1) When you turn your back and hear "FROW! BALL" (Smash) – you realize that you should have remembered that 6 months of more or less constant ball-throwing would not be forgotten once the Christmas tree was decorated.

2) When you take out a couple of teeny-tiny stockings that are used as Christmas ornaments, you should not be suprised, a few minutes later, to see same baby (well- toddler) standing at the tree with dirty socks, earnestly trying to find places for them.

3) It is good to wait until the last minute (if 9 days before Christmas qualifies as "last minute," which, apparently it does). You get a very nice, full 8-foot tree for…fifteen bucks. Yay, Oakdale Neighborhood Association Guy who clearly wanted to clear out the lot so he could go home. I’d show you a picture but the USB cord has disappeared.