Christmas around the Zentz family is a highly festive time. There are decorations, music, movies, cookies, singing (lots of singing), gifts, and fantastic meals. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to experience such joy every holiday season.

With that joy, however, comes many battles, such as whose family do we visit on Christmas day, should we put the gifts under the tree before Santa arrives, have we purchased gifts evenly for all the kids, do we still get gifts for the dogs, and the list goes on and on. The term "battles" might be a little dramatic but what holiday season doesn't have its slice of drama?

The biggest battle each year is whose parents we're visiting. My wife's parents live in South Bend and my family lives in Indianapolis. Each side wants to get together on Christmas day because that's what we've always done. Anyone that is married with kids has certainly experienced this discussion.

I really hate deciding whose family we visit because someone always gets left out. So here are a few solutions that may help you in deciding which side to visit this season.

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# 1 - Create a Bidding System

Why should we have to make the decision when our families can make it for us? Let's start a bidding system where each side bids on us joining them on Christmas Day. Host it on ebay and send 50% of the winning bid amount to the losing family as compensation for their loss. The other 50% goes to a charity of the winning family's choice. Simple enough. It's a win-win-win situation.

# 2 - Use an Arbitrator

Arbitrators are used when both sides want to avoid lengthy and expensive legal cases. Both sides must agree to abide by the decision of the arbitrator. Most importantly, the arbitrator cannot have any ties to either side. I would recommend using a college referee, if possible. Just avoid Teddy Valentine because his poor officiating still haunts my IU basketball dreams.

Here's how it goes. Each side unfolds their case for having us at their house (my wife and me wait patiently off to one side). A few healthy, and possibly heated, arguments spring up but this is ok. Everybody needs to vent. Once each side is completed the arbitrator will decide. If Teddy Valentine makes the call (after unwisely not heeding my advice) then everyone will get a technical foul and be ejected from the game.

#3 - VISIT A BEACH

Invite both sides of the family to some remote, warm, and tropical beach. Have pool side service and enjoy the nice ocean breeze. Everybody wins big here. It's the clear winner. The only problems begin when discussing who's going to pay for it.

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So there you have it. Three fail-safe ways to assist you with your decision on whose family to visit this holiday season. Good luck and remember.... no Teddy Valentine.