We have our family gathering/dinner and exchange on Christmas eve, then Santa comes at night and each of my kids visit the other outlaws, ... I mean in-laws side of their families. With a firefighter and a cop that both had to work this Christmas eve, it was even a little more hectic than normal. Son had to arrive late, just coming off duty, and the other was able to get somebody to cover two hours at the firehouse, so there overlap was short. I think the very causal snack-and-kibitz we then have on Christmas night, with the kids SO into all that Santa brought and the adults able to just crash and relax with that 'amen' feeling, has the most smiles and satisfied atmosphere and is my most enjoyable gift of the season.

As for gifts, my gratitude is equal to my concern. My kids joined forces and gave me a TV which was very generous of them. The fact that my monitor was bigger than my TV has bugged them since I moved my 13" from the bedroom when my big tube died this summer. I appreciate their gesture but question their priorities. The kids are suppose to be telling the old man to get with the 'world' and not the boob-tube. LOL

Among my presents is a beautiful blue beaded sun-catcher star and a very special calendar the will let me know the 'official school schedules' for a far off place, and able me keep ahead of somebody that is ALWAYS trying to get MORE time off of her job.

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