By the time many of you read this post (I’m running a promo for it in Monday’s features section, which we are put together before the weekend), Christmas will have come and gone. And by now, you’ve probably had time to reflect on the annual rush and the stress of meeting expectations. Or maybe not. Maybe you’ve found a way to make the holidays more simple and relaxing.

So here’s your chance to vent. Did you spend hours getting the toy at the top of your children’s wish list only to have them set it down after ten minutes or proceed to have more fun with the packaging and wrapping paper? Did you end up wasting another perfectly good afternoon arguing politics with Uncle Ray? Did you spend the night in the “A” concourse at Denver International?

Or did you enjoy the egg-nog-in-front-of-the-fireplace, singing-around-the-piano holiday that only seems to happen in black-and-white movies?

Would you do it all the same next year?

Just wanted to tell you all that every single entry in our Thanksgiving coloring contest is now hanging at Mobius (downstairs at River Park Square)

The museum once again lent us space to hang all the drawings - it’s a great show and a great chance to visit Mobius, if it’s been a while since you were there.

Just have to mention that one parent called in yesterday wanting to know why her child didn’t win, explaining how disappointed she was on seeing the winners in the paper. Oh boy…

So one of my twins has to go to the hospital this week. They are going to preform a procedure where he will be sedated ( knocked out..:) and they will put a camera down his throat to see what is going on in his intestines.
He is only 22 months old and anytime your kid goes under it can be worrisome. This is not his first time, at the age of 2 months he had an inpaitent procedure. As a parent it is hard to watch your child go through tests and procedures such as this, you want them to be well and you want to find out what is wrong with them but as I was holding him after he had several vials of blood drawn I wondered how parents keep it together?
Some parents never have to go through what I have, some have to go through much worse. How can I help my child cope with the stress and sometimes pain of procedures?

As we recover from the bomb hoax at Lewis and Clark High School today, I’m curious as to which plans people have in place for emergency situations?

If you can’t get to your kids on the spot - do they know what to do?
Do you have a pre-determined gathering spot?
A phone tree?

Hi all —
Some of you may have seen this e-mail. For those who didn’t, I could use your help.

With the holidays approaching, we’re looking for a few good kids ?kids who do things from their own motivation to help others.
We’re talking about young people who go beyond the can or two of food for the school food drive. We’re looking for young people who freely give of themselves and their time to help those in need, for a story on raising generous and charitable kids to run on Christmas day. Do you know of such a youngster, or families that avoid the “me me me” of the holidays and “give, give, give” instead? If so, we’d love to hear from you. Send names and contact information to freelance writer Carolyn Lamberson at clamberson@adelphia.net.

This just in:

FAMILY MACFEST — OLD-FASHIONED HOLIDAYS AND MORE
Saturday, December 9, 2006, Noon to 3 p.m.
Explore Campbell House and winter holidays around the world. Make and take projects highlight far away places like India and Israel. Make holiday cards, see a display of holiday items and sample traditional foods from Russia and have fun with artist Gloria Fox and Mobius. Also learn about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the Spokane Tribe’s American Indian winter celebration. Enjoy holiday music by a youth ensemble and Moran Prairie Elementary School’s 6th Grade Choir. Tour Campbell House at your own pace. Enjoy the festive Christmas decor and see displays of vintage wintertime clothing from the MAC Collections. Special admission of only $10 per family. Free for MAC members.