The Calm Before The Storm

I took 1/2 day of vacation time today and the full day tomorrow. I needed to have a little time to gear up for the arrival of Mom. The parents are flying in tomorrow and will spend Christmas with us for the first time since 1993. Ever since I can remember Christmas was a big thing in our family. The only bad memory I have is being around 8 years old and getting the Barbie Doll Dream House I hoped for. I had it all set up in our downstairs rec room and was playing away when my dream was shattered. My two brothers were fighting and flipped over the couch right smack dab on top of it. It was trashed. I don't think any 8 year old child could have cried any harder. My dad then made me a wooden one. It wasn't the same, but it lasted forever. Most of my friends know that thanks to J I was presented with a replacement Dream House a few years back. I have since forgiven my brothers for this tragic day. Other than that it's only good that I remember. No family fights, no coming at a different time then someone else because you can't stand them, and only one Uncle who usually passed out on my parents bed.
Back to Mom. She is a loving caring person, if you are on her good side. She can be a bit sarcastic and overbearing. As my dad puts it "There is only Mom's way". My mom will not be able to sit down and enjoy Christmas as she should. She will be checking to see if I cooked the Polish Sausage right, and if the ham is being overcooked. She will start washing the dishes before we're done eating and want to put everything away. In my heart I know she means well and she wants to be needed. In my mind , she did her duty and should now let someone else take over. Believe me, within the next few years there will be Polish Sausage cooking training going on as I'm not cooking this stuff forever. She will also ask me for the one thing that I don't have. Last time she was here she asked if I had any orange marmalade. If I were to go to the store tomorrow and get some just in case, and I would let her know I had it she would say "What the hell do I want that crap for".
I figure if I start to pump her with wine when she gets here Christmas Day that within an hour or so she'll be pretty lit and relaxed.
Mom-in-law dropped off our annual plate of Christmas cookies tonight. Her cookies are like something out of a magazine. Being the wonderful daughter-in-law that I am, I borrowed her my cookie pans this year. Her's were shot and she wasn't paying $15.00 each for new ones. I had some that don't fit in my oven. I took them back when she was done so I can be the good daughter-in-law again next year. Now I have hidden the cookies as boarder brother will consume the entire plate if I leave them out. I have all the cookies that I baked in tins out on our screen porch. I haven't seen any lids popped open so I'm hoping he hasn't hit them yet. Imagine my shock on Christmas Day when I go to open them and find all the Peanut Butter Balls gone.