Share your tips for making the holidays easier!

[me&thegals]

Ahhh, manners. Pioneergirl--You're reminding me to pay closer attention to my kids' manners. It's really hard to take when gifts are shown such little appreciation.

BBH--You're mom is the bomb! Can I adopt her?!? That is a wonderful way to make the whole thing more enjoyable and have pauses where everyone has to remember their manners before moving on. Way to go!

 

[THEFAN]

WOW!!! ...... anyway, we do all our shopping in August, make our own cards, and do a nice lasanga for dinner. Low key and tink of all the lost civilizations lost to christanity. I'll take my yule log any day

 

[Up-the-Creek]

I'll be right there! Rum,eggnog, and a jammies and slippers! Sounds like a party to me!

Pioneeergirl, I understand what you are saying about family. Been there, done that. We spend our holiday with immediate family only,..DH, kids, and myself. I spent one too many holidays with ill behaved people. I love my family, but at a distance, far,far, away.

We do things simple,..tree goes up on the Winter Solstice, we bake cookies and make candy. Christmas Eve we have a big dinner, this year it will be Lasagna, Salad, and Garlic Bread. DH and I put presents out Christmas Eve night after the youngins go to bed. Presents are kept to a limit, so is the wrapping paper. Newspaper works well. Christmas day is for eating leftovers and playing with toys,...in our jammies!

Leason learned,..the holidays are only stressfull when you let them be.