Ho Ho Ho!

Well, we've survived another Christmas with the Svec/Conway clan.  It's been a real rat race, and it's still not over yet!  After running around like two crazy ladies wrapping, shopping, decorating, cleaning, and being deathly ill, we are now relaxing (at 2pm) in our PJ's, or in Molly's case, still sleeping.  

I must say the highlight of the Christmas season for me has to be either:

1. Saying all the wrong prayers at Catholic mass this year because, since last Christmas, they've apparently upgraded what we're supposed to say.  Molly and I forged ahead with the old words, looking guiltily at each other when we obviously got it wrong.  After communion, we totally lost it and had a major laugh attack after my mom proclaimed that she was thankful I did not (even after her insistance earlier in the night out in the parking lot) run over the choir girl, as she was now sining a lovely version of 'Silent Night' in Spanish.  Pre-Christmas mass shots FTW.
2. FINALLY getting a gift I actually want from the grab bag, which was actually filled with a variety of desirable surprises this time around.  I would have been happy with the mason jar wine goblet glasses that I had during round 1, or the corkscicle I snagged toward the beginning of round 2, but in the end I took home the gift I contributed in the first place, and am now the proud owner of a very lovely creamer/sugar bowl set.  Merry Christmas, me.

I suppose it's worth noting that this was also the most sober Christmas I've experienced in years...between spending the 23rd/morning of the 24th with Rich's family and Molly being sick, I'd guess I made it out under 15 drinks.  Now that's a Christmas miracle, if I've ever heard one!

I'm feeling somewhat disappointed that I don't have any epic tales of Christmas family fistfights or tales of over-served family members to share, but I suppose that means we are getting more and more functional the older we get.  In the interest of keeping you interested in this blog and coming back for more next week, here's a little Christmas treat for you, in the form 1/2 of a Bad Holiday Poem:

'Twas the Night Before Christmas, and all through the Beachhouse,

Several Creatures were Stirring, especially Hank

The stockings were Hung from the Window Latches with Care

in hopes that Mom would fill them with Toiletries, per usual

The children were drinking 43, already buzzed on Champagne

While visions of Oysters & Lobsters danced in their Heads

And momma in her pajamas all day, and dad playing with his iPad

Had just fed us spaghetti, for no one felt like cooking anything more complicated

When out in the back bedroom there arose such a clatter,

Meg sprang from the couch to see what was the matter

Away to Hank's cage, she flew like a flash

Threw open the door and threw up her hands

The sight before her eyes caused her to scream "NO!"

And the Luster in Hank's eyes faded faster than Snow 

And what to both of their horror should appear,

But Hank's cage collapsed, as apparently he learned how to escape from it

With the vigor of a young pup, so destructive and quick,

Meg knew in a moment he'd been acting like a total prick

More annoyed than ever, she threw Hank out in the Rain

And then put the cage back together, whilst cursing his name

END

It's really taking me quite a long time to figure out rhymes.  Long story short--Hank learned how to get out of his cage this weekend, and we had to wire him into it before we left on Christmas.  He wasn't allowed to come to the party after that stunt, and he was furious.  

Merry Christmas, one and all!