Pulled in All Directions!

I am so glad to hear that you love all the hussle and bussle. here are many who put all the focus on themselves and are miserable. We will have a very sad Christmas this year as my husband's sister passed away from a long battle with cancer. It really makes you appreciate family. All the craziness is worth it to me too.

I had to spend a week with my mom out-of-state last week due to some of her health problems. I now am behind in everything and just have to do a much simpler Christmas this year. But I am so grateful that I have an understanding husband and could be there to help my mom. I am choosing to look at life, not with a glass half-full, but completely full! Merry Christmas!

I like some hussle and bussle but not too much.
If I were in your shoes I would pre-arrange an airport shuttle for your nieces. Get some sleep and don't burn yourself out!

Have your airport people take a taxi! That is the only thing on your list that you can really do anything about!

YUP There is no guarantee we will all be together next year. I treat each Christmas as if it could be someone's last

Yes! I feel your pain! Because of our location and home set up, I always host. My husband is usually pretty helpful but he seems to think on holidays he can sit his butt on the couch and not help with the cleaning. Even though I find myself completely exhausted (and I'm the only one in the family with little kids!!!) I wouldn't have it any other way. My advice is to have all of the gift wrapped and under the tree by this weekend. Keep them organized so that it's easy to pull out what you need during the big party. Have your tables set up in advance (don't wait until Xmas morn). Pre-chop and freeze as much food as you can (ex: chop your onions, celery, etc. Put them in a baggie, label, and freeze them early this week). This Thanksgiving, I actually had a schedule written out. Monday: Pull out the turkey, chop onion and celery, etc.
Wed: chop chop mushrooms, make stuffing and refrigerate....you get the picture. It really, really helped to have all of my prep work done well in advance. I will do this from now on! Good luck and have fun with it! This is why they say the holidays are stressful. :)

While I am a home body and am most happy staying here w/ just my own kiddos and loving husband, you are exactly right...thank you for the reminder...my Nana's last Christmas was last year, little did we know...she passed away Oct. 13 of this year. My heart is still a little broken, as we all try to heal, keep the spirit of Christmas alive and celebrate. So, you are right...enjoy every minute of all the celebrating and craziness and all the fuss and hustle! There are plenty of days to sit and relax! Merry Christmas, C.!

Noelle

I love the hustle and bustle of my time with family but it my case it is a joint effort, we all pitch in: everyone makes fabulous food to share with everyone else. At my in laws there are literally people in the kitchen all day, working in shifts, drinking wine, laughing, passing around babies. We manage to make a wonderful meal for about forty people using one oven, one microwave and four burners. At the end of the day the women clean up while the men look after the little ones :)
However, all this happens on December 26th. Everyone is married with spouses and children (some with grandchildren) so it is physically impossible to get everyone together on Christmas Day. So for many years we have celebrated on the 26th. That way we can all be together every year, and none of the spouses have to give up time with their families. And I LOVE waking up in my own house on Christmas morning, and having my precious time with my husband and kids (and pets!) It's just us and it is SUBLIME, especially now that two of them are teens (one away at college) and these immediate family moments are becoming fewer and farther between.

Sounds like a lot of fun. Like you, I love the big family gatherings and I love to cook and prepare for them. I don't even really mind cleaning up because I'm still in the "after glow."

I love all the hussle and bustle and the time with family... but I would not be able to do the 1am pickup. That would throw me off for the entire celebration cause I wouldn't get enough sleep. Kudos to you for doing all of this for your family!

It's not the way I want to spend my holiday. But that's just because it sounds too much like my normal life :) I'm glad you enjoy it. I enjoy the busy life too. Most of the time anyway. I've had one day off this year so far and have 2 more this month and then I'll not have another day off until next Thanksgiving unless something comes up.

Can the airport relatives rent a car? That is what we are doing so MIL doesn't need to come to the airport at midnight (she is 82).

Good for you that you enjoy it; that's a tall order!

You haven't asked for advice, but I wonder if you can do your food prep work early, so you won't have so much to do in the way of food on that day. Also, you should probably go to bed around noon on the day before you go to the airport. (So what that you have the biggest car? It's just a ride from the airport...one grown-up and two little ones? It doesn't have to be a luxury suite, just safe.)