Four years ago, we spent our first Christmas at home. Before that, we’d always travelled to Southern Ontario to spend the holidays with our parents. That first year we were at home, I was really looking forward to sleeping in our own bed, to avoiding the frantic rushing around between houses, especially with two babies in tow.

It sure was quiet, though. And lonely. I missed the hustle and bustle that comes from waking up Christmas morning in a house with 14 other people. I missed the three-hour present unwrapping marathon. I missed the family dinners where you could barely hear the person sitting next to you and barely see the person at the other end of the table.

So, the year after that we went down to see the families, and as usual, I had a great time, ate lots of great food, and partook in all the usual nostalgia-generating traditions. But with two kids, the trip was completely exhausting, and with the Captain reaching prime Santa Claus age, we decided that we should stay home for Christmas from then on.

This year we were looking at another quiet Christmas at home, but since that first year, things have gotten more comfortable around here. We have established a few traditions of our own to make it feel more like home for the holidays. There’s five of us now, and FameThrowa usually sleeps over on Christmas Eve too, so that makes for a nice amount of noise and busyness and presents under the tree.

Still, as of December 15th or so, our schedule for the last two weeks of December was almost wide open. We had one evening party to attend. That was it for social activities. I didn’t even do any baking or shopping for special groceries because we weren’t going to be hosting anything or anyone.

And then…craziness! Out of nowhere we’re hosting a brunch for 20 tomorrow, and dinner after that for my two sisters that are in town. We hosted my youngest sister and her family for lunch on the 23rd and then I made a pancake breakfast and a full turkey dinner on Christmas day. Out of town friends that we haven’t seen in several years are coming over in a couple of days, Mr. and Mrs. RheostaticsFan are coming over for dinner the day after tomorrow, and we have three different playdates scheduled for the kids. I’m going to the movies one night with LuckySevens, we’re having dinner at the LuckySevens’ place one night, and lunch the next morning at MyFriendAgi’s.

There’s been a last minute frenzy of baking and grocery shopping and menu planning.

In short, it’s been exactly the way I like it. All the benefits of home, all the craziness of the holidays! It’s awesome.

Hope your Christmas has been just as merry!