Too many relatives?

[Mummy deer-est]

And it starts now...
We have a lot of people to get to for Christmas and Thanksgiving, and it is really difficult. Once we had to go to 5 different places on Christmas, and this was with two small children. It was not fun.

This year we will have only a few places to go (maybe only one), but that is b/c my house is now (apparently) going to be the place for the gatherings. You would think that this would solve my problems, but now I am starting to think not. While it was hard jumping around so much, now I have to contend with not having enough dining space, cleaning the smalles nooks and crannys, and making things "up to par." I know I will so stress about this.

Anyone else already dreading such problems, or am I just the only one?

[Mistress Muffy]

For me Mummy its just the opposite......I decorate to the hilt and nobody comes!!!lol

Thats why I'm doing the open house this year....lots of the Halloween families said how they love the house for Xmas too and they wish they could see the inside......last year one neighbor called while they were having their xmas gathering & asked if he could bring the family thru the house...I was thrilled!

I'm glad I'm going to be able to share my decorations with other people....I like seeing people smile. Its fun to make something special for them. Only thing that has me worried is that I handed out 60 invites......how will I fit all those people in my house....and where will they park?

One said.......the same place we parked to get in here for Halloween! lol

Embrace the challenge, make it special, give them something to remember.
Ya know how it feels sometimes when we attend something and we have such a good time and that feeling lingers inside of us and brings us joy! Strive for that. Giving them something special for the holidays!!

Muf

[spookineer]

Between my wife and I we have a total of 1 family member to be concerned with during the holidays, and he lives 400 miles away. The problem is, our friends think that's a bad thing and feel obligated to invite us to their holiday celebrations with their families. We've found a solution, we're leaving on a cruise December 16th and won't return till January 3rd.

[buddytheelf]

Spookineer, I like what your doing. The Holidays are a time to relax. That's just what you'll need.

[Mummy deer-est]

Okay. I have taken a deep breath and decided not to be my mother who is a bit high strung at times.

I will enjoy it. I hope. ;)
But I really wouldn't mind being on a cruise, either!

[NJWilk]

No family nearby to worry about except my partner's mom, so I'm fairly calm through the holidays. Except Thanksgiving - no matter whether it's just my sweetie and me or a large group, I stress out a little because I insist on cooking too much. Hey, I have to cook (whatever), it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without (whatever) - and it's a long list! Plus I don't like to share my kitchen and I really have trouble accepting graciously when friends want to "bring something" other than wine. So if I invite you to my home for Thanksgiving, just come in, say hello and go watch the parade or the game. Oh, and you are welcome to help with the dishes, but it's not expected.

[Mistress Muffy]

Bravo NJWilk....I'm the same way! When you come by me for any occasion the most memorable thing is the food. All those yrs. of cooking in the Diner for a lot of people was fun. Now we still cook to much food but the spread looks great! My Dad was a Executive Chef & when he retired he was the same way...he did not know how to cook for 3 people so we had hords of food.

I laughed when I read that about not wanting to share your kitchen or have guests bring their own concoctions!! Yup I can relate. We like to make the whole meal ourselves.

Our motto in our Diner use to be "Eat Till It Ouches!" you never went away hungry because of the portions we served. We enjoy watching people eat!

Mistress Muffy

[NJWilk]

Mistress, it's great to hear from someone who understands. My mom does, of course - she's the one who taught me to go overboard with food and decorations. My partner's mom always asks if I'm going to invite the neighbors since we can't possibly eat all that food. My partner tells me to knock a few things off the menu so I can relax and enjoy the holiday (she hates to cook). I'm just happy when I'm surrounded by bubbling pots and yummy smells and quiet little belches coming from my guests.

[Mistress Muffy]

Yup.....we always made huge spreads in my family cause we always had people comin by...and Ex-hubby & I could stay in the kitchen cookin & bakin for a week....thats what we use to do w/ our diner, we had it for 11 years.

I hate when people come to a doing at my house & instead of enjoying all the different things to eat & as many different things as we make..... they walk around all night complaining to me>>>>Why did you make so much food? Well nothing goes in the garbage, I mean we get it all ate or we freeze some of it.

Last year someone said to me at Halloween....why did you make all this food? Well that person ate like a pig!lol AND took 2 big plates home. Because of that I did not invite them for New Years last year or Halloween this year. They also made another comment this year about how much we cook & when I mentioned that I was not having a Halloween doing this year they were upset & inquired why not.

I mean we try to have a little of everything.....steak, shrimp, babyback ribs, chix, italian sausage along with that we also had finger foods of italian, greek,mexican, chinese and polish.

All the work cooking which I enjoy, my baking and the way we try to decorate to have people enjoy themselves......it really takes away from the fun I have when people act like that. I mean there is crudite on the table....take a plate & have a stick of celery and shut up!!! lol

Muf

[BlackRose]

We have to run around to see everyone and his neighbor at Christmas. Hubby said he is putting his foot down next year and since we will have the baby, everyone can come to us and we're not going anywhere! I'm looking more forward to that more than anything! :)

[Sickie Ickie]

I'm an actor, so where there's free food is where I hang out. :D [plus it helps that I'm shy]

[Mummy deer-est]

Rose -- we got a lot of people telling us to do that, make them come to us. I didn't have the balls for it though, as we had older grandparents that we didn't want to make travel. But I wish! Those christmasses aren't very fun, when all you can remember is that you had to leave early and be in the car half the day! So good for you!

Oh, and congrats! (on the baby).....:)

[woodmizer]

Between my wife and I we have a total of 1 family member to be concerned with during the holidays, and he lives 400 miles away. The problem is, our friends think that's a bad thing and feel obligated to invite us to their holiday celebrations with their families. We've found a solution, we're leaving on a cruise December 16th and won't return till January 3rd.

LOL, Reminds me of the movie Christmas with the Kranks
(We come for frosty, just give us frosy and knowone gets hurt)

Really its a great idea, me and the wife have thought of doing something like this but for the past 13 years the family has always come to our home for the holidays so we always give in to the presure.

[Ms. Parker]

LOL, Reminds me of the movie Christmas with the Kranks
(We come for frosty, just give us frosy and knowone gets hurt)

Really its a great idea, me and the wife have thought of doing something like this but for the past 13 years the family has always come to our home for the holidays so we always give in to the presure.

We always have the pressure of holidays with family. It was actually worse when we lived in England with the silly disputes with the out-laws (in-laws, LOL). The one year we tried to get away on our own, everybody got sick! (see thread about craziest Christmas stories.)

Since being back here, it's been much better. Although, my cousin's birthday is on Dec. 24. We did have fun having her around to reprise some old traditions, however once you start, it's hard to back out.

This year, MIL is visiting us from England for three weeks over Christmas and New Year!!!!!!!!!

Anybody want to adopt me for a few weeks?

[Sickie Ickie]

Wish I could! heh We have it easy. Both my folks are dead, my brother lives in NJ. We have one mom on my wife's side. SO we usually just see her about a block away in her apt. :)