I'm sorry but MIL has forced a Christmas question from me

[hagridthehamster]

We always go to PIL for Christmas (DH, me, 4DC and 2 dogs) plus BIL and SIL. MIL has called 'just checking' that we re going this year too. Apparently she needs to start her 'catering arrangements' now

We loooooove going there, everyone has a wonderful time, but after the palaver at Easter with B/SIL mad PFB stuff here I'm not sure it's going to work. I've said that I'll need to check with DH and I'll call her back but I'm really not sure that everyone will have a nice time. That said I would hate to upset PIL as they are truly wonderful people, also the DC adore going there for Christmas. I tried to ask where everyone was going to sleep, but she sort of brushed the question off. I can't cope with another round of 'DN has to have her own room so your DC will have to sleep on the dining room floor'

Gah it's September FFS

[AttillaTheMum]

I would firm up sleeping arrangements before I committed, and i would tell her why.

[EldritchCleavage]

Ooh, I remember that thread!
Be very frank (but gently): you're not doing the floor sleeping again. It didn't work, it is unfair and a terrible precedent to set. So, unless everyone can come up with a better arrangement, tribe of Hagrid is staying at home.

[HerdOfTinyElephants]

If it's really just the sleeping that bothers you, then as Attilla says.

[Flisspaps]

Can you say you're going to have Christmas at home but will go up for Boxing Day (in the morning, then come home in the evening?)

I think if it's going to be a palaver and stress, now might be the time to start having Christmas at home.

[hagridthehamster]

My suggestion now that DN is sleeping through is that all the DCs go in together, the room is big enough and DS was quite happy sleeping in the same room as his sisters on holiday. If we got the 2 LOs down and asleep the DDs could sneak in quietly after. That is the last bit of sense you'll probably hear on this thread from me

[hagridthehamster]

Fliss that would be lovely but DD1 & 2 and DSD go to their 'other parents' for Boxing Day and the day after, we have them for C Eve and Day this year.

[fegwood]

I cannot wait until next year when we will have done an equal amount of Christmases with my parents and PIL and we can just tell everybody to fuck off and hole ourselves up with food, booze and Singstar for a few days, then invite them to us (secretly hoping they'll not come) for New Year.

[oldraver]

Well being as it turned out ok-ish in the end last time, I would go but do make it clear to MIL you expect your DC's to sleep in the same room as they always have and you would be happy for SIL's DC to join in.

"Oh that would be lovely, we love coming and now PFB is sleeping though s/he can join my DC's in their room"... all jolly like

[WhoWhoWhoWho]

I remember that thread too! Did the pfb end up in the dining room in the end or did SIL get her own way?

[hagridthehamster]

DN was put in the dining room to sleep which was fine as the weather was amazing and we had barbecues. That's not going to happen at Christmas I think, unless something EXTREMELY freaky happens with the weather. The problem with the dining room is that DN still naps during the day so the room isn't really available at all.

[WhoWhoWhoWho]

Yes I can see why the dining room would be a problem over xmas - I'm assuming MIL will be laying out quite a spread is she is starting on her catering already.

[hagridthehamster]

Ooooh yes who, she does do a nice spread

[fruitshootsandheaves]

Ahh yes we have this. Also with 4DC's and 2 dogs. however MIL doesn't want dogs in her house anymore. Don't quite know what our current dogs did wrong, but heyho. So we now take our caravan and stay on the nearby farm. It's brill, still close enough to pop over but not there every minute of the day.

not a very good solution if you don't have a caravan though!

I expect your MIL is asking about catering as she needs to start cooking the sprouts this week.

[Eglu]

Will be interesting to see what your DH feels about this. Do none of you live close enough to not have to stay over.

Also remember the debacle of Easter.

[trixie123]

hah - we had the christmas conversation in July! yes, given that generally you have a nice time I would go but be firm about whatever sleeping arrangements you need.

[HMTheQueen]

I can trump you all, my MIL called SMIL at Easter to discuss Christmas! EASTER

FFS!

[starfishmummy]

My MIL usually arranges the next xmas at the xmas before iyswim. SInce it involves the Pils going to stay with their other son I am quite happy

[hagridthehamster]

Easter? July?

PILs is about an hour away from us and 2 from B/SILs. We could just go for the day but it means that neither of us can drink and that's a bit miserable at Christmas isn't it? Not that we get trollied, but a couple of glasses of wine with lunch is nice. Also the DCs get really excited about having a sleepover at GPs as GM is insanely indulgent and lets them all have hot choc with squirty cream and marshmallows before bed and GP does stories 'much better than Mummy od Daddy'. Oh hell I'm going to have to grit my teeth, gird my loins and say yes aren't i?

[psiloveyou]

Nothing to say about your crazy SiL. But as someone who has a evil bitch MIL who hasn't spoken to my poor dh or dc for 7 years because she hates me so much, I am insanely jealous of your lovely sensible MIL and want her for myself.

[HerdOfTinyElephants]

Well, we arranged Christmas back in January... (admittedly, this is because we are visiting relatives in Canada over Christmas and that was the best time to snag cheap(ish) flights, but it still trumps your ILs' puny Easter efforts...)

[hagridthehamster]

She is available for hire at very reasonable rates The thing I love most about her, actually both PIL is that they wholeheartedly accepted and welcomed my 2 DDs as DGC from day one. I have an evil bastard father and as a result we don't see my parents.

[Pootles2010]

Why don't you put dn is the room your dsil would have, and dsil and her husband sleep in dining room? That's what we do at my mum's. We sleep on blow up bed in dining room, which is fine, and ds gets much better nights sleep in his own room (and so do we) without turfing anyone out?

[hagridthehamster]

Pootles, I just don't think anyone can sleep in the dining room, theres about 1m between the edge of the dining table and the walls. Also B/SIL bring their own pillows from home, I don't think they'd take too well to a blow up bed Just to give you a rough idea, PILs are very generous and thoughtful hosts, the toiletries are Molton Brown and Aveda, the fridge is packed with yummy stuff that all the adults have free access to, the bed sheets are White Company. It's waaay nicer than our gaff! Actually sod Christmas, I'm moving in

[Pootles2010]

I just thought if they were being all pfb they might put themselves out for their precious offspring... maybe not!

It does sound gooood. I was going to suggest b&b but sod that!