Christmas 2010

I am sure that any of you who have ever been in a committed relationship over the holidays before can agree that figuring out who to see when, and whom to please can become VERY challenging, to say the least!

When Mike and I were dating, we had a really hard time figuring out how to please everyone.  Some holidays went by with us hardly even seeing each other because of it.  Then once we got married, it seemed like it got even harder.  When you add in-laws to the mix, not to mention divorces and out of state family members, it can become very, very stressful.  We did our best and did okay for a few years. However, we still always felt like we were being pulled in several different directions, and no matter what we did, it seemed that someone was always left unhappy.  

Well this year we decided to change that.  At least to change the part where we try to please everyone but ourselves.  Because this year we are parents, and have our son to think of.  Now that we know he is ours forever, we decided that this was the year that we needed to put our feet down and set some traditions for him that he can count on.  Take it or leave it, but we were going to do what was best for our family, and hopefully please most everyone else in the process.  No more stressing over where to go when - we were going to set up a schedule and stick to it!

Here is what we came up with and I must say that I think it worked out really pretty well overall.  

We have decided that Christmas Eve is now going to be just for us - me, Mike, Ian and any other children that may come along in our future.  That day will be ours to go to the movies, to play games, make craft projects, have a nice dinner together, open our Christmas pajamas, and just relax before the big day. Or go eat pancakes if we feel like it!!! =)  So that is exactly how we kicked off our Christmas Eve this year - at the home of some of our friends eating a yummy breakfast and having some good laughs. 

Mike volunteered to be in charge of the dinner that evening, since I make Christmas breakfast, and let me just tell you...I was really excited about this because when Mike cooks, Mike cooks!  This year it was homemade rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy, and Cornish game hens stuffed with wild rice.  I didn't get a picture of it, but we also had homemade raspberry cheesecake for dessert.  Yum!  In fact, the whole meal was to die for!!

After dinner, we made snow globes.  It was fun, but a better idea than an actual project.  They leaked a little and the glitter didn't really look like snow.  But we had a good time anyway.  Next year we will try to come up with something better=)

Then we opened Christmas pajamas and our game.  This year it was "Ants in the Pants", and Ian totally kicked our butts!  He is much better than either me or Mike!!!

The rest of our schedule is this...Mike's parents and family come over to our house for a Christmas day brunch and then we go to my parents house for Christmas dinner.  We may need to start breakfast a little earlier next year, because we had to kick Mike's family out and were still late to dinner!  But we had a great time, and here are some of the highlights.

Christmas morning  (unlike last year, we did not wake Ian up.  He woke up on his own around 7:30 a.m. and was really excited to see what Santa brought him).

Mike and Ferris were excited too=)

Mike's family came over at 10:00 a.m. and we had a delicious breakfast.  Mike's Dad brought his wonderful sausage, veggie, croissant breakfast rolls, that are always a hit, and I added the "something sweet" by making stuffed strawberry and cream cheese french toast.  I had never tried this before, but I think it would be fair to say that this could easily become a Christmas morning tradition at our house!!!  It was so good, and since you make it the night before, all you have to do in the morning is stick it in the oven!  Mmmm... 

Next up, Christmas dinner

Ian showing us his new gloves that are like his cousin Brady's.

We had a great meal and a crazy-as-always gift exchange with my family.  Grandma spoiled us, as usual, and we had a very nice time.  

Overall, we had a great Christmas and felt like our new schedule made everything a little less stressed and crazy.  Hopefully we will remember it next year and have a repeat of the fun we had this year!!

What traditions do you have at Christmas?