It's not really Christmas unless...

10) I've seen my favorite Christmas movies,THE REF, and A CHRISTMAS STORY at least 5 times each. I also like to squeeze in CHRISTMAS VACATION and the original MIRACLE ON 34th STREET. Natalie Wood was such a cutie.

9) I've still got presents to buy on Christmas eve. Sometimes I think all I have left is stocking stuffers until I remember (hopefully) the presents I forgot to buy.

8) The lights won't come on on the Christmas tree and I have to go buy more. I know it sounds cliche, but it's true in my house. Someday I hope we own a pre-lit tree. Won't be this year though.

7) I get a stomach wrenching, sickeningly syrupy, "My life is so perfect" Christmas letter from a well meaning relative. One person in my family is notorious for them and I want to vomit each time I recieve it. They are great people whom I love, it's just the letter is so over-the-top in "being blessed". Give it a rest and be honest about your year, remember, I KNOW you.

6) I get in the express line at the store and realize the person has 40 or more items rather than 15 or less, and of course they need them double bagged. Oh wait, that happens to me every time I go to a store. WARNING: If you ever see me in a checkout at the store, run. Do not under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES get behind me in line. I am the curse of death at a checkout.

5) I get a chance to be freaked out by the Land of Misfit Toys and Abomidable Snow Monster from Rudolf.

4) I hear (and sing along with) "I'm Mister Heat Miser, I'm Mister Sun, I'm mister (sumpin or other), I'm mister hundred and one...They call me the heat miser, whatever I touch, melts in my clutch..." Okay I don't know all the words, but it doesn't stop me from singin along with the claymation dudes.

3) My family remanices about us as kids: When I got my Stoopy (Snoopy stuffed animal at 2 yrs old, I still remember crying when my mom took it away from me in the shopping cart so she could hide it and buy it for Christmas)

2) We celebrate Patrick's birthday. It's Christmas Eve and the poor man has never had a b-day that was just his day to celebrate and relax. I HAVE to work every Christmas Eve, and it's alway RUSH RUSH RUSH to make sure we have everything we need. I always feel like his birthday celebration does not focus on HIM enough, no matter how hard I try to make him feel special.

And the number one thing that has to happen before I can officially call it Christmas is:

1) We have to listen to Christmas cd's while we wrap presents (also cuss at the paper for tearing, look for the tape..AGAIN...try to get the damn bows to quit falling off, try to make sure the $$$ presents are wrapped in a way that the kids don't figure out immediately what they are). We have lots of homemade and bought Christmas cd's, and we usually enjoy a cup of hot chocolate with real whipped cream on top while we listen and wrap, too.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Kristen