My family, although crazy at times, has the best holiday habits ever. We get together for holiday feasts and gifts etc..... but what makes all these loony Irish people I'm related to great is the way we celebrate things.

Every year we rent massive bounce houses for Thanksgiving, in which everyone from age one to sixty-seven seems to spend a ridiculous amount of time jumping in. The children spend the entire day bouncing. The only actual break any of them take from bouncing is when we all walk one block down to the neighborhood park and play soccer and football for a couple of hours before dinner.

Christmas involves games like hide and seek, ghosts in the graveyard (how contradictory) and S.P.U.D. Of course, I, as the little family fitness trainer look around and think how cool it is that we exercise all day. Everyone else just thinks about all of the fun we are having. And, not only do the fun activities keep us laughing and moving all day...they keep our mouths free of too much snacking. It almost completely removes the opportunity for family drama as well.

So! On that note, I encourage you all to plan for some sports, games, or other high-energy activities for your next family gathering. If your family's not into it though, maybe I'll invite you to come bounce with us!