So bummed!

[Sillz]

We live in Seattle but my husband's family is in England and mine is in Australia, so we are here alone. We got used to having Christmas alone, just the four of us but this year was going to be extra special because my inlaws were going to fly in to spend the holiday with us. We were all so excited, especially my two boys who are 3 and 5! Now, because of the snow in England, their flight was canceled and so was their alternate flight that we managed to book. It really sucks. We haven't had Christmas with family in 6 years and now it looks like it's going to be even longer.

Excuse my little pity party here.

[bmccasland]

Well where are you?? We could have a "I don't have any near-by family" party!

[Koronin]

I'm really sorry their flights got cancelled. I actually do have my husband's family about 2 hrs away, but would rather celebrate Christmas alone.

[hebe]

oh no. Is there any chance that they might be able to get a later flight? Are they actually at Heathrow or have they been told not to travel to the airport? No-one really seems to know what's happening with the weather here, except that it's going to stay sub-zero for a few days yet. Your poor inlaws must be gutted too.

My oh travels to Seattle frequently for work and I have been so grateful that he didn't have any trips scheduled in this cold snap. It's been a bad year for flying out of the UK, what with the ash cloud and now this ice.

[hebe]

They have re-opened two runways at Heathrow today, fingers crossed that your inlaws will be able to get a flight.

[Sillz]

Thanks so much for all the support guys. We have some good news....they have been able to get on a flight on the 28th so we will leave up all our decorations and have a second Christmas on new years day. It's not the same as them being here to see the kids open their gifts on Christmas morning but it is definitely great that they can make it at all to spend time with us.

[hebe]

That's great news! You'll get to have two Christmasses. Could you put a few gifts aside so that your inlaws get to see some being opened?

[Sillz]

It's a nice idea in theory but something tells me my 3 and 5 year old would have something to say about not being able to open everything on Christmas morning!

The inlaws will buy new gifts to put under the tree plus they arrive the day before my birthday!

[Cataboo]

I think most 3 & 5 year olds won't realize if you tell them the 29th is Christmas how often do they know the day of the week or date.

but that's great!

[OakLeaf]

I don't remember this, but when I was about that age, I didn't get a gift I really wanted at Christmas, so my parents got it for me in July and constructed an elaborate story about how Santa Claus' elves were overworked and got it to me as soon as they could.

[Catrin]

I don't remember this, but when I was about that age, I didn't get a gift I really wanted at Christmas, so my parents got it for me in July and constructed an elaborate story about how Santa Claus' elves were overworked and got it to me as soon as they could.

This is very sweet, such love from your parents!

I am bummed that I can't make the drive home for Christmas to see my mom and sister - I haven't been there for a year and a half. My leg just isn't up to a 9 hour drive just yet and gas is so expensive... I also don't have family locally, and as all of my friends are married I don't like to intrude on the holidays. I will, however, be going to dinner at a friends house tomorrow. They like to take in strays

[jessmarimba]

My dad often worked on Christmas Eve or Christmas day when I was a kid...Mom lied to us about what day Christmas was pretty much every year

[Cataboo]

My dad often worked on Christmas Eve or Christmas day when I was a kid...Mom lied to us about what day Christmas was pretty much every year

My father worked Christmas as well - but it worked out fine, because we'd all be super excited and wake up at 5 am or so to open our presents. then we'd have Christmas breakfast, he'd go to work and we'd all either play with our toys or go back to sleep. When he came home in the evening, we'd have christmas dinner with him and he'd play with us & the toys.

It was very bizarre the one year he actually had christmas off.


When my little brothers were either 4 and 3 or 5 and 4 - we were down in Florida and all the older kids wanted to go to Bush Gardens instead of Disney World (we went every year & Bush Gardens had roller coasters) - so that year, we all went to "Disney World West" and to Universal studios.

[bmccasland]

When I was in Jr High (or maybe H.S.) we held Christmas over a month - Dad was coming home from fighting in the Viet Nam war. I think we opened one gift on Dec 25, then waited, tree and all, until he came home 3 weeks later. The tree was rather stale by then. My little sister was too little to know the difference. Probably the best gift was having Dad home safe and sound.