there are books out about simplifying the holidays...in the first place, you don't need tocelebrate them all. part of the problem is they are too close together. Pick Thanksgiving or Christmas...and celebrate that with you family if you choose. Send your son alone for the other one. If he likes trees, decorations, etc. he is old enough to set things up. You can buy slice and bake cookie dough. You can order a couple of presents online for him. You don't really have to do that much.

Thanks for the Scandinavian recipes. I am a Norski at heart. I read in the paper once that every year Norwegians compete to see who can make the whitest food..

mg