That problem is when it comes time to eat holiday dinner. Since my entire family is here, or close by, we usually end up with at least two meals - one for my mother's side of the family, and one for my father's. My parents are still together, mind you, but we have always had two Thanksgiving dinners, two Easter dinners, two Mother's Day dinners, and so on. With Christmas, we get a break - Christmas Eve with my mother's side, Christmas Day with my father's.

So this year, things worked out a little differently - with one meal on Thursday and one on Friday. The separation helped. I remember years past, eating at my grandmother's for lunch, trying not to get TOO much food, but enough to fill a plate, knowing you had another full meal to eat in about six hours. Of course, then comes dessert - how does one say no to Grandma when she offers you a slice of pie - which she also offers to cut for you. It usually ends up big enough for three people to eat. Again, who can say no?

The point to all this - I love having my family here, and being able to spend the holidays with them. But if over the next month or so, my suits start looking a little too tight - now you know why. :)