It's a Lego Advent calendar. I never had an Advent calendar as a kid, but my best friend in elementary school did, and though I liked the idea of counting down the days and popping open the little cardboard windows for each day, I remember being distinctly let down by the so-called "chocolate" contained within, which was chalky and dry and tasted a lot like those shell-shaped hand soaps people keep for show in the guest bathroom. But therein lies the beauty of the Lego Advent calendar. No shitty candy, just little Lego trinkets. I think each little window contains a small little Lego thing, anywhere between five and ten small pieces, that fit together to make a little minifigure or Christmas tree or toy airplane, what have you.
Let me be the first to say that yes, I am aware that this is a total rip-off, because look, it barely amounts to a handful of Legos in the end, and it's not exactly like there's a lot of building involved. Also, some of the pieces seem to be of unclear Lego/holiday significance, like Dog and Cat Eyeing a Hot Dog:
...or Angry Santa Takes a Shower While Wearing a Thong:
...but whatever, it's still better than waxy pellets of chocolate in the shape of the Baby Jesus.
Let me be the first to say that yes, I am aware that this is a total rip-off, because look, it barely amounts to a handful of Legos in the end, and it's not exactly like there's a lot of building involved. Also, some of the pieces seem to be of unclear Lego/holiday significance, like Dog and Cat Eyeing a Hot Dog:
...or Angry Santa Takes a Shower While Wearing a Thong:
...but whatever, it's still better than waxy pellets of chocolate in the shape of the Baby Jesus.
Cal found the box for the Lego Advent calendar a week and a half ago (I thought I hid it well, up on a high bookcase, but he must have some sort of Lego divining rod, it's the only logical explanation) and I discussed with him how this was all going to work, how he was going to open one little window each day up until Christmas, but we weren't going to start until December 1st, because each little window has a number on it, etcetera etcetera.
He listened very carefully and nodded and then the second I stopped talking promptly poked his finger into the perforated hole for December 1st.
He listened very carefully and nodded and then the second I stopped talking promptly poked his finger into the perforated hole for December 1st.
"I just wanted to make sure that it works," he explained sulkily, after I extricated the box from his hands and returned it to its shadowy bookshelf home on high.
So anyway, tomorrow is finally December 1st, and I told Cal that Wednesday evening, after dinner and bath and snacktime, if he was very very good and was nice to his little brother and did everything the way he was supposed to, we would open up the first little window, and then one every day up until Christmas Eve, as the Lord and the good people at Legoland intended.
Not until last night did I realize that I'm actually on call tomorrow evening, so I won't even be here tomorrow night. Oops. I hope Joe remembers.
Even if Joe forgets... I'm sure Cal will remember! :D
ReplyDeleteIs it bad that I'm like in my mid-twenties but still want one of these? Lego was one of my favourite toys as a kid!
So, you've tasted those little soaps in the guest bathroom?? :)
ReplyDeleteThey looked so delicious is all.
ReplyDeleteIs that Santa or a homeless man taking a shower? Either way, it's a little bit creepy. What in the world was Lego thinking?
ReplyDeleteOn another note, my mother-in-law met some Lego representative at a speech pathology meeting (or some story approximating that, I can't remember), and he told her that the pleural of lego is still lego (no "s"). I still insist on saying legos, because anything else sounds so silly, but she's driving me nuts with her reminders of my poor grammar. I'm holding out, though!
The only time I was near an Advent calendar was when I was an exchange student in Germany. How I wish my host parents had thought of this but they'd never have though, too capitalistic and American (there was a slight bias...). I got the last square by accident and there was a rat inside. I love rats, I'm a vet and do exotic animals as well, rats have a vocalisation for laughter and are just generally adorable - but this a sewer rat. It did rather detract from the whole experience.
ReplyDeleteThe only time I was near an Advent calendar was when I was an exchange student in Germany. How I wish my host parents had thought of this but they'd never have though, too capitalistic and American (there was a slight bias...). I got the last square by accident and there was a rat inside. I love rats, I'm a vet and do exotic animals as well, rats have a vocalisation for laughter and are just generally adorable - but this a sewer rat. It did rather detract from the whole experience.
ReplyDeleteOooh, envious! The only time I was near an Advent calendar was when I was an exchange student in Germany. How I wish my host parents had thought of this but they'd never have though, too capitalistic (there was a slight bias...). I had the very last square and there was a rat inside. I love rats, I'm a vet and do exotic animals as well, rats have a vocalisation for laughter and are generally adorable - but this a sewer rat. It did rather detract from the whole cultural immersion.
ReplyDeletei loved this post. thank you for making me laugh.
ReplyDeleteMy theory is that Santa was in the North Pole chemistry lab and got some hazardous chemicals on his suit and had to strip down and hop in the decontamination shower in front of the elves. That would make me cranky, too.
ReplyDeleteMy oldest is also greatly enjoying the Lego Advent calendar. However, we can't quite suss out what a few of them are. I think day two was a snowblower...? I think my childrens' days (all 3 boys) revolve around Lego, Star Wars, and any possible combination of the two.
ReplyDelete