Disney may be the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’, but Christmas would have to be the ‘Happiest Day on Earth’.  A busy time for families, we are often having to stop ourselves to remember not just what, but Who we are celebrating.

Admittedly, this is not always easy, add the fact that both my husband and son each own a UPS Store, and life can get down right hectic. Of course almost everyone in the family does or has helped out through the years. I used to go in to my husband’s store during this season to pack boxes, which I truly enjoyed. When our children started having children, I was relegated to “Nana Duty” allowing the younger, quicker, less talkative, family members to work.

Though I love being with my grandchildren, this too was not easy. The ratio was sometimes 6 to 1 and the breastfed of the troops were often angry that Nana’s ‘well’ had gone dry. I did a lot of walking and rocking and humming and told myself it was only for a few days and I could handle anything for a few days.

Time has gone by and this time of year, for me anyway, has gotten much easier. For the past couple of years I’ve only been needed for two days to watch four boys and I have a blast. The babies are now 7 and 8 and fortunately for all involved, are happy to acquire their nourishment from juice boxes, something I am very capable of supplying.

This picture includes the oldest of our grandsons who is in school and no longer part of the mix. Two years ago, when the four younger boys were 5, 6, 8, and 9, I wrote about one of those days.

I thought you might enjoy it!

Our first day is now over with not much to share
Four boys played together with nary a care
The weather was perfect for playing outdoors
The guns were abounding with bullets galore
“You may not shoot the cat or the dog,” I had said
But forgot to deter them from Nana’s poor head
Alas, I was told a bigger target was sought
Something not thought of when these guns were bought
I’m grateful that I had my own little ‘mole’
Who whispered the ‘plan’ so it wouldn’t unfold
“Nana,” he whispered, “Don’t go outside.
They’ll shoot at your butt.”
He proclaimed with some pride.
At lunchtime we sat and a story was read
A ‘knock-knock’ joke shared had us scratching our heads
“Knock-Knock”
“Who’s there?”
Well, that’s not very tough, the answer’s what got us
“Pickle juice and applesauce”…….
Yup, that was enough
The favorite word “Poopy” was discouraged soon after
When the two youngest boys found it brought them much laughter
And one fun adventure was no great surprise
A small baby frog that had met its demise
As I said, to us all this was not a great shock
Then I heard from one boy
“Can I crush it with a rock?”
And finally, just as our day was all done
Two brothers decided I needed more fun
Though I cleaned up the yard, somehow they had found it
Not one, but the two of them, stepped in it and ground it
“It’s stuck on my shoe.”
Oh, the sound of those words
The end of my evening spent cleaning up turds
And I heard them exclaim as they walked out of sight
“See you tomorrow, Nana”
That was all and good night!

I wish you and yours a Very Merry and Blessed Christmas…a very, very big deal!