Where do you spend the holidays?

This means, we get 2 or 3 hours at each festivity before leaving. I’m not going to lie. It’s a pain. But I honestly don’t know what else we could do. Sure, we could alternate, spend one whole day with one family and the following year the other side, but you always feel like you miss out. After all, it’s family and you want to spent time with everyone. Is there a “fair” way to divide the time? What does your family do?

And sure, it’s nice to feel wanted. Nice to know that both sides want us to come. After all, it would be sad if everyone tried to avoid us like a bad game of dodge ball (sorry about the bad joke, I’m a gym teacher, remember?) But there’s no relaxing with that full belly of turkey for us topped off with a piece of pumpkin pie and coffee. The meal doesn’t even settle and we’re off. It’s rush rush rush. By the time we get home and the kids to bed, Laura and I go to bed too because we’re so tired and exhausted. 

Then there’s the issue of what dish to bring to the festivities. You never want to show up empty handed. But then again (and this is especially true for the 2nd or 3rd destination) it’s tough to keep warm foods warm. We live in a colder climate so a dessert can hang in the car and be okay. A casserole not so much. It’ll be freezing by the time we get to the in-laws. Warming it up in the oven isn’t an option because obviously the turkey is in there. And forget the stove top. Already full. So that leaves the microwave which makes the casserole a bit icky.