Buying Christmas gifts is a challenge for me. Francis, my “geek” son who lives in Palo Alto and works at the Apple Headquarters, is easily happy with a “geek” T-shirt. For everyone else, the perfect gift eludes me. Researching the Internet, the follow suggestions have piqued my interest:

For my hubby who spends quality time in the bathroom, he might enjoy toilet paper made to look like hundred dollar bills. It might be the only time he actually gets to see what they look like and, like our own money, he will see it easily flush away.

Marie likes both kitchen “gadgets” and loves to eat, so the automatic twirling spaghetti fork would be perfect for her! (One wonders if it continues to twirl while in her mouth? Ouch!)

Angel, who is always loosing his keys, cell phone, chargers, credit cards and license, would benefit from Scott E Vest’s 26 pocket tech vest, which includes a pocket for a full sized I-Pad. It is guaranteed “not to make you feel like a tourist”, with the added advantage that it is stain resistant and machine washable! And for those times when he visits his bio family in Florida and does Disney, he can wear the video recording sunglasses with Smartphone instant replay, the technological replacement for post cards. Go, Angel!

Dinora, my entrepreneur daughter who is dependant upon her cell phone for sales, could combine both her winter headwear and phone with a set of Bluetooth earmuffs with voice command. She will no longer miss sledding and ice-skating with her kiddos as she will be able to work while doing both!

For Steven, whose food budget limits him to the Dollar Store, the pizza box oven would be perfect. Put that little dollar pizza in the oven and the picture shows it will magically grow to a full size pizza with lots of melted cheese and crisp pepperoni. Who needs Domino’s?

As for me, I have found the perfect gift! Buy me a few of those bacon-flavored lollipops. I may not be able to eat the “real thing” because of the fat content, but no one said I couldn’t have a little candy!

For further information on Linda Petersen’s eclectic family, please purchase her book The Apple Tree: Raising 5 Kids with Disabilities and Remaining Sane, available at Barnes and Noble.