I used to really enjoy the holidays. Before we moved to TX. There was a bite or crispness to the air that we don't get down here, plus the leaves don't have the color.

I enjoy doing the dinner but not the cleanup. I enjoy the tree with or without gifts. Just my family together. I've had too many holidays alone where we couldn't all be together.

Lately though, I've had toooo much togetherness. I was looking forward to having the holiday at a daughter-in-law's home. When I said something about it, she left my stepson.

I hate the response I get when it is time for clean up. No one wants to help, but they all enjoyed eating it. Potluck wouldn't work. My remaining daughter-in-law when living with us and faced with her one night a week to cook would order pizza.

I wish for an electric dish washer, not a manual one(me or my daughter). It would really help at holidays. I'm thinking about using all paper plates and plastic silverware. Instead of the good set of dishes and flatware.

I hate that the kids that don't live here just show up in time to eat and then leave immediately.

I had fun Thanksgiving, but I didn't cook that or clean up after. A close family friend invited us to their first Thanksgiving in their new home. I had dishes I've never eaten before, some were very good and some were interesting.

I'm still taking down decorations. Wish it was all done. I have 4 totes sitting in my living room that need to go up to the attic and no energy to get them there.

I hope to have just the 4 of us next year at the holidays. I hope they will have their own meal at their own house and stop here for the evening and just visit. We will see.

Maybe with the stress level down things will be better. I am about at my max for stress. With the major stressor out of the house it has been better on one hand, but the babies miss their mom and don't understand and act out. They are too young for pdoc help too.