I've washed more dishes in the last 24 hours than I probably did the entire week prior. I wouldn't be sad if I never had to peel another potato again. Ever. I fought to keep the Princesses on some sort of a routine. The laundry piled up so high that today (the day after) I have literally done 5 loads of it and probably have another 5 to go.
Certainly this aftermath can take the joy out of any holiday celebration. It's sorta hard to feel thankful for much of anything when you're vacuuming, washing, sweeping, washing, etc. etc. etc. But then those Princesses bring it all back around. Princess #1 asks me to tell her Daddy how thankful she is that he works so hard for us, when he gets home from working Black Friday. Princess #2 tells me in her sweet voice that she wants to be my friend forever because she loves me so much. And Princess #3 comes running so willing to just plant one on me at any given second. And that somehow makes it all worth it. The mind-numbing exhaustion, the clutter, the pruny dishwater hands. I'd do it all again in a heart beat. And I do, every day.