Tis the season

Another Christmas is upon us. I remember when our 11 year old was 2 and 3 years old and got such a kick out of opening presents. We finally told our 11 year old last year the truth about Santa so he didn't look like a fool at school.

Now our 2 year old is getting into it. Did the outdoor lights and he loves it.

Best Christmas present of all - we're bringing my inlaws up to stay with us for two months. They'll see more of their family here (6 of their 7 kids will be here) than in Mexico this year. I'm sure they're excited to have almost the whole family together. They arrive Christmas Day. There'll probably be 50 - 60 people at my brother-in-law's house and everybody always has a great time. Cousins playing with each other, grownups chatting, just a fun day without stress.

Our other Christmas tradition is each year we make a special trip to the toy store and pick out toys for the Toys for Tots program, then deliver them to the fire station. We've been doing it since my oldest was a baby. On that trip we only shop for others, not ourselves. Hopefully it helps the kids understand there are people who don't get to experience the joy of receiving a gift, so they'll appreciate what they have. That's the theory anyway.

As Bill Clinton said when he saw three women walking towards him, "ho ho ho".