The 12 Days of
Christmas (Our family style)
On the first day of Christmas, my family gave to me a fun
trip to Disney. (Our November Disney trip
was a highlight, but we also enjoyed our annual week in Pentwater and a few
shorter trips to St. Louis and Wisconsin Dells.)
On the second day of Christmas, my family gave to me 2
sleeping cats and a fun trip to Disney.
On the third day of Christmas, my family gave to me 3 sports
seasons, 2 sleeping cats, and a fun trip to Disney. (Adelie played soccer and Staley played
t-ball and basketball. Briggs played
trucks, cars, and trains every season.)
On the fourth day of Christmas, my family gave to me 4
Staley plays, 3 sports seasons, 2 sleeping cats, and a fun trip to Disney. (Staley was in 3 performances with her acting
class and 1 church musical. I can’t
number the countless performances she and Adelie have put on at home.)
On the fifth day of Christmas, my family gave to me 5 a.m.
runs, 4 Staley plays, 3 sports seasons, 2 sleeping cats, and a fun trip to Disney. (Zach runs at 5:00 a.m. 4 days/week, no
matter the weather. Me? Not so much.)
On the sixth day of Christmas, my family gave to me 6(00)
loads of laundry, 5 a.m. runs, 4 Staley plays, 3 sports seasons, 2 sleeping
cats, and a fun trip to Disney.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my family gave to me 7 days
of school, 600 loads of laundry, 5 a.m. runs, 4 Staley plays, 3 sports seasons,
2 sleeping cats, and a fun trip to Disney.
(Staley is in first grade 5 days/week, and Adelie has 2 afternoons/week
of 4 year old pre-school. When they both
line up together with Briggs’s nap time, it’s magically quiet at our house.)
On the eighth day of Christmas, my family gave to me 8 hours
of running, 7 days of school, 600 loads of laundry, 5 a.m. runs, 4 Staley plays,
3 sports seasons, 2 sleeping cats, and a fun trip to Disney. (Zach co-coordinated the day long Eureka to
Peoria St. Jude Run for the 3rd straight year. Zach, my dad, and I were 3 of the 68 runners
that helped raise $121,500 for the kids of St. Jude.)
On the ninth day of Christmas, my family gave to me 9,000
tantrums, 8 hours of running, 7 days of school, 600 loads of laundry, 5 a.m.
runs, 4 Staley plays, 3 sports seasons, 2 sleeping cats, and a fun trip to Disney. (We do have a 2 year old and a dramatic 4
year old so…)
On the tenth day of Christmas, my family gave to me 10 years
at State Farm, 9,000 tantrums, 8 hours of running, 7 days of school, 600 loads
of laundry, 5 a.m. runs, 4 Staley plays, 3 sports seasons, 2 sleeping cats, and
a fun trip to Disney. (I’m still working
2 days/week at the Children’s Hospital and 7 days/week at home.)
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my family gave to me 11
Bear’s losses, 10 years at State Farm, 9,000 tantrums, 8 hours of running, 7
days at school, 600 loads of laundry, 5 a.m. runs, 4 Staley plays, 3 sports
seasons, 2 sleeping cats, and a fun trip to Disney. (The Bears are currently 4-10 with 2 games
left to play in the season. You might
think that it’s my eternal optimism and faith in the Bears that makes me believe
they’ll win one more game this season.
However, it has more to do with the fact that I needed something to go
with 11.)
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my family gave to me 12
months of joy, 11 Bear’s losses, 10
years at State Farm, 9,000 tantrums, 8 hours of running, 7 days of school, 600
loads of laundry, 5 a.m. runs, 4 Staley plays, 3 sports seasons, 2 sleeping
cats, and a fun trip to Disney.
We have had a full, fun, crazy, loud, busy, healthy, happy
2017. Hope your last 12 months have been
the same…maybe with a little less loud and crazy. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a
blessed New Year.
With love,
Ellen, Zach, Staley, Adelie, and Briggs…and a partridge in a
pear tree
