Candle-Kazaam Challenge #8

We wrapped up Candle-Kazaam 2011 with the eighth and final challenge last night...dress as an old-time, woman caroler and sing some Christmas songs at the city bandstand!  Yes!

 Here is Dad, trying to talk Ainsley into allowing him to skip this one.  She would hear nothing of it!

 Here is Dad and the girls in a stoic pose before our stroll to the bandstand.  Bennett said they had to be as serious as possible because the pioneers were serious people.  Okay then.

 Upon our arrival to the bandstand we saw that the staircase was blocked off with a locked gate.  Dad climbed it and sang part of a song from up top.  The girls were terrified that he would be arrested for climbing the gate to the clearly prohibited bandstand.  While he sang they sat in horror and then begged him to come down.   He came back down and did the rest of his singing on the ground where it was legal, much to the girls' relief.

The girls actually did a lot of singing with him!  It was delightful!  Only one lonely soul wandered throught the town square to witness the performance.  He looked confused.  Dad waved at him and he did wave back...I think that's a good sign.

And here is some video for you to enjoy!  This was a snippet from the first song Dad sang while he was breaking the law up on the bandstand.  He also sang "Away In a Manger" and "Silent Night" with the girls.  Heartwarming.  Ear piercing, but heartwarming.

Candle-Kazaam 6 and 7 Highlights

Dad completed Candle-Kazaam challenges 6 and 7 over the past few days!  Here are some photos...

 Challenge #6 was to wear candy canes on his ears while fueling up at a gas station.  We let him get buy with just paying at the pump.  He did a good job.  Easy peasy.

 Challenge #7 was to wear tattoos all over his arm while shopping for stocking stuffers at the local big box retailer.  Tattoos are so out of character for this man, so it was fun to see him inked up. 

 Even better to run into people you know while shopping with your sweet tats!  Our friend Ed and Mary appear to be intrigued by Dad's awesome body art.  Bennett, thank you for catching these things with the camera!

 Maybe Ed and Mary did not like or approve of the body art, as they appear to be trying to scrub it away with a loofa sponge they must have found in the health and beauty section. 

Dad has been such a good sport yet again this year.  And do you know why?  It's because he is a kid at heart.  I was gone this evening while he and the girls shopped, and when I came home they were all sleeping snuggly in their beds.  But Dad left me this delightful "scene" to welcome me home...giant Easter bunny, wearing Christmas stockings, the sweet arm tats, a fake mustache and a weird hat.  The bunny is relaxing and reading Relevant magazine by light of the Christmas tree.  Dad is so good at just having fun and being silly, and for that I am so very grateful.  It does our family a lot of good.  And come Thursday night, we'll have a final Candle-Kazaam challenge that should allow him great opportunity for silliness.  Stay tuned!

Candle-Kazaam #5 - Hip Hop Toy Is Humbled By Jesus

Alright.  I have been trying to upload video from Candle-Kazaam Challenge #5 for days now.  It simply will not work.  Too bad, because I have some fine footage of this challenge: Write and perform a Christmas skit with the girls.  Bravo, Dad!!!!

Here are the two main actors in the skit.  Dad was G.I. J-O, the egotistical, hip hop toy who thought he was THE BEST toy ever.  Bennett was the narrarator/level-headed, hip hop toy that talked some sense into G.I. J-O.  I don't remember what her name was in the skit.  I also have no idea why the toys are hip hop toys.  What does hip hop have to do with anything?  Nothing.

Man, I wish I had a video clip on here.  This is an action shot taken during the play.  Hip hop toy Bennett is SO disgusted with prideful G.I. J-O.  He thinks he's so awesome and that Christmas is all about him.  Bennett, with the assistance of a giant toy Easter bunny, tells him the true meaning of Christmas.  This causes G.I. J-O to have a change of heart.  It was a touching story.  I'm sure the Hallmark channel will be calling us soon.  What was Ainsley's role in the skit you may wonder?  She did not want a speaking part, so she decided to sit a be a calm, normal-acting toy.  She was instructed not to move much.  She did a fantastic job!  And the giant bunny...I almost threw him out in the trash this week, but it's a good thing I didn't.  The skit would have been nothing without him.  Easter and Christmas collide!  Beautiful!

Candle-Kazaam #4...Across the Miles

We had a belated Candle-Kazaam challenge on Tuesday night.  #4 - Skype someone in the character of Jack Frost!  Aunt L and family were the ones to get the threatening video call.

Here is Jack, ready to make the call and spew threats of terrible winter weather.  He decided he needed a blue backdrop so he would appear to be calling from a frigid ice cave.  One down throw and a few canned goods later, and he had himself an ice cave. 

Here is the view from the Skype screen as he prepared to call.  I like how Jack is cuddling with one of his minions in this shot.  He must have a soft spot in his cold heart.  We also have video snippets from the call.  You'll have to check those out on Facebook, as I cannot seem to load them successfully onto this blog.  It ended up that rather than spew threats, Jack spent most of the call defending himself and debunking rumors about how he nips at peoples noses and such.  It was a compelling performance.  I hope Aunt L. and family enjoyed being in on the nonsense!

Candle-Kazaam #3

I'm a few days behind.  Candle-Kazaam #3 took place on Thursday night!

Dad had to let the girls dress him like a Christmas tree.  Then he had to stand out in the yard and yell "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" to the cars passing on our street. 

He, once again, did a fine job.  Notice the girls scattering at the very beginning of the video as a car heads our way.  They did not want to be seen with the crazy fellow dressed as a tree, yelling Christmas greetings.  Good job, Dad!

Candle-Kazaam Challenge #2 was met last night!

 Here is Dad reading the challenge - Drink a nasty eggnog graveyard!  Ainsley looks pleased.

 These are the ingredients that we used to concoct his graveyard.  Yummy!

Here is Dad, sampling his delicious drink.  Bennett is head-in-hands, and appropriately so.  Dad only gagged and coughed a couple of times.  He did a good job.  We did not make him drink the entire frosty mug full of goodness.  I mean, we are mean but we're not that mean!  Challenge #3 will be faced this Thursday night!  Stay tuned!

Candle-Kazaam Challenge #1 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Candle-Kazaam 2011 is finally here!  Oh, man!  Are we pumped at our house (and I am speaking for the females.)  Normally we begin this month-long event on December 1st, but we had out-of-town friends coming on the 2nd, so we pushed it back a day.  Last night was Dad's first challenge:  Dance to Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmas time...out in the front yard...while wearing a festive sweater...and shorts (bonus challenge added by guest)...and in front of our friends! 

Festive sweater? Check!  Shorts (Mom's canoeing shorts, by the way)? Check!

And drumroll please.......

Video footage of a portion of the event for your viewing pleasure!  This man has the moves!  Many applause to Dad for kicking off Candle-Kazaam in style.  Challenge number #2 is coming in a couple of days.

Dancing With the....Horses and Other Random Drawings

I know I am biased.  Just like every parent, I think my kids are pretty awesome.  All of our children are gifted by the Lord in a variety of ways.  Each has something that they are super incredible at.  I do not think I am just being biased when I say that I am pretty sure Bennett is the awesomest at...

...drawing a pair of horses who are dancing in the moonlight.  Goodness!  How on earth?  You could hold a knife to my throat and demand that I draw a pair of dancing horses and I would be dead meat.  There is no way I could do it.  Seriously.  Who knows how to draw dancing horses?!  Bennett does, obviously.   I love how the lady has a rose in her teeth with leg bent and head slightly tilted back, as if she is dancing AND in love.  Wow.

Here is another drawing by Little Miss Dances With Horses.  A sweet (maybe) kitten with big black eyes.  I'm not sure if those big black eyes are a good or bad thing.  Cats can be crazy sometimes.

Where does the girl get her skills?  From her dad, totally.  He draws quite a bit.  One evening this week while I was away, he spent an embarrassing amount of time designing this Disney princess "mash up" dress.  He did use a tracer for this project, but believe me, he could have done it freehand if he wanted to.  I, personally, have a few issues with the design on the skirt, but he is an artist and can do what he wants.  What a joy, to live with artists!