Christmas by the Numbers

As I sit here and begin to relax for the first time since mid-November, it is nice to know that we had a lovely Christmas. At times, our holiday was definitely more Beverly Hillbillies than Norman Rockwell, but it was happy and that is all that matters. I could recap all the events of the day, but there are a few fun facts that I would rather share.

Here is my own version of Christmas by the numbers:

• Emergency trips to Walgreens after 9PM on Christmas Eve: 1
• Hostess gifts purchased: 2
• Hostess gifts successfully delivered: 0
• Bottles of wine purchased for hostess gifts: 3
  
• Bottles of wine remembered as gifts: 1
• Bottles of wine decorated for the season: 0 (It never even crossed my mind this year!)
• Batches of cookies made: 2
• Batches eaten by Pete, the dog: 1
• Tears shed over cookies eaten by Pete, the Dog: Several
• Diaper changes during meals: 3
• Really bad diaper changes during meals: 2
• Hot meals consumed by Mom: 0
  
• Presents purchased: 32
• Presents wrapped Christmas Eve: 12
• Bows on packages: 0
• Packages missing tags with names scrawled across them: 3
• Presents still unmailed: 9
• Holiday Greetings missing addresses and stamps: All
• Homemade Christmas gifts attempted this year: 25
• Homemade Christmas gifts completed this year: 0
• Questions asked by La Nina regarding Santa's whereabouts on Christmas Eve: 247
• Questions asked by La Nina regarding Santa's whereabouts on Christmas Day: 0
• Total combined hours slept by Dad and I on Christmas Eve: 9
• Hours Nostrand girls spent napping on Xmas Day: 3 (not good)
• Meltdowns per child on Xmas Day due to short naps: 2
  
• Toys taken away from tired children who couldn't share: 4
• Shouts of "Mine" followed by pushes courtesy of La Nina: 7
• Acts of brutal retaliation launched by Maggie: 5
• Instances when La Nina ended up in tears due to sister's retaliation: 4
  
• Candy canes eaten by La Nina on Xmas Day: 4 (that I know about)
• Requests made by La Nina for additional Candy Canes: 41
  
• Thank yous forgotten due to hasty exits with tired children: 6
• Times Dad and I felt grateful for our girls and wonderful family: Countless

Merry Christmas! We hope your holiday was as joyful as ours!