Happy Holiday

Inmate #0000001 ...yes you read that right...if she were in prison, this would be her mug shot. She deserves to be put behind bars...... but lets start at the beginning.... Christmas is here. The week before was filled with holiday shopping, cleaning and preparing the house. We enjoyed two weekend storms that brought lots of beautiful snow. This year for me was about simplifying the holiday season. I gave myself permission to not stress over the little things that may not get done.

Snow that fell for two days straight. We enjoyed watching it accumulate, reveling in the time just being together inside. The kids took the opportunity to do some sledding and throw a few snowballs...

and then clearing the drive when the snow was through filling the town with over a foot and a half of snow. We did get our shopping finished after all was said and done and Meri and I did some holiday baking while the boys were off bestowing gifts on their girlfriends.

Christmas eve was upon us before we knew it and I managed to dig out and put up the creche scene. The table was set in a simple manner this yearand I decided not to pull out the candle wreath ceremony and this felt not only okay to me but also to the kids. (see December of 07 if interested in just what that is all about). We enjoyed a lovely family meal and then time with good friends for some snacks, games and laughter. Morning came, but not to early (that's the joy of teens!) and we enjoyed opening gifts together and then enjoyed a wonderful Christmas breakfast.

It all went very smoothly and simply.....OR SO I THOUGHT..... remember this face? Yes...this one behind the bars??Well, if she were human, she'd be labeled.... in fact she'd be in treatment. She'd stand up with the words "Hello, my name is Libby and I am an addict"....yes that's right, she is an addict, a chocolate addict to be exact. After our lovely family time this morning we decided to head off to Christmas morning mass. While we were there, Libby was once again taken down into that dark abyss only an addict knows. The smell of chocolate was in the air and maybe that was all it took or maybe the temptation of the stockings up on the mantle were to much for here. Either way, we came home to quite a scene.... The back slider had been opened by Libby's partner in crime and the two were out frolicking in the snow. Not thinking to much about what they'd been up to, we walked into the house and found the crime scene. Libby had managed to get ahold of my Christmas stocking and emptied the meager contents out and devoured: 3 gold foil wrapped "Daddy Stars", 1 pkg of chocolate covered espresso beans and 1 Luna bar (chocolate peanut butter flavored). We believe that Chloe decided to wreck havoc with the bagged torn off present wrappings and bows while Libby was distracted with the stocking contents. (Chloe is known to walk around with bits of paper, newsprint and receipts in her mouth. I guess you could call her a paper junkie.) The room looked like a cyclone had hit and we followed a small trail of wrappers from the living room to Libby's bed..incriminating and damning evidence! They were both sentenced to time outdoors (in case vomiting should begin...dogs and chocolate do not mix). After their liberation, Libby is feeling her punishment and pain of her chocolate hangover.... sour tummy and extreme thirst.....serves her right! It is never a dull moment here....