"Twas the Night before Christmas ~

This is the poem we made up to act out for the local community dinner on Dec. 18th.  I read, girls and Gregg acted out some parts of the poem.  Lots of laughter from the crowd as they were all mainly Cariboo-country type folk.  We have our own little life here that has been treating us very well.

'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the Cariboo
The only creature stirring was Papa going to the loo
The children were all snuggled in their triple bunk
Dreaming of gingersnaps with milk to dunk


And Frank in his toque and Jacquie in her cap

had just settled in for a short winters nap
The wool socks were all hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that the Bandelo Bandit would soon be there!


When out in the corral there arose such a clatter!
They sprang from their bed to see what was the matter
Away to the veranda they flew like a goose
Wanting to keep the hay yard free of moose!


When what to their wondering eyes should appear,
but a miniature sleigh and 8 tiny reindeer (What?  I thought they were horses!)
With a little ole' cowboy, so full of wit
They knew in a moment it must be the the Bandelo Bandit!

Now Charo!  Now Poncho! Now Bandit and Poco!
Now Cash, on Clancy, on Doc and Little Joe!
To Graham Creek and Pressy Lake
We have goodies to take!


And then, in the moonlight, he crept about
Ensuring that the good Blue Goose beef wasn't giving the gout.
With skill and with ease, he entered the root cellar
He saw that darn pack rat and let out a bellar.


"Hey Brad, git your gun & we'll shoot that critter!
He's eating the apples, there'll be no fritters!"
What amazement and wonder sparkled in his eyes
Arriving in the Cariboo always held a surprise


"Oh my, what is this I see?"
RB and Claudia rippin' around on the quad ~ crazy as can be?
Don't they know only good kids get MaryAnne's beef roast?
Santa just may like Cindy the most


Hark! What a clatter, a party's goin' on!
Canyon Ranch is a bustlin' from dusk to dawn
Three little girls in bonnets skippin' around the yard
Sledding, skating & gigglin' while Cocoa & Duchess keep guard


Please, Bandelo Bandit, come to our Bovine BBQ
We can all use a break & think you can too
With a grin on his face, he sat by the fire
but we could soon smell the scorching of his cowboy attire!


Oh how quick from the Oxbow the fire chief came
Ray with his fire hose, did extinguish the flame
With everything under control, let's head to the lake
for a little game of broomball for ole' time's sake


The horses are hungry, head to the barn for some hay
To our joyous delight, Jacquie delivered a calf today
A shiny little Angus, all snuggled with his mother
Reminds us all of the precious birth of another


Just as our little Lord was born
into our world, all tired and worn

Jesus came so sin & death may end
He came to make us each God's friend

MERRY CHRISTMAS!