In my house, we try to bring a little Advent into the preChristmas mayhem.

We have an Advent wreath with candles on the kitchen table  and an Advent calendar hanging on the wall. The thought is that it will help remind us of the true meaning of the season, but the kids seem to be missing the point.

On the morning of Dec. 1, Jonah was the first one down for breakfast. He asked if he could put the first wooden ornament on the Advent Calendar, but before he took the liberty, he counted by fours down the line of ornaments to make sure, on our rotation system, he would also get to hang Baby Jesus on the calendar Dec. 25. Once he realized that he would, he went ahead and hung up the first ornament. When Lilly came down the stairs, however, the arguments broke out about whose turn it was to go first and who hung Baby Jesus last year. And it only got worse when the other two arrived at breakfast. Who would believe they are tweens and not tots?

By the second night of Advent, the fights began over whose turn it was to light the candle on the Advent wreath and who would get to blow it out. It got ugly.

Not much focusing on Christ going on here. And no one seems to care that the big man in red might also be watching this less than stellar behavior.

Looking over our online calendar for the weekend made me very sad that my family will be at a swim meet both days. There’s a lot of great family events lined up. So if you are lucky enough to have some free time this weekend and are looking for something fun to do, here are some ideas!

Until today, I’d never heard of a NatureSphere but it sounds totally cool and something my kids would love. Robinson Nature Center in Columbia has one and is having a First Friday NatureSphere Night with shows at 6:30 and 8 p.m. that last an hour. The NatureSphere is described as a “digital planetarium and dome style movie theater under which planets constellations and black holes come alive.” Cost is $6 and is best for children over 5.

It sounds like Merry Tuba Christmas is not to be missed. In it’s 28th year, it is held at the Harborplace Amphitheater and brings together over 200 tuba and euphonium players to capture the spirit of the season. The show is from 3-4:30 p.m.

Saturday brings a number of Holiday Bazaars from one in Glen Arm to one at Notre Dame of Maryland University. There is also at least one performance of “The Nutcracker” this weekend by the Harford Ballet Company at Patterson Mill High School.

On Sunday, you could catch the CandleKids Performing Arts Series production of “Ariel’s Tempest,” an adaptation for young audiences of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest.” Shows are at The Smith Theatre at Howard Community College at 2:30 and 4:30 p..m. and tickets are $10 each.

For details on these and more events click here.

Photo courtesy of Merry Tuba Christmas

Ten years ago I thought I would never make it through winter without weekly trips to the pediatrician and numerous prescriptions for antibiotics.

All winter long, my older three would battle with chronic ear infections, nasty coughs, virulent stomach viruses and run-of-the-mill colds. They shared toys, sippy cups and germs and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I felt like if I put my car on auto pilot, it would go straight to the pediatrician. I was on familiar terms with everyone in the office.

I didn’t even realize this had all changed until I took my older daughter to the doctor yesterday. She’s had a cold for over a month, so it was past time to take her in.

Sitting in the examining room, it occurred to me how long it had been since we’d been there for a sick visit. I don’t know exactly when that was, but I know the last time she fit on the examining table. Yesterday, she looked huge on the tiny table. When we left, she passed the sticker basked without a thought. And the little girl who used to refuse to open her mouth for medicine, slugged it down without complaint.

There are some things I don’t miss about having toddlers — and visits to the pediatrician is one of them. But I do miss my little Maggie who used to insist on sitting in my lap when the doctor checked her ears.

There is no cure for kids who grow up faster than their moms would like them to.

So far, I’m not feeling the holiday spirit.

I spent all day Saturday Christmas shopping with my sister, watched Santa arrive in Catonsville via fire truck Saturday evening, ordered Christmas cards and hung the garland on our front porch yesterday. But I’m just not feeling it.

Maybe it’s the fact that it’s 60 degrees and my son is wearing shorts as I write this. Maybe it’s because last Christmas seems more like a week ago than a year ago. Maybe it’s because there’s just too much to get done in the next three weeks before my kids get out of school. Or maybe it’s that I no longer have a child who will behave when I pull out the Santa card.

Whatever the case, I’m hoping I start feeling a little holiday cheer soon. A few inches of snow wouldn’t hurt.

What do you do to help you feel jolly when a serious case of hum bugs is settling in?

All the Steins are signed up to run a Turkey Trot tomorrow. It should be an interesting event.

Maggie has been running for a couple of months — so she is more than ready to run a 5K. Adam had us sign him up for the 5K because he wanted the shirt, but I’m not sure if he can make it 3 miles. Luckily it’s two loops around Catonsville High School so he can bail at any time if he wants to. Lilly, on the other hand, hasn’t run at all other than at field hockey — but she’s a trooper. She’ll probably make it the whole way even if it kills her. And Jonah is signed up for the 1 mile fun run but since Chris and I are both signed up for the 5K,  we’re not sure who exactly will run with him. That remains to be seen.

I love that my kids are taking an interest in running and are excited about this run. Monday morning, Adam came with me for the first mile of my run, and Tuesday morning, Maggie asked me to run with her. It was pretty cool to hang out with them at their pace.

I know it’s a long shot, but I hope they all stick with running. I can’t think of a better way to spend time with them as they are entering their teen years. It might just give us the bond we need to make it over the hurdles of adolescence in good shape.

A month ago today we gave Jonah a Nintendo DS for his birthday.

This week, we took it away.

Permacrank had gotten worse of late. On top of his normal moody behavior, he had become DS obsessed. That’s all he wanted to do. When we told him to turn if off, he would throw a fit, complain that there was nothing to do and stomp around the house in a surly state. He was mean to his friends, mean to his siblings, mean to me. It was ugly.

So the other morning when he woke up on the wrong side of the bed, looked at me with his pinched up angry face and told me that I hadn’t made his breakfast to his liking, I took it away. And I haven’t given it back.

The transformation has been breathtaking.

He’s been loving and sweet. He’s been nicer to his friends and pleasant to his siblings. He’s found things to do around the house that don’t involve a screen. He’s been a real joy. He might be working the system, but I don’t care.

Now it’s time to give it back. He’s earned it. I loath the thought, but I know, now, how to get his attention.

A co-worker told me recently that she takes away her son’s DS and tells him he can have it back when his behavior gets to “the next level.” I love it. I’m totally doing that.

I’ll let you know if it continues to work like a charm.