25 December 2007

The Children Are Nestled All Snug in Their Beds

I hope those visions of sugarplums are still dancing in their heads.

The house is quiet, only the Christmas lights and candles glowing, pine and cinnamon wafting through the air -- yeah, it's Yankee Candle, so what? I'm trying to trick my brain into falling asleep with some herbal tea. I think I overdid the cookies or something, as I seem to be on some sort of jittery sugar high.

This year I finished my wrapping early: 3:00am. The Christmas Eve wrapfest is the one thing I still miss, as far as the ex. Every year, after the kids went to bed, we'd stay up late wrapping presents and talking, Christmas tunes playing, eggnog heavy on the rum. Even after we split, once I moved back overseas, he still came over every Christmas Eve and we kept the tradition up, which was nice. We'd reminisce about Christmases past and get our eggnog on as we fought with wrapping paper and curling ribbons.

Wrapping by one's self is a real pain, because by the time it's finished, the kids are at the door, executing a flanking movement to invade my bed. They send in the dogs as reinforcements to wake me up at some ungodly hour, oblivious to the fact that my eyes are slits and I've clearly lost a battle with scotch tape and the blasted curling ribbons. Dogs and kids are always perky at an ungodly hour on Christmas morning. Dogs are pretty much perky at any given ungodly hour, as they can go from snoring to leaping and bouncing in about .05 seconds, Christmas or not. And kids, you'd think that by the time they're all between the ages of 15 and almost-20, the early morning wake up call would be a thing of the past. Um, no. Which, truth be told, is a good thing.

Well, speaking of ungodly hours, my tea has had the desired effect, and it's time for Santa's helper to hit the sheets for my allotted slumber.

Wishing you all very happy merriment and happy warm connections with your loved ones today and this season.

12 comments:

  1. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas!

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  2. I finished at 2 a.m. (even tho still married, I too did it alone because of hubby's family of origin holiday PTSD). But it's all for and about the kids, right? And once you get that first hit of caffein (and the ritual post-present-opening nap, it's all better).

    Merry, merry!

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  3. That actually sounds fun, I wish I didnt have to have things done 2 weeks in advance, it's seem like I miss out on the "holiday rush of things". Well have a great holiday. Have a great holiday nap too.

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  4. Gavin: Thanks - and to you and your peeps and pets too!

    Elizabeth: The son actually let us sleep until 10 this year! We were all shocked that the Bohemian wasn't up at the crack of pre-dawn.

    Sageweb: Are you mocking me?

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  5. A very Merry Christmas to you and yours, Ms. Cowbell.

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  6. RG: you know i love you baby.

    Sageweb: You so look like a mocker. I'll hire you to be my Christmas shopper next year.

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  7. Hope your Christmas was as fun, peaceful and joyful as mine managed to be. Talked dad into a new puppy, brother and wife from hell were elsewhere,enjoyed a great meal, casual and loving conversations, and mom's home made peppermint ice cream. What a treat! The only drawback was my dog getting carsick all over me and my new coat on the trip out to the folks. Kids and dogs, what the hell can you say? Life would be so boring and stale without them.

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  8. I would just like to point out that I enjoyed sleeping in and was definitely not one of the first ones up.

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  9. Tater Claus: So glad your Christmas was a nice one, new coat christening not withstanding.

    Elfette: That's why I love you baby - the presents will still be there after some gooood shuteye.

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  10. an historic moment for me this year: i wrapped not a single present. ta da!! i knew i'd get it eventually :-)

    your christmas sounds lovely, though. you're a good mommy.

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  11. Glad to hear you had a good Christmas, punkin'. Mine went pretty well. Lots of peace and quiet which is all I ask for.

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  12. But you know how to wrap a present, right? I somehow always make them look like a Frank Gehry building.....
    Merry (late) Christmas, Cowbell! Hope it was a nice one for you!!

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I've got a fever ...