‘Twas the morning of Christmas; 7:30 to be exact.
Miss Q awoke, sharp as a tack.
“Santa was here,” she squealed with a shriek.
This was the moment she’d been waiting for alllll week.
“You can open your stocking, but the presents must wait.”
Passing on tortuous traditions made us parents feel great.
While Miss S slowly moved her sleepy body out of bed
Miss Q tore into her stocking, knowing she had nothing to dread.
Santa, you see, had gotten her list
And he was the type who made sure nothing was missed.
Miss S beamed as she rounded the corner
Her eyes spied the pink stroller Santa had left for her.
Around and around she pushed her new wheels
While Miss Q ripped through gifts with zest and with zeal.
When asked if she wanted to tackle her pile,
Miss S answered, “No way,” and left with a smile.
Meanwhile Miss C fell asleep in my arms.
A warm belly full of milk, thanks to breastfeeding’s charms.
So Miss Q got to pull double duty this Christmas day,
And helped open Miss C’s presents fresh from the sleigh.
And when all the paper ripping had been perfected,
Our littles played contently, not a harsh word detected.
Miss Q had her Princess Pony, Miss C her giraffe,
Miss S’s baby doll giggled – nay, it was a laugh.
Just when I though all the magic was leaving,
My husband called out, “My eyes must be deceiving.”
“Come look on the balcony, Miss S, C and Q.
Let your eyes gaze upon what Santa’s reindeer did do.”
There on our sundeck, by morn’s early light
Carrot bits shone, spit out in the night.
Santa’s four-legged friends it appeared,
Are the messiest eaters of carrots – something I feared.
Next year, we’re only leaving out sweets
Cookies of shortbread, chocolate – crumbs easy to sweep.
And so the magic of Christmas lives another season,
Celebrating any other way would feel like treason.
As the earth darkens, turning away from the sun,
Our family is together, healthy and having fun.
Life doesn’t always throw you a bouquet,
But looking around, we seem to have caught one today.
And so ends the story of our Christmas right here.
Merry Christmas to you, and a very Happy New Year.
Us. While I am 5 years younger than my husband, I didn't know that put me in teen mom territory, but I'll take it!
Last time we leave carrots out for the reindeer...
