'Twas the Night before Christmas and all through the house,
Not even our hamsters were making the sounds of a mouse.
Probably because they both died, which seemed quite unfair,
Both Panda and Junior were buried with extreme care.
Nicholas with tears rolling down each side of his face,
As he watched Dad carry the box to the burial place.
Asking him to wait as he pulled a pen out from his coat,
"Thanks for the fun, Love Nicholas" he carefully wrote.
The adults in our "Let's Get This Thing Over With" mode, quickly changed gears,
As we watched and we read, our eyes were spilling with tears.
The children nestled all snug in their beds,
After hours of cajoling and bribing each kid.
Mom in her Husky sweats and Dad squinting pretty bad
Had settled down to read the miniature words on his fancy iPad.
I looked at him quizzically as if to say, "What's the matter?"
But he soon found his glasses and looked exponentially gladder.
Away to school the next morning the kids flew like a flash!
If you are a snail with half a foot, it would seem like they dashed,
In actuality, it is the slowest thing on Earth, this entire process!
"Guys, it's time to wake up! Time for you find clothes and get dressed!
Nicholas! come on and eat! No you cannot watch tv!
And Benjamin please lift the lid, last night I sat on your pee!"
"What did you say? You don't like sandwiches at lunch time?
Well, you said you like cheddar cheese perfectly fine.
So… how about as an alternative, I pack cheese instead?
And keep it clean by situating it between 2 slices of bread!"
That slyer than sly 3rd grader so lively and quick,
Bought it hook, line and sinker, that is our Nick!
More rapid than eagles the list was hollered by name,
I whistled and shouted " Turn off that Nintendo DS game!
Now teeth brushed! Now homework into each back pack!
On with your jacket! And don't forget your labeled lunch sack!"
"G'Bye, I love you!" I yell, pulling up in time to hear the first bell"
"Mom? Are you in your p.j.s? OR are those work clothes? It's hard to tell."
Dallas, California and Boston to see friends,
Tennis and Mad Rummy, with cousins the fun never ends.
A year allowed us to see folks we hadn't seen in awhile,
Facebook cannot hold a candle to a real hug or a smile.
And then in a twinkling, I heard my mom on the end of the line,
"Hi Mom! uh huh… are the kids having fun? Is everything fine?
What? The pet store!? You have a bird all picked out? Well isn't that grand?
Yes, I do believe that you have saved Mark's old bird cage complete with a stand"
As I drew in my breath and was turning around,
Down the stairs came Jack with his usual bound (more like tumble but "bound" rhymes)
Ipod in his ears, heading out with Toby and Zach prepped for a run,
"Jack," I whisper, "my mom wants to get .. A BIRD!" He replies, "Fun!"
His eyes, how they twinkle, his nose sounds like a ferry,
On a dark foggy day when the boat is maneuvering quite wary.
I can hear the boys chirping with hope louder than the birds
And I think, "Did we do this to our parents? This is absurd!"
"Ummm, Mom?" and then suddenly hits me and answer " Sure! OF COURSE!"
Recalling a similar exchange when I was young… and ended up with a horse.
Les and I soon headed to U-DUB to get to work with the team,
With dedication and trust in each other, heading after their dream.
Together they took the lessons during the regular season's journey,
And found their names in the NCAA's 2010 play-off tourney.
Adamantly sticking to the hope of reaching the Final Four,
The Dawgs made it to the Elite-8; one step away from the dream's door.
The ride through the play-offs was better than I ever would have bet,
Due to families and friends that showed up, both live and via internet.
The Huskies reminded me that work and faith along with fun and the love,
Are the main ingredients of what striving for a dream should be made of.
(Lesle, I know I cannot end a sentence in a preposition, but let it slide, just this once.)
Instead of this grammatically incorrect prose, that can be absurd,
If I was only allowed to say a few simple words
I would keep it short and simple with one clear-cut message intact,
"Surround yourself with people you love, who you know will love you right back!
That's it! It's so simple, but I can't imagine going through life like a chore,
Which it would be if your companions were kinda' grumpy, mean or a bore.
If you had struggles or worries or goals you desperately wanted to find,
The ones that love you will make certain you are not left behind.
And if you are blessed enough where things are fantastically great!
Well it's with the ones that you love that it's the most fun to celebrate!
The ones that always exclaim when they are leaving your sight!
Good Bye! And I love you! As it should be on every single night!
Merry Christmas to all of the people who've loved us!
We love you right back!
Jack, Amy, Nicholas, Benjamin,Toby, Sosa, Peanuts, Snowflake and USA(fish)
