The past few years, I have done my best to be organized by early December with the presents, card writing, house de-cluttering and general planning. So that, as the month goes on and the last minute requests happen, we still have time to deal with those AND have some nice family time rather than getting too stressed.
This year, we've had a busy year so I was a little behind already, when we were hit from left field with some pretty devastating news in DH's family and a few very intense weeks right when I would be in the thick of my regular organizing. And it also meant a complete change to our plans for Christmas (instead of staying home, we are now travelling "down home" to both sets of parents), not booking a cottage (our usual fail-safe when we do travel, to get some time out as our own nuclear family) as it was last minute and MIL needs support - but we will instead spend 1 night in MIL's, 1 night in my DPs and then a 3rd night somewhere (a DSis has offered, we may have to go back to MIL).
DH does a lot of international travel, I have had an unexpectedly heavy workload this season, and DD is having a very hard time at school and home (aspergers/ADHD, so normal trouble with that amplified by external circumstances). And we've had to do a lot of weekends travelling down home this autumn, which weren't in our plans. All of which resulted in me coming down with a chest infection so bad that I am on my 3rd lot of anti-b's and had to take a week off work (very rare occurrence) - I'm back since yesterday. DD started play therapy yesterday as well, to try and help her.
So this year has been pared back somewhat. No big meal to cook admittedly, but I have been asked to bring the veggies to 1 dinner, and have bought cheese to bring to the other (each family eats at different times, so we get 2 turkey dinners when we are down home!!). But packing to sort, presents are late getting bought, I have a load of cards still to write.
But the house is mostly clean. Could do with mopping kitchen floor, but otherwise clean. Decluttered guest room. I tackled my dressing table on Wednesday night. Reasonably neat and tidy, even if cluttered, elsewhere.
Tree is up, there are some presents under it. Overseas parcels and cards have gone - some a little late but not so late they shouldn't arrive before next Friday. And I have been giving myself permission to, not exactly celebrate but at least relax and get somewhat festive listening to a wide range of nice Christmas music (not the party classics, this is not the year for that, but lots of choral and orchestral music, and some bluegrass and country as well for something different).
And DH is organizing a family trip next week, one evening (Star Wars and dinner) so we will have something nice to enjoy together as well, apart from the wider family.