Great post Kim!!

Christmas is my favorite holiday as many of you know.

We have our family dinner and gift opening with our children and the grands on the Sunday before.

We then go to my moms home with my kids, grand kids and all of my siblings families on Christmas Eve.

Christmas day is at my FIL with Curts family.

It is so nice that it is all spread out and we get to celebrate with everyone.
The only ones in the whole family missing will be my son and my stepson who is in the process of moving from Minneapolis to Palm Springs California.

The one thing is that I get sad when it is all over because it is such a magical time of the year!!

I like reading about family traditions because they can be so different

Mine changes from year to year depending on who is around. This year I'm not decorating because no one is coming over and I'm not feeling externally lit up. But Christmas Eve I'm going to my parents apt for appies and a quiet night with them.

Christmas morning I've been invited for breakfast to my ex boyfriend's extended family and give them each a copy of a painting I made of my foster grandson that they have been hoping I would do. And to give my cuddle monkey his gift. I am close with all of them.

In the afternoon I go to my sister and brother in laws for Christmas dinner. My brother is coming from the island and I have a few cousins that are alone that will join us also. My sister is having a seafood dinner and fancy plates so everyone needs to participate in it's preparation so it comes together in time. Because there are many young couples, she has it so they are stationed to stir pots and take care of food areas together. She will deck her house out with Christmas cheer, and then games like pictionary afterwards.

It's all about people for me. The hugs and I love you's and the effort to show each other that you matter by looking by just holding your hand for a second.

this is very interesting...mine, too, has changed a lot over the years. it used to be finishing exams, going to the nyc holiday markets and flying down exhausted and overloaded. we'd all gather at my parents' house Christmas day when my niece and nephew were small. then have a late lunch with more family joining or coming for dessert.

the past many years, it was packing up a big box with everyone's gifts and getting that in the mail, then spending the day with a friend's family or a group of "orphans." really liked those days.

now it's back to family get togethers which i've alternated between my aunt's and my sister's. aunt is now in a nursing home. i think my sister's will be split again between our family and her future husband's family, but i never know. i get more stressed at my sister's b/c of family dynamics, overdoing gifts, no comfortable chairs...we no longer do stockings except for the kids who're in their 20's.

my SW side would prefer to go to a shelter and work.

Dixie, your's sounds very similar to ours when the kids were young. We all exchanged gifts with my siblings and then we got home we would let the kids open one gift that was under the tree. That gift was from us because of course Santa would be there in the morning.

We are still doing Christmas Eve with family but I unfortunately don't see them all on Christmas day. Too many people going in too many directions. If my Mom doesn't come here we drive to Louisiana on Christmas day. My Mom has yet to figure out how much easier it is for her to come here instead of EVERYONE driving the 4 hour drive instead of just one doing the drive - and the kids don't want to leave their toys. :-) It is so much better when she comes here to TX.

Gifts first and stockings last. Sort of anti-climatic because the stockings are never as great as the haul from Santa. :-)

I also have brother who could and would have a hissy at anytime. We all try and ignore it as adults, but I really don't like. Not sure what you are dealing with in a "hissy" from your brother but mine just gets Obnoxious. Other than that......good times are had by all. :-)

It is great to hear of all the traditions! They will come and go and change over the years as our families grow and make new traditions. But the most important thing is family and just being together for this very special day.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas.
xoxo