the in-laws cometh

Why? Why because people decide to divorce and re-marry are we all now obliged to have several editions of every holiday with ever-changing groups of people we neither know nor like? I have tried saying no, we're just gonna stay home and do something quiet. The fallout from that is unbearable. So now holidays are the opposite of what they are supposed to be. They are the dark days. I guess it gives a greater appreciation for the regular, non-holidays. But it's the middle of January and we still have 2 Christmases to go. Ugh. 

And how f-ed is it to say,"Oh, please don't get us anything! Honestly, there isn't a single thing we want or need! We aren't even getting presents for each other!" and then show up with two BOXES of gifts? Seriously.