Christmas Eve… the day before Christmas

 “twas the Night before Christmas and all thru the house not a creature was stirring not even a mouse, The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicolas would soon be there”.  by Major Henry Livingston Jr.

Actually, it’s the “morning before Christmas eve” and I have found myself with a rare opportunity  to sit in silence and drink a hot cup of coffee.  Seriously, as any mother will tell you when you have little ones the only hot cup of coffee your getting is from an “on the run location” while your little ones are at home with their Daddy.   I’m just kidding.. you have to get up ridiculously early if you want to enjoy a hot cup of coffee. 

Normally I don’t even notice how busy I am until later on in the when I am scrubbing the coffee rings off  the inside of my mug.  

You have seen four or five rings too..right? or is just me?

 With the kids on a much needed Christmas Break I find that most mornings I have at least 30 minutes of  “free time” where I’m not flittering around my kitchen making a different breakfast for 3 to 5 little ones,  stuffing sandwiches and fruit into their lunch bags or I’m franticly searching our too full junk drawer playing my oh-so favourite game “where is that dang lid for the water bottle now”.

{ I hate loath that game}

This morning I am not greeted with the pitter patter of little feet or the request for a “banilla samitch” as my little ones are still over at their “Nani & Gua” after their “Christmas Eve- eve sleepover” so it’s just me, the bubbling water of our saltwater fish tank and my Tinkerbell mug.   

I’m enjoying each second because I know that today promises to be a full one.

Tonights roast is already thawing in the kitchen sink and “I cheated” and purchased a  two boxes of ready to eat scalloped potatoes.  Don’t judge.  

They actually taste remarkably good and if you add some sliced green onions and, if you are good at hiding the box people might actually believe you slaved over a hot stove all morning.  Well, at least the kids that didn’t see you toss those two boxes into the shopping cart might.

The washer and dryer are humming and it looks like I won’t have to run another load of laundry which if you know me at all is a small victory all of its own.  

The dishwasher is stuffed full and ready to be put on when I finish my coffee.

The Turkey much to my surprise is a giant block of ice in my fridge so I am going to have to take that out later on tonight or we will be having a “turkeysicle” tomorrow for Christmas Dinner.  

Love my new fridge but shesh, how long does it take to thaw a turkey?

But for the most part … all we have left is to enjoy what today brings.

All of the presents {that I know of} have already been purchased, wrapped and are already tucked under our Christmas tree.  

This year we won’t be playing the “oops..I found your Christmas gift shoved under the bed in the middle of July game.”  and yes, I have played that in years past and it sucks.

 Nothing like fishing out a  plastic pooping reindeer covered in an inch of thick dust  and here you are left scratching your head wondering who the heck you bought that for.  

True story.  

This year I found the Christmas crackers that we were supposed to have last year but at least I “think” I know where they are now. {memo to self…go and check where you put the Christmas crackers.}

The stockings are hung by the fireplace and are waiting to be filled  later tonight.  

Looking at their individual names stitched on each one fills my heart with such happiness and joy.

The kids are down to the last days of their Lego Advent Calendars and I for one and looking forward to seeing Darth Vader wearing a Santa hat. The little lego pieces scattered all over the living floor is getting a little old but I would pick up another one next year.

My parents, my little sister and my adorable nephew wont’ be here celebrating with us this year but I know that we will get that chance again soon.  Who knows, maybe next year we can have a huge Family Christmas in the mountains? Or Disneyworld?  I can dream right? 

I have a breakfast casserole to whip together tonight after church but for now  it’s calm and peaceful… and my coffee is still nice & warm in my Tinkerbell mug.

 **bliss**