Twas the week before Christmas,
chaos was all through the house,
Every child was screaming,
and I can’t find my blouse.

The stockings were hung,
by the TV with care,
This house is a mess,
I doubt they’re still there.

The children are now nestled,
All snug in their beds,
While the vision of a hot bath,
Dance around in my head.

Me on the sofa,
a book in my lap,
I had just settled down,
When the kids awoke from their nap.

I stopped to freshen up,
When there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the restroom,
To see what was left of my cookie platter.

Away to the car,
We flew like a flash,
The stores are still open,
But I forgot all my cash.

I reload the kids,
And pick up a lost hair bow,
I get back to the gate,
With no I.D. to show.

Can I barrow a phone,
Before I shed a tear,
I call on a friend,
She soon will be here.

With little time left,
I have to drive quick,
I see some lights flashing,
I know it’s not St. Nick.

More slowly than slugs,
He gives me my slip,
I look at the clock,
My heart does a flip.

With no time to spare,
I finish my mission,
Cookies for one hundred,
Are nearing completion.

A sound in the driveway,
I have heard it before,
My husband is home,
And he walks in the door.

His eye’s scan the room,
As the kids run by,
They meet with an obstacle,
Mount high to the sky.

Up to the house top,
The laundry pile grew,
The toys are all over,
The furniture askew.

He gives me a kiss,
Not knowing what to say,
I give him a look,
and ask about his day.

I drew in a breath,
And was turning around,
Down to the floor,
The cookies came with a pound.

He put on his coat,
grabbed his keys off the hook,
he knew what was needed,
with out a good look.

A bundle of boys,
And a girl on his back,
He drove off into night,
And came home with a sack.

My eyes-how the twinkled,
My giggles so merry,
I chugged down my drink,
A coke with some cherry.

My droll little mouth,
Was puckered up like a bow,
I gave him some kisses,
I think ten in a row.

The crunch of a cookie,
I heard under my feet,
Told me to get busy,
And whip up treat.

I fed all the kids,
cleaned up the floor,
put the sweets in the oven,
and closed the door.

No makeup on my face,
And a overfull belly,
I took a look at my shirt,
Is that smeared jelly?

He was chubby and plump,
A right jolly boy,
and I laughed when I saw him,
chomp down on a toy.

Soon the was another,
boy wanting my lap,
One on each side,
And a girl who could clap.

We spoke soft words,
As we sat and cuddled,
I love these moments,
When we are snuggled.

The house is a mess,
The dishes aren’t done,
The kids haven’t bathed,
But we did have some fun.

I whisper I love you,
As they drift off and dose,
A rub to their soft cheeks,
And a kiss on the nose.

I sneak out the door,
And turn off the light,
Merry Christmas to all,
and to all a good night.