Thanks again for all the brilliant tips....but you're not gonna believe what's happened...
Although DH had persuaded me to do it, we hadn't actually got around to telling his family so. I was killing time in the hope one of his sisters would volunteer.....
anyway...we were at MILs for lunch this week, and the issue came up, and MIL said, categorically, that she would never expect me to cook Christmas dinner for them all, as it's not fair on me.....I wasn't sure whether to be offended or not, as in, it's ok for her daughter (actually thinking about it, one of them has only done it once and was apparently very stressed about the whole thing. We were with my family that year) to do it, but not me.....but then she went on to say 'we wouldn't expect you to do it or Julie (other sis) as me (MIL) and Claire (other sis who does do it) are just used to doing it and we don't get stressed.
She also recognised the fact that our house isn't big enough, but mainly that she could just see it's not fair on me cos it would stress me out too much and I wouldn't enjoy Christmas. She even backed it up by saying that they love coming to us for Boxing Day as I always organise a family quiz and games so we all get involved .
I was a bit embarassed, IYKWIM, as if I can't cope, however, overall I am very very relieved!!!!!
However, I will still use a lot of the tips for when my family come, it's onyl 6 of us plus 2 kids (mine) but any tips are great...