"Geez Louise"...

...a mild oath used on Christmas morning 

so as to not be stricken down due to blasphemy.

So when did THIS happen?  There's only one explanation for the cruel reality that hit me Christmas morning.  My "Things" are getting old.  The Christmas morning anticipation and excitement is waning, and losing out to the greater desire for more shut eye. Which can only mean ONE thing..."I" must be getting even OLDER!  Bah humbug, that was NOT on my list to Santa this year. No way, no how, no fair, no deal...can I take what is behind Door #2 instead?  

I woke up Christmas morning, sans alarm clock,  all by lonesome.  No "Things" jumping in my bed, shaking my shoulders, or bugging me to hurry up.  Just the sunshine on my face and the realization that Christmas morning had dawned...

My Better Half didn't even wake up.  Actually...the DOGS didn't stir either!  Soooo, I put on a sweatshirt, brushed my teeth, pinned up my hair and skipped downstairs. Yes I skipped.  It's Christmas morning after all!  I figured I could use the few minutes pre-turmoil for some fine-tuning.  I turned the lights on the Christmas trees, put on some Christmas music, re-arranged the gifts and spread them out so it looked like Santa was REALLY nice to us this year (it's all in the presentation you know!) ....

And then I waited.  And waited...to hear some stirring upstairs.  Maaaaybe the music wasn't loud enough. So I cranked it up and kicked back to relax until my Things would soon come bounding down the stairs...annnnnny minute now....

Hmmmm.  Since the gifts were already re-organized and I was getting bored,  I checked the stockings.  Yep, they were off their hangers which meant...

They were loaded with "stuff".  Stuff my Things and Better Half would love if....ONLY THEY WERE AWAKE!!!!

The smell of fresh coffee wafting thru the house, I brewed a pot.  That would wake ME up if I wasn't ALREADY awake and killing time by MYSELF!  Did I mention NO ONE ELSE was awake yet?  Seriously, you'd think if nothing else all the darn clicking of my camera would wake those buggers up!...

And then, I had a genuine, honest to goodness epiphany ..."patience is highly over-rated"!!!!!  So back upstairs I stomped.  No skipping, been there done that.   And "I" jumped in my kids' beds and shook them by their shoulders.  Revenge is sweet.  

Doesn't Thing #3 look excited to be downstairs with moi???  (FYI, she perked up once she saw a trip to a Broadway show was in her near future courtesy of Santa.  Who knew Santa liked musical theatre?) 

In retrospect, I did find there is a definite  advantage to such a late start to our Christmas day...I could have a glass of wine by time we were done opening up the presents and not be considered a lush...

Role reversal.  My Things are old enough now that they are giving me payback for all those years I made THEM wait patiently while I tried to grab a few extra minutes of shut eye Christmas morning. Hmmmpf!  They might be getting older BUT...I'm still young at heart.   Ho-Ho-Ho.



--Kathy