Away in a Manger

We have a playmobil manger scene that the boys set up every year in the living room next to the tree. Unfortunately, we lost the manger for the set, so Aidan had to build a manger out of legos for baby Jesus to rest his head. I was looking over the manger scene the other day and realized that baby Jesus was missing.

"Hey guys?" I ask the boys, "Where's baby Jesus?"

"Aidan won't let us put him out." Brennan replies.

"What? Why not?" I ask.

"Because baby Jesus isn't born until Christmas, Mom!" Aidan says as he comes in the room. "We have to have an accurate manger scene. And if baby Jesus is in the scene, it isn't accurate! We can put him out on Christmas."

"I don't want to wait until Christmas to put out baby Jesus. I want him to be in the manger the whole time!" I say.

Aidan shakes his head in disbelief.

"Hand over baby Jesus, Aidan."

"Mom!"

"Aidan!"

Aidan gave me baby Jesus, who had been stowed away behind a plastic bale of hay. I put him in his lego manger and considered the matter closed. A few days later, I am looking at the manger scene and realize baby Jesus is missing. I search for him and find him behind the stable and put him back in his manger. A day or so later, yes, baby Jesus is gone again and I replace him, yet again. It's never-ending.

Away in the Manger - the Battle over Baby Jesus.