Diana's Notes:

I hope you enjoyed my story. My theme this year was "Twas The Night Before Christmas". My daughter found small books of the story that I used as my invitation. We wrote our own story (above) and glued the pages in the book. We placed the book (with ribbon tied around it) in a box along with a Santa and stamped the top of the box with a Christmas stamp. On the inside bottom of the box we placed the Cookie Exchange Rules. I mailed the boxes to each person.
Diana Watkins, San Antonio, TX
http://www.cookie-exchange.com/exchanges/2008/watkins/index.html



Twas the day of Diana's Fourth Annual Cookie Exchange

Twas the day of Diana's Cookie Exchange, when all through the house,
Not a cookie was burning, not even the one in the hand of her spouse.
The bar was fully stocked by the chimney with care,
In hopes that the Cookie Makers soon would be there.

The neighbors were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of slumber danced in their heads.
And Church in his robe, and I in my apron,
Had just settled down thinking "How great to be the cookie patron."

When out on the lawn there arose such a rukus,
I put down my spatula and got up off my tukus.
And what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But all the Cookie Makers, "How early they are this year!"

The sun just appearing for waking eyes to inspire,
They seemed all comfy in their nighttime attire.
More rapid than eagles they flew to their trunks,
And opened their doors as their containers stacked with a clunk.

"Now Eva! Now, Linda! Now Hope and Debbie,
On, Cookie! On, Kia! on Marcus and Becky.
To the top of the porch! Come on hurry up ya'll,
Don't stumble! Don't falter, Be sure not to fall.

And then in a twinkling they were all at the door,
All excited and anxious to see what was in store.
And just as I had descended the stairs,
The front door flew open and they all stood there.

From the way they were dressed they must have rolled out of bed,
As their hair stood crazy on top of their heads.
They had wrinkles and creases, not one pant had been pressed,
WOW; they really took this PJ thing to heart when they dressed.

I greeted them all as a good cookie hostess should,
Giving them each a hug and a necklace in the place where they stood.
They all seemed hurried, and they all seemed wild,
Because they knew their cookies must be creatively styled.

Before I could say another word, they went straight to work,
With pilings and stylings by careful hands with no jerk.
They laid their cookies in the most extravagant way,
I was surprised at how some cookie formations did stay.

When the cookies were placed for all to see,
We wined and we dined all our hearts filled with glee.
After the cookies were packed and the party held in high esteem,
I heard them all shout: Oh, I shall bust my inseam!