I had a pretty decent Christmas. While growing up in a household with eleven siblings and only one bathroom may have been a pain (although the bushes in the back of the house were always kept well fertilized), now that we are grown up it can be down right wonderful to have that much family.

Eight made it to this one. With kids, spouses and assorted others there were seventeen of us there.

Needless to say, there were one heck of a lot of presents to distribute. I think the total was about sixty to seventy presents. I got six presents and that was on the low end of the scale. The kids usually get at least one item from everyone. The distribution process is pretty rapid, with one person standing next to the tree and handing things out without waiting for people to open things. Frequently, presents are thrown across the room at their receipients.

There is usually live music from a few of my siblings. 6 of 12 has a few songs he made up when we were kids that everyone likes to hear. There are games to play, both inside and outside. When 8 of 12 makes it there is usually a play, although he is out in San Francisco this year. And of course there is lots of food.

I think we do it the right way when we get together. We may all have problems with each other, but those aren't the things that family is about on these ocassions. We just focus on enjoying each other's company, and try to be positive and upbeat with each other.

I was pretty pleased with the reaction to most of my presents. I think I bought for twelve or thirteen people. Two of my four nieces were playing with toys I had gotten them, which is pretty good considering that their total haul was over a dozen items each, and there were a couple of presents I got my brothers that went over really well with them.

Holidays and big families just go together well.