Twas

Every year, Christmas Eve is a special time. Not only is it the night before Christmas but it is also Marc's birthday. I love Christmas Eve but it also stressful and adding a birthday to the mix can make it even more so. So, I wrote my own version of night before Christmas as a tribute to all the parents who are up late making those last minute preparations. At the end I'll post some pictures of the birthday boy and our little guys in their Christmas PJs.

 Twas the day before Christmas and all through the house
every creature was stirring, though none had a louse
the stockings were hung haphazardly there
while the one child screamed as the other pulled his hair

the children were wrestled in a heap on the rug
'til we dragged them to bed and tucked them in snug
then Daddy with his scissors and I with my tape
frantically wrapped presents, every size, every shape

when from the boys' rooms there arose such a clatter
I sprang from the floor to see what was the matter
out into the hallway came one sickly dude
who promptly bent over and threw up his food

the stench rising up from the vomitous pile
made me quite queasy as I cleaned up my child
when what should appear to knock off my socks
but my husband mopping up with a towel and clorox

then back to gift wrapping and we had to be quick
we'd lost precious time tending to mister sick
more rapid than eagles the presents they came
as we taped them and stacked them and wrote on each a name
Gabriel, Elijah,
now Marc and Benjamin
now Sarah, Tobias
now David John and then
stash them under the tree!
stack them next to the wall!
now count them and make sure that we've got them all!

like wild deer before the speeding pick-up fly
then meet with a bumper and lay down to die
so to our bed-room we ran to hit the sack
with the Christmas chores done we were dead in our tracks

and then, in a twinkling, I heard by our door
the prancing and stamping of feet on the floor

as I opened my eyes and was shuffling around

down the stairs  those two little feet leaped with a bound

he was dressed in pjs from his head to his toes

his clothing was bunched and he was picking his nose

he held up a cup and he gave me a wink

"Hey mom, how's it going? I'm just getting a drink."

my eyes, how they bulged out and my fists how they shook

my face had gone bright red and I gave him a look

my mad line of a mouth was drawn up in a sneer

and I said, "What do you think you are doing down here?

Don't you know it's past one? And your mom is exhausted!

The hams that I've baked! The cookies I've frosted!

Now you get back in bed and you don't make a peep!

You know, Santa won't come if you don't go to sleep!

at last all was still, and the children were dreaming

and I finally slept with the stars outside gleaming

and despite the smell and the kids out of bed

St. Nicholas came, we had nothing to dread

he filled all the stockings, he went straight to work

and he made not a sound because Santa's no jerk

and laying the presents all out in a row

and giving a nod, he snuck out on tiptoe

it was only five thirty and still dark out when

all five boys were talking and giggling again

and though we were fatigued our hearts warmed at the sight

"Happy Christmas to all!" even if it's still night

This year Marc got his first pair of cowboy boots for his birthday. I wish you could see them better in the picture.
Happy Birthday Babe!

I know it's a little blurry but getting five boys to sit still together and all look at the camera just doesn't work so we'll take what we can get. I'm going to be sad when the twins grow too big for Carter's pajamas and they can't all be matching anymore. I love it.

We took a picture of Santa's hard work before the boys came down in the morning. I think Santa must have Mrs. Clause write those name tags.