Christmas Poem 2007

Every year I strongly encourage Hal and the kids to write a poem, or a story, or song for the family for Christmas. I just found mine from 2007 and it was never typed up properly so I thought I'd put it here.

Just so you know, all the events in the poem actually happened. I want to go into greater detail about my birthday, but maybe I shouldn't. (A small word of advice: Never, ever leave the toilet lids down at night. If someone gets sick, it isn't pretty. At all.)

So, here goes:

The Week Before Christmas

'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, except for my spouse.
While I was asleep, in my warm, cozy flannel,
Papa was up, watching History Channel.

The children were nestled, all snug on the floor.
With Austin and Ally, right by Morgan's door.
And Alley the cat, that little fur-ball
Was pouncing and scurrying all through the hall.

And I dreamed a great dream, but then without warning,
Alley jumped on my bed at 4:30 this morning.
Yes, up on my bed, there arose such a clatter,
That darn Alley cat, that little mad-hatter!

Then I took her downstairs and I tripped on the kids,
And I said to myself, "Merry Christmas, gee whiz!"
And then back to my bed, but sleep did elude me.
So I started to pout, and then I turned moody.

As I thought of the things I still needed to do,
The baking, the wrapping, and yes, this poem too.
Then I started to think of the fun that we'd had,
I remembered, I smiled, and then I felt glad.

We've done some great things, we've read some great stories
And eaten great food, like our Swedish Cream porridge.
There was Morgan's fun concert, I STILL have cold feet.
And Austin, our drummer boy, played his own beat.

And our new favorite Christmas show, called Shrek the Halls.
And treats from our neighbors like "garbage" and cake balls.
And Ally's fun concert and school show and program,
Plus the nice, loving hugs from a girl we named Morgan.

And let's not forget Austin, our own Christmas elf.
Who sometimes I'd like to stick high on a shelf.
The peppermint cookies and the fudge that was yucky.
Our neighbors will get Christmas treats - if they're lucky.

The small ones saw Santa, all hale and hearty.
Austin was a shepherd at our ward Christmas party.
There was nowhere to sit, so I started to shudder.
Ally was a cow, complete with an udder.

Austin played "Nutcracker", a sight to beholda,
And Morgan played lovely tunes on the viola.
And where was our Papa, between all the merriment?
He was stuck at the church, doing (darn) tithing settlement.

On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer and Comet,
My 40th birthday, it started with vomit.
First it hit Ally, then Austin, then me.
Then Morgan and Dad got hit on New Year's Eve.

And how was our spirit this holiday season?
Did we do all we could to remember the reason?
No, I think that this year we lost some of the spirit.
We got too caught up in the hoopla to hear it.

Next year let's start better, let's resolve all anew
To put baby Jesus right first, as is due.
Let's do the fun things, most are worthwhile too.
But let's put Jesus first and the rest, number two.

That's a good plan, I decided, as I drifted off deep.
Then we'll have a great Christmas, if I can just get some sleep!