Bad:
*I am just not in the mood. DH and I will go to my dad's for brunch but I might have to drink before I go. And then again, after I get home.

Good:
*My 3 young great-nieces will be in town and they are adorable!
*Wine is on sale.
*We won't have to make arrangements to see SD because we didn't get her anything.
*Wine is on sale.

bad :
nothing bad that i can think of

good :
i get off work monday
kaos already has his gift
lurch should love his gifts
i look forward to cooking and leftovers

best :
MIL and oss hate me right now, so i probably wont be getting another onsie...
there are no other family members involved our Christmas, unlike some of you guys who have to run around and schedule visitings. go on, be jealous!

It's always nice when your good list is longer than the bad list. Even if it's because wine is on sale.

***BAD****

Every year DH and I are fighting. Some years its big, some years it's minor but still annoying. I think he has feelings regarding the skids and me and it festers until Christmas time but instead of talking about it with me or finding solutions throughout the year he just keeps quiet, keeps drinking and just buries it.

I'm sick.

***GOOD***

I'm not feeding into it this year and if he wants to be sulky that is fine.

There should be no skids stopping by as OSD lives out of town, YSD is going out of town, SS can't drive and DH doesn't talk to MSD.

My BS is excited for Christmas and is always very appreciative of what he gets.

For the first year since I've been with DH, I don't forsee any "bad"

GOOD
SD19 is 3 states away and will NOT be back in my state for Christmas

SS18 hasn't been to our house in over a year and I notice that the gift that DH got him a couple of weeks ago was gone last night, so he must have met up with him to give it to him.

We DO have to go to MIL's on the 26th, but between all my SILs and their husbands and kids it's easy enough to get away from MIL if she is annoying me, and miracle of all miracles, she really has not been THAT bad lately.

I don't think we are supposed to get any bad weather in the next couple of days

I am done! Everything is purchased and wrapped. So when I get home in a bit, the only thing I have to do, is just enjoy my little family for the next few days.

BAD
DH's grandpa is NOT doing well, and when I talked to MIL on Sunday, she doesn't think he has much longer. This will be the first Christmas at MIL's that he won't be there.

Good:

Me and MIL are on the outs, so she will not be spending the holiday anywhere near me. She's not welcome at my house, indefinitely. Same goes for FIL who said I "ruined Christmas!" For calling-out MIL regarding trying to turn SIL against me.

Spiked coffee, spiked Nog, and maybe a bourbon sour or two.

SIL, BIL and their toddler will spend a few hours with us on Christmas Day. We'll order take-out Chinese for dinner, like we do every Christmas.

BAD:

DH will possibly be distracted with passive-aggressive, guilt trip texts all morning from his mom. She's a codependent twat.

I'll have to see Skid at some point after her time with DH's parents. She'll be in a pissy mood because her phone goes up and away immediately because no calls/texts/FaceTime are allowed from intrusive BM while she's here.

I won't be able to drink around BIL. He was recently released from 45 day inpatient rehab.

Here's another good AND bad, all in one:
I am going to eat and drink what I want this weekend! Starting now, 'cuz DH just brought home wine and chocolate.

Good:

He finished his gig with the Skids and we were not physically involved with it again; even when we did go we were not included anyway, LOL, so great to miss the misery.
We did not have to watch the worship service of those who despise us and experience the seasonal variety of their targeted sarcastic remarks and put downs.
He is being oddly pleasant.

Bad:

They held the same annual worship service of theirselves, as predicted, complete with exclusionary pomp and circumstance of all others.
For some reason right now (maybe because he is weirdly nice), I just feel ill with everything and there is no real reason for it; cannot even tell you why I feel ill or what I feel ill about.

BAD: SO being disappointed and depressed that his kids won't be around. He'll likely have his grumpy pants on and pout.

Good: I get to spend some time with my daughter whom I haven't seen since last Christmas! Canada is way too big! Can't just visit when ever you want.

BETTER: I don't have to watch a teenage skid act strange while receiving presents. She sits on the floor with a huge stretched out grin, her feet spread out behind her bouncing up and down and flapping her hands like a harp seal.

Last year I almost called out "arff, arff, arff".

I behaved myself as always and kept my mouth shut!

BAD:
-I don't feel excited about the season.
-I'm sick (again).
-I'm not really prepared... I taped a green paper Christmas tree that DD3 decorated with stickers to the sliding glass door, and we put our presents underneath that.
-No stocking for DD.
-I still have to get her a gift from Santa.
***Next year, I'd like to make more of a fuss. This year, it seemed too much. There is such a to-do about Sinterklaas, from mid-November until Dec 5, then her b'day in mid-December, and I just couldn't keep the energy going.

GOOD:
-Whenever DD has expressed concern that Santa won't bring naughty children presents, I tell her that I have know a loooooot of kids and I have never heard of anyone that was so naughty that Santa didn't bring them a gift. Santa knows that all kids are a little bit naughty sometimes, and that their parents help them learn, so he doesn't worry about a little bit naughty.
-We have successfully (and somewhat hygenically) baked and decorated gingerbread cookies to give to our neighbours tomorrow. We'll go door-to-door and whoever is home can choose a couple, and we'll say, "Prettige Kerstdagen!"

BAD:
DH has a cold so has been tired and grumpy and I've had to help out more.
The cats have fleas - I'm out of flea meds.
I need a haircut.
SD10 and her TF put out gifts under the tree yesterday and told me about who they were for...everyone but me; I said that was nice and it felt good to be left out - the look on their faces was worth it!
I'm out of tonic.

GOOD:
Baking! Decided to make bread after all.
I don't have to go to work for 5 days in a row.
SDs have been easy so far this week.
I am chilling a nice bottle of white wine and will open it early this evening...
We are lucky this holiday and am just preparing for a potentially horrific 2017.

I got a case of beer for Xmas day. My sis, BIL and Aunty rocked up..surprise visit..and we drank 2 cases so now im hungover like a swine. Picked up more beers today. Xmas will be spent with famz..having roasts..chicken, lamb and beef with salads, turkish rice and crunchy rolls. Also having seafood..prawns and crabs. SS14 will be at BMs.

I hate xmas shopping cuz people seem to turn into heathens who have lost their minds along with their manners..so next year I'm doing it earlier.

Its gunna be hot n humid..and I often dream of a white xmas.

I hope you all have a wonderful Xmas..with lots of alcohol, belly laughs and awesome fun!!

Good: NO SKIDS!!!! No tantrums because they don't like the gifts or there aren't enough of them, no stinking hair and body odor, no radiating of toxicity, no passive aggressive behavior towards BS4 just because he exists. Just DH, BS, and I, enjoying each other and the peace that is our family.
Bad: nothing! Compared to a skid xmas, everything is a delight.

This is sad to write but most definitely the truth. I think the holidays shine a laser beam of light on the pain of steplife.

good: Another skid free christmas. this makes eight in a row. woo hoo!

Leisurely christmas breakfast, will be firing up the oven for the buche de noel and prime rib.