It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas . . .

Well, the stockings are hung, the trees are trimmed and the lights are strung. Kenna and Michal insist we're not done decorating because our front yard doesn't have lights on every tree and bush, nor does it have 72 animated, light-up reindeer, snowmen and manager scenes on the lawn.

"Please Mom, please," is what I hear every time I tell them that we're done putting up lights. "Please put up more lights."

I have to admit that they are fairly convincing.

More is better when you're six and when it comes to Christmas lights, a whole lot more is a whole lot better.

Last night we were driving around looking at lights and Michal said, "Mom, we have really got to step it up in our front yard."

Step it up? Where does she get these things?

And that comment came on the heels of Kenna asking me if I was talking about "the olden days" after I told her a story about when I was in the first grade.

The olden days? I think I like it better when they simply plead for more lights.