Days of Christmas, part 11

If there's one thing you don't mess with, it's our kids' meal schedule. When it's 7:45 a.m., 12 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. they are either eating or mean. That's the schedule, and alterations aren't acceptable.

Don't think you can skip a lunch for a 2 p.m. get together involving food. If it's 12 p.m. they expect lunch. And don't try to blow off dinner because they ate at a 4 p.m. party. They'll be asking when it's dinner time by 6:35 p.m. Strangely enough, they'll eat at that 6:35 p.m. dinner as if the 4 p.m. feeding never occurred.

Food ... it's important.

Therefore, the holiday plates wrapped up as today's surprise were much appreciated by the eaters. They not only featured holiday graphics, but, as an added mom bonus, are the four-section variety for which I've sworn off all other plates. Let's eat.