So I sent out the holiday email, letting everyone know that from this past season on out, my husband and I would only be attending family functions together.

It was pretty well received! In fact, his god-mother invited me out for lunch the next day saying she wanted to apologize for a few things. She apologized for not going with me and my group of girls wedding dress shopping the second time we went because she thought she was overstepping, but then she realized later we actually wanted her there (which was something I hadn't thought about since the day she cancelled!) and she apologized for not making more of an effort to integrate me into her family. It was really sweet. She acknowledged that since I've known DH, anytime we have a family dinner with my family she's been invited and that courtesy has not been extended to me in her home since the first time she and her husband met me.

DH's mom and step-dad of course refused to come to our open house. DH has been working at their house for the past few weeks and he got an earful quite a few times. They essentially told him to grow a pair and tell me to eff off. Said something like if PBM is working why does it matter where you go on Thanksgiving/Christmas? I'm very proud that DH stood his ground with him. I think he's learning that I'm the last person he should be making unhappy.

So we had our Christmas open house a few days before and it was really nice! Very relaxed. Everyone had a good time and got along. It didn't feel like the same kind of pressure there sometimes is during holiday gatherings. Everyone snacked and had some tasty wine and cocktails and the kids got to open a few gifts. Pretty much a perfect night.

The best part of all of this? DH took SD and SS to his mom and step-dad's on Christmas Eve even though they were still pouting about them not going to the family Christmas dinner. They had lunch and dinner together and just spent a day goofing around the grandparents house. Well, the day after Christmas DH went back to work for them. His mom told him they actually had a better time hanging out with the kids (and him) than they did at the big family dinner on Christmas Day.

Hopefully MIL remembers this next year when they start to raise a stink about us not being around on Christmas!