Christmas is giving me a headache!

Christmas is already giving me a headache and it's not even here yet....well its only 4 weeks away, as the shopping centres like to remind us!  Normally I love this time of year. I love catching up with my family and relatives over a nice long lunch, wearing our silly paper hats and telling the terrible jokes from the bon-bons.  I love the whole exchanging gifts with my hubby, little girl and parents etc, decorating the christmas tree, taking my daughter down to get her photo with Santa (not sure how she'll go this time, she's nearly 2....need I say more?!?) and enjoying the time we have together, but this year, I'm feeling a bit over it!! A little "Baa Humbug" if you would.

Why does it have to be such a hassle to see everyone on Christmas day? What happened to those days when Mum & Dad would shove you and your siblings in the car (by protest, because you wanted to play with your new toys!!), and they drove you to everyones place on the day.

Here's an example of what it was like when I was a kid.

6am - Get out of bed (more like dragged out of bed by brothers) and sneak into lounge room and check out presents with big brothers. (Sometimes my grandparents would stay over Christmas Eve and would be asleep in lounge room, pretending not to hear us. :-))
7am - Open presents with half awake parents
8am - Have breakfast
9am - Get dressed and in the car - off to my grandparents (if they hadn't stayed the night)
10am - Back in the car, off to my Aunty & Uncle's for morning tea.
11.30am - Back in the car, off to my Cousins or Uncles for Christmas lunch.
5.00pm - Finally home to play with new toys!!!!!!

It was such a long day, but it was great, and you know what I can't remember any of us three kids saying to my parents, "No, I don't want to go, I want to stay home and play with my new toys!"

Getting together with my family and all the relatives over lunch is something I've grown up with, its a bit like a Christmas tradition I guess. Over the years though my older brothers have had kids and have stopped going to my cousins for Christmas, making it harder for us all to catch up. They too have families to see on Christmas day, and will do the 'alternate' Christmas lunch at whoever's place, but lately it seems they always spend time with the other families and not spending anytime with my family. I can't remember the last time we were all together on Christmas day. For the past few years we've had a catchup, well before Christmas, to make sure we see each other and give the kids their presents - but it's just not the same.

Last year my hubby & I had our first christmas with our little girl :-) Instead of going to someone's house we chose to have christmas at our place and invited my parents and hubby's family to lunch. Unfortunately, my hubby's family couldn't come as they were sick, so it was only my parents, my hubby, my daughter & I. It was lovely to have lunch together, but I missed seeing my brothers and their families, and relatives.

This year we (my hubby, daughter, and parents in tow) are supposed to have lunch with my relatives, then visit my eldest brother and his family for dessert, but it seems not all of us are going to be able to catch up, as my other brother and his family are seeing my sister-in-laws family.....so my family misses out again!!!

Boohoo!!! [having toddler temper tantrum here!!!]. It's sad that my parents miss out in seeing all their children and grandchildren on Christmas day, but yet, one of the other set of grandparents get to see the grandkids each year, which is so unfair. I'm hoping one day we can all be together for Christmas, I just hope it's not left too late and my parents are still around to enjoy it.

What do you do for Christmas lunch? Do you celebrate with family and relatives, or celebrate at home by yourself?