Christmas Day dawned with the kind of crisp, golden light that made the snow outside sparkle like diamonds scattered by some careless giant. Inside, the humans were still cocooned in bed, their dreams full of roast dinners and gift exchanges. But in the living room, under the twinkle of fairy lights and the slightly crooked Christmas tree, two very different forces of nature were already at work.
Athena, Princess Pants herself, rose with an air of royal purpose. Her fur glistened in the glow of the tree, her mismatched eyes sharp and calculating. She stepped down from her blanket throne with the solemnity of a queen ready to declare, “Today, I shall rule Christmas.”
Her brother Obito, Mr Toe Beans, did not rise. He launched. A furry avalanche of Malamute, all legs and enthusiasm, hurtled off the sofa, skidded across the polished floor, and crashed directly into a pile of stockings. He emerged from the carnage with one dangling from his mouth, tail wagging like a helicopter about to take off. His eyes said it all: “BEST. DAY. EVER.”
Athena stared at him, sighed, and muttered (in her head), “The crown must weigh heavier on my head because clearly, it skipped his entirely.”
But even Athena couldn’t deny the excitement bubbling in the air. Something about Christmas morning was electric, and it wasn’t just from the fairy lights Obito had accidentally pulled half out of the socket last night when he mistook the extension cord for a chew toy.
The stockings were the first target. Athena approached hers with surgical precision, hooking her paw delicately until it dropped gracefully to the floor. Inside: a plush reindeer squeaker, a tug rope, and, most importantly, a fresh, soft, lavender-scented blanket. She buried her face into it and sighed, bliss personified.
Obito, meanwhile, took a different approach. He ripped into his stocking with the ferocity of a wolf discovering jerky for the first time. Out tumbled squeaky chickens, a bone the size of Athena’s leg, and a tennis ball that squeaked loud enough to make the humans bolt upright in bed. He grabbed them all at once, attempting to carry the entire bounty in his mouth. The result was an orchestra of squeaks, muffled growls, and tail-thumps that could have registered on the Richter scale.
The humans stumbled in, hair wild, eyes bleary, muttering something about “five more minutes of sleep.” But their exhaustion was drowned out by laughter. Because really, how could you not laugh at Obito, rolling belly-up in squeakers like a toddler in a ball pit, while Athena sat primly on her blanket as though auditioning for a holiday catalog cover?
The rest of the morning unraveled into beautiful chaos.
Wrapping paper was next. Athena elegantly tore hers into neat strips, each piece carefully investigated, pawed, and then dismissed. Obito, on the other hand, barreled straight through the gift pile like a furry demolition crew. He emerged with ribbon stuck to his tail, paper hanging from his mouth, and a bow plastered directly to his forehead. He didn’t notice. He was too busy diving face-first into Athena’s discarded pile, convinced it hid another toy.
Then came the tree. Athena circled it like a predator. The glittering baubles, the dangling tinsel, it was temptation crafted by elves. With a calculated leap, she snagged a bauble, batted it expertly across the room, and sat down smugly as if to say, “Your move.”
Obito didn’t understand the rules of this new game, so he invented his own: crash directly into the tree. Down it went in a glorious cascade of lights, ornaments, and pine needles. The humans shrieked. Athena yawned. Obito rolled in the wreckage, tail sweeping like a snowplow.
By midday, the humans had given up trying to keep order. They opened the back door, hoping fresh air might calm the chaos. Instead, the garden became the next battleground. Athena leapt into the snow, carving out tunnels like an architect of ice. She built herself a fortress, walls piled high, perfect for observing her empire. Obito charged in like a furry wrecking ball, scattering snow in every direction. He attempted to dig, but his “method” was more like throwing himself repeatedly into drifts until the garden looked like a meteor shower had landed.
When lunch arrived, the glorious Christmas feast, things reached their peak. The humans foolishly left the table unattended for mere seconds. Athena, swift and silent, swiped a roast potato. Obito, less subtle, launched himself halfway onto the table, sending peas scattering like green confetti. He landed on the floor with half a bread roll in his mouth and an expression that screamed, “Worth it.”
Athena would have scolded him if she wasn’t busy polishing off her stolen potato.
But as the chaos settled and the afternoon light dimmed, something shifted. Athena, blanket draped around her shoulders like a queen’s cape, settled into her throne. Obito plopped beside her, his squeaky toys forming a ridiculous crown around his head. He leaned against her, his sheer bulk nearly toppling her over. She sighed dramatically but didn’t move away.
The humans gathered too, laughter softening into smiles as they watched the unlikely duo, elegant mischief and clumsy joy, resting side by side. And in that warmth, in that love, the meaning of Christmas revealed itself.
It wasn’t in the gifts, or the food, or even in the sparkling lights. It was in togetherness, in the laughter caused by toppled trees, the love in shared blankets, the mayhem that somehow always ended in cuddles. It was in the bond of a husky who demanded dignity and a malamute who demanded belly rubs, both united in the simple joy of being home, safe, and loved.
Athena closed her eyes, Obito sighed happily, and the humans leaned closer, their hearts full.
And so Christmas Day ended not in perfection, but in something better: love wrapped in laughter, joy wrapped in chaos, and the kind of magic only two snow-dogs, one princess, one goofball, could ever truly bring.

🎄🎄🎄

Merry Christmas from all of us at Intwined.blog (including a certain Princess Pants and her clumsy sidekick, Mr Toe Beans) 🎄
As we wrap up another year, Athena is insisting we use only the softest blankets for gift wrapping, while Obito has already tried to eat half the decorations (with great enthusiasm, but questionable success). Between her royal mischief and his goofy love, it feels only right that we pause to say a huge thank you to all of you, our wonderful readers.
Whether you’ve joined us for the tales of husky and malamute mayhem, followed our family history threads, wandered through poetry, or tangled and untangled yarn right alongside our crochet projects, we’re so grateful for every single one of you. You’ve turned this little blog into a home filled with laughter, memory, creativity, and community.
From Athena (currently sulking about wet paws in the garden), from Obito (who just learned the Christmas tree is not a chew toy), and from all of me, thank you for being here, for reading, and for sharing in the joy.
May your Christmas be filled with love, laughter, warm blankets, wagging tails, and maybe just a little harmless chaos, the best kind.
With love, gratitude, and sloppy malamute kisses,
Lainey, Miss Pants and Mr Toe Beans 💕

©️Lainey - Intwined.blog