Help me with love {Completed}

Chapter 31

-Judy pov-
"Gather around! Gather around!" The kids sit on the floor while the adults sit in chairs. Everyone has hot chocolate and Christmas cookies "The old Carmichael tradition shall return! With the story of Christmas Eve!"

"Story of Christmas Eve?!" Rachel looks so excited "I WANT TO HEAR IT!"

"Settle down and I will get started" I chuckle as she shoved a cookie in her mouth "Ladies and...Ladies it begins.. Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds;
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,
With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the housetop the coursers they flew
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.
His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

"I read that to you every Christmas Eve" I smile at my mom who leans over and gives me a hug "I loved hearing you read it"

"That was" I look at Rachel who jumps up with a huge smile "AWESOME! You read that in such an entertaining way! You used voices and everything!"

"That is enough hot chocolate and cookies for you" We all laugh as Rachel pouts while Shelby takes her plate and cup "Warm milk and something else baby"

"Fine" She smiles and looks at me with her big doe eyes "Do you have any other stories momma Judy?"

"Oh how could I not with that sweet display?" She smiles and I can see my own girls looking interested "This one is one of my own! There once was a house in Lima, Ohio! In that house was a family who cared about each other, loved each other, and was always there for each other. They all came from different backgrounds some privileged and some not so much. But they did not care cause when they were together the love was always there! There was a star, and moms, and some cheerleaders as well! Granny's and cookies, along with a baby or two..they shared traditions and gifts but they knew what the true meaning was all about...loving each other and being together is what their Christmas was all about"

"That was wonderful" Shelby hands Rachel her warm milk and two cookies "Now how about some movies?"

Everyone cheers and we get settled in for them "I am happy we are together again" I look at my smiling mom "Merry Christmas Eve sweetheart"

"Merry Christmas Eve mom" I give her a big hug "I love you"