A BIT OF CHRISTMAS ADVICE

 Based on this year's Christmas just past, I can think of a few bits and pieces of advice I need to follow for next year.

First-dont ever have surgery the week before Christmas if you can help it.  It will give you the worst case of the bahumbugs you can imagine.  You cant enjoy all the food, you dont feel like partying, and all you want to go back to bed.  The only pair of pants that fit are sweats.

If you extend an olive branch to the biological parent, be  prepared for them to take it up.  My Grandsons Mother has been calling frequently. He's fine with it.  Im struggling.

Not only can family gatherings be  difficult with everyone in the same same room, problems can start weeks in advance now that they are all connected on facebook.

If you make  cookies too far in advance (1 or 2 weeks), either freeze them or hide them really really well, because otherwise they will be gone.  And if you get your gifts ahead of time, dont hide them really really well, or you will have to do last minute shopping anyway.

Dont put the kid to bed early on Christmas Eve because Santa is coming and its going to be a big day tomorrow.  He will be up at 5:00 am, fully rested, while you, who stayed up searching for hidden presents that need to be wrapped are not bright eyed and bushy tailed.

When the neon remote control shark scares the cat-dont let the kid and Papa continue to chase him with it.  The cat will only retaliate by chewing on the cords of every electronic device in the house including the new Wii Skylanders portal, the computer, and the tree lights.

And dont forget, all those decorations you put up before Christmas, before you were on 6 weeks of restrictions,  still have to be taken down and put away somehow.

But what did happen that made this Christmas Great?  My adult children stepped up and made it happen anyway.  And  I owe Papa big time for taking over the rest of the days.  This much I know---------I am truly blessed.