A Full House for Christmas

It has been quite awhile since I last posted. Since Christmas has come and gone, I figure I have something to write about. It certainly was an adventure.
I think the excitement started on December 20th. If you discount all the parties and concerts and all the usual "stuff" that goes with every Christmas in a family with kids and jobs and teams and such.
On December 20th, my sister and brother-in-law arrived. Not bad. Put in the table extender, we now number 6 people.
On December 22nd, my brother arrived. Getting full. Added another table, one more chair, we now number 7. My living room is full any time we want to watch TV or a movie or play Wii, with kitchen chairs or people sitting on the floor.
On December 24th, my in-laws arrive. THEY are thankfully staying in a hotel, but I am still in charge of feeding them. Add 2 chairs to the second table. We now number 9. It's getting a little stressful.
On December 25th, my parents arrive for the day. Add 2 more chairs. 5 at one table, 6 at the other. I am feeding 11 people for supper and there is no space to move in the living room. The two tables plus people basically fill my kitchen. We serve buffet style, with tv tables set up in two spots so half can get theirs in one spot, the rest can get their food at the other.
All in all, it went well. The food turned out, the 17 pound turkey was pretty close to being the perfect size, leaving only the equivalent of probably 7 hot turkey sandwiches' worth of meat, everyone had enough and enjoyed it.
I won't be doing it again, though. It was great to see everyone, it was great to have everything turn out, but it was SO MUCH WORK, and a lot of worry and too little space. Next year will be a very small Christmas...just me, Hubby, Son, and Daughter. (And Dog and Cat 1 and Cat 2)
My parents went home Christmas Day at night. Down to 9 for Boxing Day. Went shopping, out for lunch, relaxed, fed everybody. Daughter got sick. Had a headache, threw up X3, super dizzy, temperature of 102.8F under the armpit. Children's Tylenol, lots of water, darkness, and rest, and a 30 minute chat with the health nurse on the phone, and she was better the next morning.
In-laws said goodbye that night, left early the next morning. And then there were 7.
All but Hubby and Daughter went to church on the 27th in the morning. Said goodbye to sister and brother-in-law in the parking lot afterwards, they hopped in their car and drove off to spend a week at my parents'. And then there were 5.
Relaxed and watched many TV shows and such, then took brother to the bus station for his 13:15 bus on the 28th. Went to Superstore, bought snacks, kids and I watch movies all afternoon. All are exhausted and glad to have to house back.
Now we return to normal life, cleaning up and rearranging everything back to family-of-four status.
All in all, it went quite well. There were some glitches, some personality issues, as there will be with that many people in one space who are not normally together in said space....but we made it.
Next big-group adventure....Disneyland. :)