Twas the Night of Christmas

The eve of the 25th, the end of the day, the last dance, the last hooray... you follow? Well, I have come up with the twelve signs of a successful Christmas:

12. You are out of paper: wrapping, packaging, parcel, tissue, toilet - you name it, you're out!!!

11. You have hauled six trash bags to the garbage bins. (seriously. six.)

10. The bank called and said we need to have a 'come to Jesus meeting'.

9. The kids are glazed and dazed and speaking Wii speak from seven straight hours of Wii (singing: Wii wish you a Merry Christmas, Wii wish you a Merry Christmas...)

8. You find a tag from 'All of Us' to 'Satan Incarnate/ Mr. Peebody'. (this was NOT my idea)

7. You find a tag from 'Your loving family' to 'Fat Annie - we love you' (nine year old girls are very sentimental)

6. Dinner isn't an option; not tonight, and tomorrow doesn't look good either.

5. You blog in the same room with Fat Annie's 'sick' kennel, and her potty pads, and she's pooped, but you are too tired to clean it up, so you just sit there, typing, smelling...

4. Your kids haven't really fought all day because they are too busy playing (HALLELUJAH!!!!)

3. Said children have not asked to have a friend over (MIRACLES DO HAPPEN).

2. No phone call from your kids' pesky friends to play (THiS IS THE BEST CHRISTMAS MIRACLE  E_V_E_R_!!!!! Can we do this eVEry day?  That's my grown-up Christmas wish)

And the Number One way to tell you have had a successful Christmas:

1. You find yourself eating the same cookies you made with the kids last night for Santa that you OD'ed on, swearing you never wanted to see a cookie or icing again; not only eating the cookies... but the BIGGEST one, dipped in the leftover icing!!!!!  I call THIS dinner!!!!!  I know,... I am your HERO!!!!!

Oh, and The Hub and I have been voted PARENTS OF THE YEAR - you lose!!!! Yep - the surprise Wii was a hit (please refer to list above), and a complete surprise!  the Masses know that the Hub and I don't really favor video games that just have you sit and stare, or that are violent - and since it is our job to determine and decide - we have, to date, only purchased Leapsters, and V-Tech video learning system.  After many months of thoughtful consideration, we spent another month investigating the Wii, and feel that it meets our specifications for safe and educational, and ACTIVE fun. Like anything, there will be rules as to when and how long we can play.  But they have it!!!!!  And not one of the older three requested the Wii - which made it even sweeter.

And on that note, the stench in here is nauseating, and I've gotta go clean up her mess.  Yes, tomorrow I call the vet to see if this is a side-effect of her injuries. Anything to excuse her complete lack of consideration to my olfactory sense or new carpet!