How much "running" do you do on Christmas Eve/Christmas

[BabyTigger99]

This is the first year we will have to do a lot of running for the holidays. We used to go about an hour south to my SIL's house on the 23rd, stay overnight, do presents with them Christmas Eve morning, hang out there for a while, be back home by about 2, go to church at 5:30 pm, go out to my mom's house for small family Christmas (just mom and dad, my family and my sister's family). Christmas we really didn't do anything until we went over to my grandma's for BIG family Christmas (up to at least 50 people!), and that was it.

This year my DH and his ex switched who has DSD for Christmas (we have her Christmas day for the first time since DH and I have been together). So Christmas Eve we don't have anything planned until night. DS and I will go to our church (DS is in the Christmas pagent, and I help direct), while DH will go see DSD in her Christmas pagent (about an hour an a half from home). DS and I will go to mom's, and DH and DSD will (hopefully) be able to show up! Christmas morning we will do presents, and then we have to be at SIL's house (remember, an hour away!) by 10 to do presents there. This will be the first time in 5 years that everyone will be there (our family, SIL and her family, MIL, FIL, and other SIL and her DH). Dinner reservations are for noon, and then we have to be back up to do Christmas at my grandma's house for 5. Ay carumba, makes me tired just thinking about it!!

December 26 will be a day to recooperate (I am off work, but DH will be working). And then Saturday the 27th, my parents want our family and sister's family to go to their cabin up north (about an hour and a half away. It's the first year the cabin has been built, and they love to have us all get together any time possible!) because they told the grandkids they are sure that Santa will make a visit up there!!

So who else has to run alot for the holidays?

 

[raze]

NONE
DH is doing his side of the family this Sat
Sun DS & I will see my friend/DSs Godmother to celebrate Christmas
Christmas Eve we'll be home
Christmas we're having my mother and 2 brothers to our house for dinner midday
New Years Eve we're home and this yr invited the neighbors

 

[mickeyfan1]

We used to do that when DS was a child, the MILs, the FILs, the SILs, etc. Then we moved. This year we will be on the road Chritmas Eve and Christmas Day. We are moving (again) from AZ to NH, so we will not be having Christmas at all.

 

[Kimberle]

Not much.

Eve, we'll go to IL's (abt 1/2 hr).
Day will be the 3 of us at home, unless we invite IL's over for dinner.
My family is to far away.

26th, going to Disney on Ice!!!

 

[ByTheSea]

We used to run around and try to make everyone happy, and we had a miserable time and were exhausted, so last year we decided to keep Christmas to immediate family and it was wonderful!

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I am so blessed that almost the whole family lives in the Toledo area.
Christmas Eve DD#2 and DS are in the children's Christmas Eve service at 4:30. Then we go to MIL's house for dinner and gifts.
Christmas morning we open gifts here at home then go 5 minutes to my parents' house (where I grew up) for gifts with them and my sister's family. We usually stay the day and eat about 5--she lives an hour away.
This year we leave for NC on the 26th (then Florida on the 29th) so I may sneak home for packing between gifts and dinner.
The only wrench in the works could be DD#1's choir. Since she is now in "youth" choir they are supposed to sing at the 6:15 "youth" service. I already had it set that DH would go ahead and take the younger two to his mom's and I would wait for DD#1--but now her choir has decided they don't want to sing at "their" service (??? This is mostly the HS kids deciding, her choir is grades 6-12) and are voting this week on either singing songs at the children's service (which would work for me!) or the 8PM service! If it is 8PM, DD#1 and 3 others have already said they have family obligations that evening. Not everyone can stay at church from 4:30 to 9PM on Christmas Eve!
Robin M.

 

[minniecarousel]

Dinner out at a restaurant on Christmas Eve. DM & I will go to Church on Christmas morning - then my entire family (siblings and their families) come to my house for the day. No running for me!!

 

[clh2]

Several years ago - our immediate family spent the entire X-mas eve and X-mas on the road. We had to be here, we had to be there, didn't want to insult anyone by refusing to go somewhere.

It was the most miserable Christmas ever.

At sometime - we put our feet down, and now have an almost really nice routine in place. Christmas Eve - is reserved for my husband's family - and we host it about every 2 or 3 years. The Saturday before Christmas is when my side of the family gets together, and we host that about every other year. The best part IMO-Christmas Day is just DH, DD and me!

 

[catsrule]

0

 

[DD2Disney]

Christmas Eve is at my house nothing special. Making snacks and going to watch a fun movie. Christmas morning at our house too for Christmas breakfast and gifts. Then for Christmas dinner we have to go all the way to DMIL's house lol 30 seconds away. We live in a 2 family home and have a secret door in between our living room closets

 

[Serena]

I used to have both families at my house. One side for a party, the other for dinner. I don't know what I'm doing this year. I know I have to work Christmas eve.

 

[Alice28]

Minimal running; we will probably go to my parent's house in the AM to exchange a few things for each other's stockings. Then I think we will go to my best friend's home for a casual dinner on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning will just be the 4 of us to open gifts and stockings, and then over to my parents house for more presents and dinner. My Dad's birthday is the 26th, so we usually go out to lunch, and then make whatever he wants for dinner- lemon meringue pie is required! (A nice light dessert after the heavy holiday desserts).

My mother in law is coming the 16th-20th and we will celebrate Christmas with her the evening of the 19th.

One of my favorite memories as a kid was going to my gramma's house on Christmas Eve---my family, my grandparents and my Aunt and Uncle & 2 cousins would exchange a few stocking stuffers; my mom usually worked swing shift as a nurse, so Dad and I would go deliver stocking stuffers Christmas Eve night. It never failed- once we got to Gramma's she would be all in a tizzy cause she was still WRAPPING! Piles of gifts would be strewn around the tiny kitchen. She would make me wait in the living room while she wrapped my stuff, and then I would go in and help her wrap the rest. It never failed- she always had Swedish Fish for my Dad---which reminds me---I should go to Cost Plus and pick some up! She was so funny- I miss her!