Ward Christmas Party

The Holiday season kicked off with our ward Christmas party.  We had finger food and a program.  Taylor and I read a poem together (alternating verses) for the program called Some assembly required. (We re-wrote a few lines). 

Got to have one of these photos for each kid!

Some Assembly Required

Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house
I searched for the tools to hand to my spouse.
Instructions were studied and we were inspired,
In hope we could manage "Some Assembly Required."

The children were quiet, though, not asleep in their beds,
While Dad and I faced the evening with dread:
A kitchen, two bikes, Barbie's town house to boot!
And thanks to grandpa, a train with a hoot.

We opened the boxes, my heart skipped a beat. . .
Let no pieces be missing or parts incomplete!
Too late for last-minute returns--don't panic,
If we can't get it right, it goes in the attic.

When what to my worrying eyes should appear,
But 50 sheets of directions, not at all clear,
With each part numbered and every slot named,
So if there were failure, only we could be blamed.

More rapid than reindeer, the parts then fell out,
All over the carpet they were scattered about.
"Now bolt it! Now twist it! Attach it right there!"
Slide on the seats, and staple the stair!

"Hammer the shelves, and nail to the stand!"
"Honey," said Taylor, "you just glued my hand."
And then in a twinkling, I knew for a fact
That all the toy dealers had indeed made a pact
To keep parents busy all Christmas Even night
With "Some" assembly required till morning's first light.

We spoke not a word, but kept bent at our work
Till our eyes, they went bleary: our finger all hurt.
The hot coco went cold and the night it wore thin
Before we attached the last rod and last pin.

Then laying our hammer in the tool chest,
We fell in to bed for a well-deserved rest.

But I said to my wife just before I passed out,
"This will be the best Christmas, without any doubt.
Tomorrow we'll cheer, let the holiday ring,
and we won't have to run to the store for a thing!"

I snuggled down tight, into dream land I slid,
I imagined the smile on the face of each kid
Their day would be filled with excitement and glee. .
Taylor?  I don't have a single battery!

As I rushed off to Walmart, I wished I was snoring

Merry Christmas to all!

And to all a good morning.