I have to post this, as it will explain my "bah humbug" attitude.....
I live 1/2 mile from my MIL/FIL, 1 1/2 miles from one BIL and his wife/2 kids, 7 miles from my SIL and her DH/kids, and 14 miles from the final BIL and his DW/kids. I have 8 nieces/nephews who all gather for one day at the MIL/FIL's place. We used to draw names, but one BIL decided it was too much, so we just buy for the kids now. (that is a whole other story).
So, on the ONE day that we get together for gift giving, all of these spoiled children gather 'round the tree,while the MIL tries to get the right gift to the right person/child. The sad part? The kids rip into these gifts, not caring who they are from, paper flying, tissue strewn, ribbon everywhere. The even more sad part? If its not something they like, they throw it to the side and move on to the next. Not one thank you, or even getting it out of the box/bag. Its a throw and go....it has turned into a frenzy of paper and boxes looking for the 'better' gift. One child last year sat and cried because someone got him a winter coat. The parents don't correct them, or make them slow down. I hand stitched fleece blankets for each child one year, putting their name on each one, all in their favorite colors. None of them are used. Not one acknowledgement of "oh thanx" or "oh this will be nice".....nothing. the kids didn't even get them out of the box.
So, what do I do to make things easier? I go outside when the gift giving begins.
As for my DS....he gets to open one gift, then call the person its from to give a personal thank you. Then its on to the next. Before playing with anything, he picks up the trash. Maybe I'm a snot for this, but I can't get into my hypocrit in laws preaching about how "Holy" a time it is, when they teach greed.
Sorry, I'm a downer....if the DH wasn't a recovering alcoholic, I'd be knee deep in the rum!!!
I'm coming over to your house.
Pajama party with spiked eggnog! 
