Next year, on the traditional "decorate-the-tree-family-fun-night"...

* Do a better job of hiding the candy canes...

* Make sure the lights work BEFORE you get everyone excited about the big night...

* Make sure you don't schedule this fun-filled evening on the same night as Monday Night Football

* Make sure everyone is in a good mood.  It might help to make the famous "Muddy-Buddies" and hot cocoa first thing, before you start the decorating process, not afterwards

* Since this fun evening usually ends with the viewing of "It's a Wonderful Life" and said viewing is in black & white AND 3 hours long, you might want to start this shin-dig BEFORE 7pm (especially since 2 hours might be spent scouring the stores for more lights)

* Because everyone is snapping at each other, Monday Night Football is a distraction, and you NOW know why egg nog is usually served with brandy, you might want to employ the only creative creature in the family....

... THE TURTLE!

It IS a wonderful life....it IS a wonderful life...just tell yourself, it IS a wonderful life...