Thursday, December 23, 2010

The Holiday Trip from Hell

We have spent the last week on a whirlwind tour of North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia visiting our families. We have had a great time seeing family that we do not get to see very often; baking cookies, seeing holiday lights, playing games, eating, taking photos...So many of my favorite holiday traditions.

But nothing puts a damper on traveling like a sick, teething, refusing to sleep, tantrum-throwing toddler. Poor Dmitri has had a rough time, leaving mama exhausted and emotionally drained! Plus, I have had morning sickness, an active baby en utero, and a lot of back pain. 

As much as I've loved seeing family, I'm ready to be home and in my own bed for Christmas Eve! We have one final stop for a Christmas Eve service, dinner, and gift exchange with David's parents and siblings and then to home we go for a relaxing quiet Christmas as a family. (When we got married, we decided to set aside Christmas day to spend at home together. We have both grown to love this tradition, and I'm glad that we continue to keep it. All of our family lives out of town, so we visit them either before or after Christmas.) 

Are you traveling or staying home for the holidays? How do you handle traveling with kids and dividing time with in-laws, and large families?

8 comments:

hclairec said...

Merry Christmas - Enjoy the rest of the holidays.

CourtneyKeb said...

We don't do any traveling--thank God. I don't know how you did that! Phew!!

I really want to have Christmas day for just us, actually always have.
But my husband's side of the family all have big get togethers that day, and without going to them we wouldn't get to see all of them unless we visit individually.

This year it wasn't such a big deal since Philip wasn't home for Christmas, but in the future I'd really like to just have our little family spend the day at home.

Merry Christmas momma!

Katie Olthoff said...

Oh, I totally feel for you. Except our family is all within a 30 minute drive.

We got one out of the way at "Thanksmas." (Hubby's dad's family.)

One was last Sunday. (Hubby's mom's family.)

BIG one tomorrow night - Christmas Eve with my mom's family IS Christmas to me. Church, followed by food, a visit from Santa, a fun grab bag and reading of the nativity story.

Christmas day - late brunch at hubby's parents, then afternoon/evening spent at my parents. It's actually pretty relaxing to be with just our immediate family like that.

The last one will be Sunday. (My dad's family.)

It's always a whirlwind for us.

And, we have a couple family birthday parties the next week that will be SEPARATE from Christmas. A first birthday and Grandma's 80th.

Sarah said...

Traveling with a baby or toddler can be so stressful! I hope your trip ends on a more positive note. It always feels SO good to be home and to sleep in your own bed again!

Merry Christmas!

Aimee said...

Sounds like a busy holiday season! I am a newlywed and so we are still working out "traditions" around the holidays. No kids yet, but I am sure kids will help us settle into some traditions. You have a beautiful family. Congratulations on the new baby to arrive!

Unknown said...

Hope your child feels better!!! Merry christmas:-)

paisley penguin said...

Christmas stresses me out. The hubs and I vow in four years when the last kid has graduated we will be sitting on a beach come Christmas 2014.

We do Christmas Eve at my parents with my sister and her family and my brother. We do Christmas morning with just the kids and then a little later with my in laws for breakfast.

We have 24 hours with the kids for Christmas. Noon Christmas Eve to noon Christmas day. It's a whirlwind for sure.

Have a wonderful holiday!

Julie S. said...

My husband comes from a divorced family who has not one but two get togethers for almost every holiday. It is super annoying. We put our foot down this year, and are hosting my family Christmas Eve, going to his dad's extended family at noon Christmas Day, and to his moms later that night. So we miss Christmas Eve with his moms extended family and presents with just his dad and brothers, but we don't really see the point in going to see people twice. We can easily do gifts just the same.

We are taking Christmas morning for ourselves, and making a new rule for us: no leaving the house until noon Christmas Day. We feel it is important to start that now while Brayden is young so that we don't get sucked in to the hustle and bustle of running to every little thing.

Lately, I find myself not enjoying Christmas, because I long to be the family that stays home in their jammies all day long. But, as time goes on and our family grows, I know that will be the case- someday.