Secret Insanity

Ah, here we are at the peaceful Walker home during the Christmas holidays. Carols playing in the background, the house smelling of pine and treats, hot cocoa at the ready... a study of everything the season should be...
Ah, here we find the Red Power Ranger, home from college, relaxing with his dad in front of a crackling fire. The picture of holiday bliss...
Ah, a few more lovely details of a Walker Christmas. Stockings lovingly handmade over the years, precious to each one of us, like seeing a beloved old friend each Christmas.
Yes, yes, the happy couple in front of the tree Christmas morning (still tired. no make-up). Happy for the season, happy to not be old geezers yet (just go with it), happy to enjoy the rare occasion of having all three boys under the same roof.
And speaking of those three wonderful boys, just look at how adorable they are :) The Red Power Ranger age 22, the Mouse age 13, and the Complex One age almost 18. Have you ever seen such handsome boys?
REALITY CHECK. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY'RE TOGETHER. IT'S LIKE THE THREE STOOGES ESCAPED FROM THE ASYLUM.
This is what happens nearly the whole time they're awake, all day long. They stink, and they make unspeakable noises, and they break things, and they sneak into my shower, and they make incredible messes, and they brawl. Brawl, brawl, brawl. Today I caught them smacking each other on the head in church. And yes, that is the Complex One being ground into the carpet by the Red Power Ranger. 
And the NOISE! They are SO LOUD! SO. LOUD. Here they are playing an innocent Nintendo 64 game. No blood & guts. No death & destruction. But you can hear them playing even the simplest game all the way down the freaking street. All the way down. The freaking. Street. 

Okay, I admit I am loud at times. My husband has had it with me. He won't even sit next to me when we play games anymore. And I do have a really loud laugh. Really loud. Really loud. But come on! I mean seriously!  
Not to mention our coffee table which has now been transformed into an internet cafe. Admittedly, one laptop is mine. And the cup of diet Coke. Okay, and the catalog. With my cell phone on top. Hmmm, what else do we see..... dog brush, assorted glasses, a school book, a lint roller, scriptures, the TV controller. Kind of like playing "Where's Waldo", eh? And endless cords. Cords and cords and cords. My favorite thing.

And Christmas is now GONE people! GONE! All packed up and put away. Look at my little dining room. It looks like a bare wasteland. Not a trace of the most amazing Christmas we just had. It's all been wiped clean. Ready for the new year. Sniff :( 

But you know I'm just spouting off. Because you know I absolutely *adore* my boys. My stinky boys. My loud, loud, LOUD boys. Their messes. Their endless cravings for Wendy's. Their hysterical impersonations. Their incessant movie quotes. Their brawls. I love it all because it means they are here together. And when they start growing up and moving away, that's too rare. So I cherish every moment I can with them. 

As I type this ending, the Red Power Ranger is resting on the couch with his head on my dog Angel :) And the Mouse is watching the Complex One play a computer game. Watching with his head on the Complex One's shoulder :) Too few and far between, these moments. 

I'd better get to bed before they start fighting and I want to throttle one of them ;)