[Max n Meghan's Mom]

How does your family celebration the holidays? How have your traditions changing since becoming a mom? Do your kids get presents from Santa?

[RainyDay]

We used to go to my parents' house in PA and spend the night there, then go to my Gram's for early dinner and then to my uncle's for late dinner. Last year was the first year we stayed home and did Christmas morning at our house. Then we drove to PA for dinner at my uncle's house. Oh--forgot to add that we go to Mass on Christmas Eve. We used to do midnight Mass, but now we go to the early evening children's Mass with the kids.

My kids do get presents from Santa, but not a lot yet since they don't understand. I'm sure when they're older we'll be shelling out a lot more $$ for Christmas gifts!

[Twhylite21]

We usually stay home for Christmas. My parents live with us so they are usually here for the holiday. My sister and BIL used to come for Christmas but they said they're not traveling for the holidays anymore and people need to come to them. They're in OR, so not far from us in CA, but I think it's stupid because we have Lily and they have no kids. So, I think they should come to us. One of DH's sisters usually spends Christmas at our house with her husband as well.

Lily gets presents from Santa. Not many yet from us, but she's incredibly spoiled by all of her aunts/grandparents/other family. We buy her an ornament and Christmas PJs and then stocking stuffers. Plus 1 or 2 big gifts.

We usually go to Midnight Mass as well, but this year I'm not sure. I've been avoiding places like Church during the flu season since I'm pregnant and not getting either flu vax.

[blondie-lox]

Our holidays are stressful. We have to see both my family AND DF's family on Christmas Eve. Then we usually do a quick stop at my ILs Christmas morning, before heading up to my parent's cottage for a few days. I also have to juggle Phoenix back and forth to her father.

[Max n Meghan's Mom]

Before Max came along, we would drive to the in law's house either super early (leave at 4am be there at 5am. BIL is autisic and does better sticking to routine. He grew up doing it early, so we stuck to that) and spend the entire day there. Last year we pretty much did the same thing, only a little later.

Starting this year we're going to spend the first half of the day home and then have dinner over there.

We buy Max (and will with the new baby once s/he is here) special Christmas PJ's that he opens on Christmas Eve and wears to bed. Then in the morning we'll have a big, special breakfast. The kids will open and play with their stockings while breakfast is prepared and then we'll open gifts after we eat. Then we'll have a few hours to enjoy our gifts, take a nap (I HOPE!) but heading to Mamie and Papa's house.

As for Santa...I think we'll write from Santa and do the cookies and milk on Christmas Eve. My in laws sign all their presents Santa and I certainly don't want Max to think Santa doesn't come here too!

[Effervescence]

Before even getting married, DH and I had worked out that we would be with his family for Christmas, because that is a major deal for his family, and we would spend Thanksgiving with my family because that is more of a big deal for my family. Well MIL isn't happy with that arrangement because she basically wants us to be with her for EVERY holiday (forget the fact that we live with them and see them every day and spend Easter and holidays with her besides Christmas) She got a little psycho on us last year, if you all remember my postings. So we're trying to find a middle ground, still.

Not a whole lot has changed since I became a mother though. I want Jonah to have the same traditions as I did growing up. It does seem like a family trip to see the lights display at the zoo is becoming a tradition, but that's not a huge change for me since we would always go walking around the neighborhoods as a family to look at all the lights.

Jonah does not get presents from Santa, he gets presents from Mommy and Daddy. For DH it's an honesty issue, for me it's because I don't want to give credit to a fake fat man LOL I want the kids to thank ME. LOL

[3xamommy]

We celebrate Christmas morning at our house opening gifts from Santa and from each other. Then we always go to my in-laws for Christmas lunch and my aunts for Christmas dinner. We seee my mom and dad on Christmas eve. Our holidays are hectic!

[Effervescence]

Originally Posted by Maxasaurus' Mom

The kids will open and play with their stockings while breakfast is prepared and then we'll open gifts after we eat. Then we'll have a few hours to enjoy our gifts, take a nap (I HOPE!) but heading to Mamie and Papa's house.

I like that idea of opening stockings, eating, and then opening the rest of the gifts! We would always open stockings first, but then it was a free for all for the gifts and we usually got the morning grumps because of the chaos and no breakfast! This sounds like a great way to manage it!

[~*Kixs*~]

Before we had kids DH & I would do the mad dash all around town going to my parents, his dads, his grandmothers and maybe my grandmothers if we had time (she lives about 1 & 1/2 hours away.) Then midnight mass.

But NOW:

The weekend before Christmas DH's dad and step mom have Christmas at her mom's house. Since all the kids are married now and have kids or are working on kids this is the only way we can all get together.

My mom has always had a big burnch on Christmas Eve. So we go to that and then go to early Mass with DH's mom and sister at our Church. After that they come over for a light dinner or we go out to eat.

Christmas morning my parents and sister come over to our house to open presents with the kids and I cook a BIG pancake breakfast. We open presents 1st then the kids play while I cook.

Then Christmas Day we go to DH's grandmothers for Christmas lunch with all his aunts and uncles and cousins and open yet more presents! I swear these kids are so spoiled!

But we do give presents from Santa. My children know that Jesus is the reason for Christmas but Santa come and brings them presents to celebrate his birthday like the 3 wise men brought Jesus gifts....that way later on when they find out the truth we can just say the presents were from us to celebrate His birthday.

We also buy the kids a specail ornament every year so when they move out they can take them with them to start their own Christmas tree...my mom did this for me and I loved it.

And the kids and I make cookies for Santa on Christmas eve.