Scrooge at the holidays

So I'm a scrooge. I think the main problem is we are a young couple and have never had a relaxing at home holiday. We've spent the last 7 years shuttling back and forth between our families. Granted my family is an 11 hour drive away and his are a 2 hour drive. It's just annoying. Holidays are for relaxing...right. Then we inevitably get shoved on some air mattress and I always seem to get sick. So we are going on strike this year. My parents are coming over Dec 27th - Jan 2nd to OUR house for the first time ever (although they are staying at a hotel...because I just can't tolerate live-in guests). And I'm sure his parents will visit somewhere in there too. We are having Christmas Day relaxing just the 3 of us in our home in our pajamas all day. And even though it may be sacreligious to some of you...we are ordering take-out...cause I ain't cookin!

Anybody else nixing tradition in favor of relaxation this holiday season?

Holidays get stressful... In the past I had to balance these in 2-3 days... it wasnt a holiday it was work!!! This year im driving down to TX for the whole week to spend time with my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew, it should be a little less stres, lol

-Moms side of family (grandma, aunts...)
-Mom with us kids
-Church stuff
-Dads family
-Dad with us kids
-Boyfriends family
-Boyfriends extended family

Yup. We've always done the "his family/my family" routine, too. When the girls were old enough for the "santa" thing we started staying home on Christmas and doing our own family thing, but we'd still get together with the families usually one the weekend before Christmas, one the weekend after.

But THIS year, for my family's side, we are forgoing gifts to each other, getting a hotel in a city that is centrally located for all of us on Christmas eve and plan to just hang out together. We'll swim in the pool, order pizza, play cards, whatever. Completely stress free and I am so looking forward to it!

That sounds fantastic! We are actually thinking about doing something like that next year. I've found this great little resort near Austin that even allows you to bring your horse!! I think everyone is less stressed when nobody is on their "home turf."

Yes, I think that's true. This hotel night was my sister-in-law's idea and I'm really excited about it. It cuts out a large group of people to have to buy gifts for which is a big relief to our bank account. Besides, it's teaching our kids that getting presents is not all Christmas is about.