A scene that will be played out in thousands of homes next weekend ... hugs to all and a Merry Christmas! ~CJ

A long time ago at my house ...


(Yawn ... s t r e t c h ... yawn ... scratch-scratch) Jumping out of bed with a sudden realization ...

"(poke-poke) Claud? You up? Wake up, it's Christmas." (poke-poke)

"(loud yawn) (stretch-s t r e t c h) Stop poking ... I'm up. You sure Santa was here?"

"I think so. Let's go see. Shhhhh, we gotta be quiet. Don't wake anybody up ... not yet. We have to see if he came, first. Then we'll wake 'em up."

(stairs creaking) (tip-toe - tip-toe - c r e a k - tip-toe - c r e a k)

"He came. He came!"

"He did? Let's go tell them!"

"Shhhhh, wait. Can you see anything, Claud? Can you see what he brought?"

"Nope. It's too dark. But I can see presents under the tree! I can see the puffy stockings and there's stuff sticking out of 'em! C'mon, Cath'. Let's go get 'em up!"

(creak-creak) (tip-toe, tip-toe, tip-toe) (creak-creak) (tip-toe, tip-toe) (creak-creak)

(pitter-patter, pitter-patter, pitter-patter)

(doorknob turning)

"Bill! It's Christmas and Santa was here. Get up ... shhhhh."

(pitter-patter, pitter-patter, pitter-patter)

(doorknob turning)

(nudge) "Timmy, wake up. Santa came." (nudge-nudge)

(yawn) "I'm up ... stop that."

(poke-poke) "Chippy, chippy? Wake up. Santa was here. It's Christmas!"

"Don't poke. I'm awake, I'm up."

"Shhhh, where's Shari? She's not in her crib."

"She ... she's prob'ly sleeping with mommy and daddy. She has a cold."

"Everybody, c'mon. Let's go get mommy and daddy up!"

"In a minute. I gotta pee."

"Me too!"

"Me too!"

"Me too!

(door opening, closing, opening, closing, opening, closing, opening)

(feet shuffling in the hall) (pitter-patter, pitter-patter, pitter-patter)

(doorknob turning)

(squeaky hinges)

"Mommy-Daddy, Merry Christmas! Wake up, Santa Came! Wake up!"