Another catastrophe averted.

Family Christmas celebration. I has it.

This past weekend marked the annual family Christmas celebration. We had all (both) the parents here, my sisters and their families, hubby's sister and her family.... Sounds lovely, eh? Usually, it adds up to a pile of stress for me.

The past couple years, I've been hosting it. Not out of a desire to host it, mind you. But more out of a *nobody-else-is-stepping-up-to-the-plate* situation. Hand me the bat and the helmet. I'm up yet again.

Of course, Saturdays work best for everyone else, so we have it on a Saturday, even though a Sunday would work better for me. First, I have to clean house and the guest bedroom a few days early for the parents' arrival. Then they move in for a couple days and throw all sorts of schedules out of whack.

Then, Saturday morning comes, and I'm up getting some final food prep ready and doing some better cleaning. My sister-in-law had spoken to her dad a few days earlier - "Do you think we could bring our new puppy? It can't stay home alone very long." And of course, sis-in-law gets what sis-in-law wants, and we have yet another guest. My cat will be thrilled. So will hubby and Frodo who are allergic to dogs.

Father-in-law forgot to mention to me that sis-in-law also mentioned she would come early so she and her hubby and kiddo (and the new puppy) can visit with grandma and grandpa before everyone else gets there. So here I am, unshowered, in my sweatpants and tshirt, sweating like a triathlete in August in Texas, while wrestling with the vacuum and the slipcover on the couch, and my doorbell rings. Oh ho! Welcome! Never mind that I was vaccuming the FURNITURE which I rarely do, because I hate cleaning so much. I am doing it only because sis-in-law is allergic to the cat and I am being kind enough to get up as much cat hair as I can. A dirty scowl is thrown dad-in-law's direction, which he conveniently does not notice as he stares adoringly at his perfect daughter who has just arrived....

I finish wrestling with the vacuum cleaner and banish it to the closet. I slide the ham in the oven. I jump in the shower. I'm just waiting for someone to knock on the door because they want something from me..... Fortunately for me (and everyone else within any sort of earshot and the potential responding emergency workers) it doesn't happen.

After a nice shower and some appropriate clothing application, I re-enter my kitchen to find sis-in-law has brought all sorts of nifty appetizers and is currently spread out all over my counter preparing all of them. ("I just thought it would be easier to get it all ready here. I hope you don't mind.") Do I have a choice? I pour myself a glass of wine.

Others start arriving. I'm trying to finish up the rest of the meal while everyone is milling around my largest counter space because that's where sis-in-law set up all those appetizers. The ham won't get hot. The potatoes are getting cold. I hate cooking. I pour myself more wine.

Dinner is finally ready. Not much is consumed because everyone filled up on appetizers. After eating, everyone adjourns to the living room for presents. I leave the leftover food and dishes for now.

The kids open presents first. It's so much fun to watch them! Little sanity boost!

Presents are done. Kids want to play. I have leftover food and dishes! Does anyone help me? My mom wanders in at one point and talks about how she "wishes" she could help but she can't because of her poorly healing incision after her surgery that was two months ago. I get the food put away. I get the first load of dishes in the dishwasher. (Thank all the goodness in the universe for dishwashers!) I pour myself another glass of wine.

I come to the living room, finally able to have some time to relax and visit. My brother-in-law starts packing a few things up. He and the youngest of the clan are heading home to get her in bed.

My mom and one of my sisters had been talking for weeks about having a "Wii Tournament" where we could play some games and have fun. The kids are looking forward to it. I play one round of bowling against three of the kids and no other adults. Then everyone decides "it's getting late" and "we better head home". I sniff my pits. I remembered my deodorant today.

Next thing you know, everyone is gone. I did NOT have a good time. I don't want to host this again for quite awhile.

Sunday morning I wake up. (That's always good.) Except this morning is much different than most mornings. This morning, I am sick.

Someone left behind a stomach virus.