Eve

Tonight is the night for all the little ones to try hard to stay up to see the BIG GUY!
Yep, I know since we celebrate everything also because Hubby is of the Christmas persuasion peeps and yes our sons did enjoy all that that goes with the holidays.
And they had the eyes wide open and were hard to get to bed on the night of this particular holiday!

When they were very, very small and I still bathed them we used to hear Santa’s Ho, Ho, Ho from the bathroom Christmas Eve delivering their presents.
And that was my clue to get them both out of the tub and get them into their PJs for we knew Santa had delivered their fondest wishes.
When they got older it was difficult even just with helping the old chubby guy with all his gifts since we had to find real creative places to help him hide it all!
We even had surf boards in our shower the first Christmas we spent here in Florida!
Santa requested our aid and so we of course did.

I have to admit being a Jew I did enjoy those days too, and was truly engulfed in the whole deal.
At Hanukah we always lit the Menorah but having big bucks for eight presents for that and to celebrate Christmas too was quite a bit to think about and a really big expense so we told them about Hanukah and actually bought Christmas presents.
Sadly I feel badly about that now, but what can you do?
You can’t go back.
One thing I do remember about those days the most is how we definitely tried our hardest to fulfill all their wants on that list that they both had, and I do believe we did accomplish it yearly!
So fond memories are what we have and who can complain about any of that?
And I want to wish to my readership here in the US and all over the world please have a terrific Christmas Eve and day (if you celebrate it) and don’t forget the photographs but if you do I predict that your memories will be right where you stow them in your brain as I have!
Its scary sometimes it’s almost like they, our sons were just peanuts yesterday, and how I miss that!
Thankfully they grew into fine independent healthy men, but any Mom knows what I mean.
If you’re lucky enough to have grandbabies to continue the traditions with you have it all, and I too hope we can say the same someday; but not yet.
Below my gift once again to you all is the poem: T’was the Night Before Christmas…

Night Before Christmas
by Major Henry Livingston Jr. (1748-1828)



'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

'Now, DASHER! now, DANCER! now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! on CUPID! on, DONDER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!'

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!"

And so on the remembrance of the season I will wish you a very happy good night to all and to all please count those blessings and share those overages and we will too!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

And next time please be here or be square, OK?

PS here’s your Santa tracker too, just copy and paste: http://www.noradsanta.org/