I get to open Cris' present tonight. This makes me super excited - I've not been able to have a Christmas Eve present opening in several years (only time I can is if it's been sent to me - family-to-family presents are ONLY opened on Christmas). My aunt hasn't sent me a physical gift for a while - and no I'm not complaining, just stating the facts - and hers was always my Christmas Eve gift so I could call her in LA on Christmas Eve and wish her a Merry Christmas.
So we won't have a White Christmas tomorrow, but I did get something - as un-wintery as it is - that made me happy today : a huge rain shower. Been pouring rain - made for an amazing day to sleep in and listen to it pound against my window. I love rain. Absolutely love it. Black ice due to freezing rain (like yesterday after work), not so much. Went skidding through the roads a few times - was not a fun experience.
Since I'll be in KY tomorrow for Christmas, I figure I'll post a good, accurate account of Christmas. ;) Ladies and gentlemen, I present: Jeff Foxworthy's 12 Days of Christmas:
And now, for a bedtime story.
'Twas the Night Before Christmas:
A Christmas Tail, from my furry friends
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
Gus & Wes
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Corydon
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
L-R: Corydon, Teagan, Shiloh
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
Santa Maus
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
Jasmine
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
Molly
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
Molly
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
Shiloh
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
Teagan
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
Teagan
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
George
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
Khan
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
Happy holidays, everyone, from my family to yours!
Furry Love,
Molly, Jasmine, Khan, George, Wes, Gus, Teagan, Shiloh, & Corydon
A Christmas Tail, from my furry friends
'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
Gus & Wes
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Corydon
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
L-R: Corydon, Teagan, Shiloh
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
Santa Maus
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
Jasmine
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
Molly
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
Molly
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
Shiloh
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
Teagan
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
Teagan
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
George
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
Khan
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
Happy holidays, everyone, from my family to yours!
Furry Love,
Molly, Jasmine, Khan, George, Wes, Gus, Teagan, Shiloh, & Corydon
