD includes Catholics in the same boat as Protestants; in that we all are believers and followers of Christ, as our spiritual salvation.

With all that being said, even if you are not a religious person, instead even the biggest skeptic, I still believe you would find this DVD to be enlightening.

If nothing else, you’re going to learn answers to questions you’ve probably always wondered, but never asked, about how the ways we celebrate Christmas actually goes back to the birth of Christ.

And one lucky reader (in the U.S. or Canada) will win a free copy of this book today…

Just be the first person to post on the Facebook wall for Family Friendly Daddy Blog (not a private message), asking me, “Did I just win the Buck Denver Asks… Why Do We Call It Christmas? DVD?”

If you’re the first person to do so, I will respond by saying yes… After that, I will follow up by getting your address to give to the publisher so they can send you your won copy!

Update: A winner was found within just a few minutes of this post going live. The giveaway portion is now complete.

Tamera Ballard

Today at 9:21pm

“Did I just win the Buck Denver Asks… Why Do We Call It Christmas? DVD?”

1Like Like ·

Family Friendly Daddy Blog Yes, Tamera Ballard, you sure did! (Just send me your mailing address and I’ll make sure the agency gets it out in the mail in the morning Thanks for reading!

Like · Reply · a few seconds ago

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: ‘Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising’):

Many thanks to Propellor Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Leave a comment Posted on July 20, 2014 parenting, Storytelling

My Kid is Fascinated With And/Or Terrified By Santa Claus

December 11, 2013 at 10:46 pm , by Nick Shell

3 years.

Dear Jack,

In the midst of all the fun holiday traditions our family has participated in so far this season, like going on a couple of hay rides and driving around to check out Christmas lights, one thing we haven’t done this year is officially go visit Santa and let you get your picture made with him.

Last Saturday when we saw The Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring The Rockettes, we could have easily walked from the Grand Ole Opry to the nearly adjoining Opry Mills Mall and got your picture taken (for free) with Santa, at the Bass Pro Shop.

I just looked it up in my dadabase of The Dadabase, and almost exactly a year ago I wrote you a letter called “The Obligatory Facebook Picture Of Your Kid With Santa.”

Interestingly enough, I ended it with this proclamation:

“So here it is; this is the obligatory picture of you with Santa that I shared on Facebook. You may not remember it happening. Either way, I’m sure we’ll be back at Bass Pro Shop again for your Santa picture next year.”

Wrong.

Mommy and I asked you several times during the past couple of weeks if you wanted to go get your picture made with Santa again.

Each time, you calmly muttered no.

I figure, why push the issue? So don’t worry about it, kid. We don’t have to go.

My assessment of the situation is this: You’re equally fascinated with Santa Claus as much as you are terrified by him. I think that’s pretty normal for a 3 year-old boy. Santa is exciting (and safe) from a distance, in other words.

You don’t want to sit on his lap, yet you think he’s really cool and keep asking me if he (and the Rockettes) are going to give you a gift for Christmas.

Actually, I should be thanking you. You saved me a trip to the mall during the Christmas holidays!

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on July 17, 2014 Nostalgia, parenting

Vacation Destination: “The Snow” To See Santa Claus

September 4, 2013 at 10:47 pm , by Nick Shell

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