Merry Christmas!

2:51 AM - Wake up from a sound sleep. First thought: "IT'S CHRISTMAS!!!"

3:38 AM - "If I'm not back to sleep by 4:00, I'll get up."

4:00 AM - Roll out of bed and attempt to find my sneakers in the dark with the help of the light of my watch. Get very puzzled stare from canine family member.

4:10 AM - Begin to tidy up last things in livingroom (things I left for myself to do because I knew I'd be awake insanely early as I am every year).

4:13 AM - All Christmas lights are on, Bing is singing, and the "fireplace channel" is playing on the television.

4:18 AM - Canine family member wakes Hubby to be let out.

4:23 AM - I try, unsuccessfully, to convince Hubby that if he stays up and opens presents now, he can have a long, uninterrupted sleep later. No go.

4:26 AM - I decide to make bread. (Note: I do not have a breadmaker and must do it the old-fashioned way.)

4:30 AM - Check in with blog and get hopeful snuggles from feline family member wanting treats.

4:36 AM - Head back downstairs to start bread and finish livingroom.

4:53 AM - Watch "active" yeast behave like a couch potato. Wonder if it's too old. Decide to proceed anyway, as I have nothing to lose.

5:12 AM - Decide to bake oatmeal cookies (Hubby's favourite) while I'm waiting for the bread dough to rise.

5:44 AM - Burn a few cookies but rest are fine. Check on bread dough which is not rising the way it should be.

6:10 AM - Decide to use two pans instead of four for the bread. Have no idea how this will turn out.

6:16 AM - Place oatmeal cookies under tree.

6:27 AM - Finish tidying the livingroom.

6:30 AM - Settle down with scratch lottery tickets to kill time. Win $10.

7:06 AM - Put turkey in cold water in sink. Think it's thawed already, but just being safe.

7:12 AM - Give animals standard morning treats and wonder if Hubby is awake yet. Part of me wants him to be, so we can start Christmas. Other part wants him to smell freshly-baked bread when he gets up, so he'll have to sleep for another hour for that.

7:14 AM - Update blog and realize I'm starving.