And here is why I don't like the holidays, it was actually worse as a kid...

Christmas Eve, make the 4 hour drive to N. Indiana, usually through snow. Go to My husband's family party, drive another hour away to go to my maternal grandma's, IF she's having it on Christmas Eve that year, drive back to my brother in laws (we don't spend much time at my grandma's on purpose) and help the kids make cookies and see what pjs they got (I envy his family), then stay the night at my parent's house. Get woken up at 5am, open gifts, eat cinnamon rolls, fight over the bathroom, someone usually gets yelled at during this, go over to my step grandparents, go over to my maternal grandma's if she didn't have it on xmas eve, go visit friends (it changes every year, but we always try to see someone who doesn't have other family to go to on Christmas), go back to my parents, go to bed. Get up whenever, go over to my maternal grandma's if she still hasn't had Christmas, drive down two hours to see my dad, relax there for a while, and then drive two more hours home.

I really can't think of any good traditions we have. We're very spur of the moment people.

Last year we had a winter solstice party. I'd like to turn that into a tradition. We invited a few friends over, I cooked a feast, we bought presents for everyone, and we all opened presents. It felt really good, what the holidays should feel like. But last year has been the only year it has worked. Usually everybody has other plans that day.

As a kid, for Christmas, we used to go to midnight mass and my parents had a friend that would come and put our gifts under the tree, so we would think that Santa came while we were gone. We would open them when we got home.

As a kid for Thanksgiving, we would drive to WI to my aunt and uncle's home/farm and spend it with them (all 13 of them ! Yes they have 11 kids!) That was the best though, they were very close, had an awesome farm and could cook!!! I loved going there.

 

Now my dysfunctional family does not do much, so my husband and I are trying to start some rituals. I used to go to my dad's with my son and spend Christmas eve and then put his gifts out, but when I met my husband we stopped. Now on Christmas my dad and stepmom come for breakfast here and we exchange gifts. Believe it or not, that is about the only time we see them and they live 30 minutes up the road. I guess that is all they can take I have started making various casseroles the night before and then baking them Christmas morning. We go to church Christmas eve early, like at 4 for the childrens' church.

 

For turkey day, my hubby got a turkey fryer a few years ago and that is our tradition. He fries and I cook sides all day, we eat, watch football and sleep!