Any ideas for Christmas just with OH?

amalis

Hi all,

we are a young family with no traditions on our own yet. We are very far from both our families, so this Christmas it will be only me and him. I must say that in my family we never celebrated Christas, so in his. But I feel that we are missing someting. Usually we just take a chace to relax at home in these days, but this year I would like to do something special. My OH does not mind doing anything, but he feels the initiative in arranging Christmas should come from me. I have no idea how to make this day special and different from just having dinner together (which we do every day). Any good suggestions?

MrsTinks

Board games I bought scrabble for us to have mummy and daddy time recently and it's been a hit!
Basically 24th we have friends arriving but after dinner will probably go to the pub to see the LL and other friends from the village. 25th - breakfast when we wake - bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon and hopefully cinnabuns from my american mate - lunch will be grazing and then dinner obviously. Pressies will be after breakfast (probably involving some champers - usually does this is the 3rd year our friends have spent Christmas with us as we all have family really far away )
At some point during the 26th there will probably be a walk - the dog will be most upset if there isn't

ikkleosu

I think the best way to make the day feel special is to have traditions.

Small things like, listening to carols in bed and opening your stockings before getting up. Having a long walk together, spotting all the kids out on Christmas bikes,scootes etc. Then back to your house for a special brunch with bucks fizz, smoked salmon etc.

Then opening your presents together by a fire/with candles/in front of the TV. HGAve a nap or watch a Christmas film.

Then both of you dress up in your finery and go out for a meal (Indian restuarants seem to be very popular with people I know).

Alternatively, you could do some volunteering together, helping make someone else's Christmas special might make your day more special.

savingmummy

Aw i miss the single Xmas we used to just relax together and enjoy each others company as we both worked full time and i did shift work.
Every one builds their own tradition so it is difficult to point you into the direction really.
Before our children came along we used to both have breakfast in bed with Xmas songs on either the radio or your own. I just loved this as it was the only time we could ever do this.
Then we opened some pressies downstairs, rang relatives and friends.
Prepared dinner together eating choc`s and drinking wine.
Made up a gorgeous dinner table, candles, napkins and table decorations for two.
Opened the rest of the pressies and relaxed, we played Board games, watched DVDs and had lots of sweets for the evening in front of the TV.
Walk of an evening and a cosy of a night in pj's and blanket on the sofa
I sometimes did a romantic twist in the late evening for us both, bubble bath, face mask, massage....new nightwear/lingerie.
Maybe include things you normally don`t get time to do together, for us we just never had the opportunity to watch TV together or cook together. Sometimes i was never there to share a meal so it was a nice treat for us to be able to do this.
Have fun x

amalis

aww, guys, it all sounds so lovely...

ALIBOBSY

I wish we had done more single christmasses, but we ended up doing the parents and inlaws (one on the 25th one of the 26th) each year right through until we had our second child. Then I put my foot down. In laws had already decided to do Christmas new year away each year (they have 4 kids and many grandkids so MIL was sometimes cooking 4 or 5 "christmas lunches" and it was too much), although MIL does miss seeing the kids. We will go for tea with the inlaws this weekend and wish them a merry christmas and see them again after the holidays although they do ring alot over the period. FIL is in a wheelchair and MIL has hand and wrist problems so going in an adapted hotle gives them both a break and they have a laugh with entertainment etc-they even take the laptop and crissy DVDs for at night in the hotel. We decided I really didn't want to end up evey year at Mums so I insisted we stop at home and have our own day, the first year we went over to Mums later on, but her and Dad both had hangovers (yes really even knowing their grandkids were coming over) and Mum insisted in doing a full christmas meal, which of course no one wanted.
So since then we stop at home, they are welcome to visit on the day to see the kids (Mum did come early last year to watch the pressie opening-she won't leave "her" presents with santa, but brings them around later-don't get me started on THAT one lol) and they both popped in later.
I also invite them on boxing day, but this year Mum has offered to do a meal at theirs on boxing day.

Then we have to argue about what to do on my birthday (the 31st) rofl. We usually just take the kids out for a meal in the day and have a takeaway and some "fizz" at night. But Mum is doing a big party for new years- I really really don't want to go lol.

After all that having 3 kids and being pregnant at crimbo are easy rofl.
Aww the bliss of breakfast in bed and a soak in the bath- I remember them.

So enjoy a quiet life whilst you can!!!
merry christmas
ali x

red_devil

its just me and oh at Christmas. These are some of the best Xmas we have had no arguments no stress etc!

its just another day it comes and goes! We enjoy it as its some rare time off together!

suburbanwifey

MrsTine wrote: »

Board games I bought scrabble for us to have mummy and daddy time recently and it's been a hit!
Basically 24th we have friends arriving but after dinner will probably go to the pub to see the LL and other friends from the village. 25th - breakfast when we wake - bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon and hopefully cinnabuns from my american mate - lunch will be grazing and then dinner obviously. Pressies will be after breakfast (probably involving some champers - usually does this is the 3rd year our friends have spent Christmas with us as we all have family really far away )
At some point during the 26th there will probably be a walk - the dog will be most upset if there isn't

Board games are such fun! I am a terrible loser and have been known in my time to have a paddy and sling the Scrabble/Cluedo/Draughts all over the room in the earlier days of our marriage lol. He would just laugh at me LOL - and sit and watch whilst I had to go pick all the pieces up :mad:

Christmas is a traditional time for us getting the games out. I still LOSE and I still hate it LOL - but it is much fun! for sure....for him more than me as he always WINS!

PS. I think he cheats :A

Edited to add:

Just remembered! Bought 'Frustration' a couple of years ago. We almost got divorced over that game LOL - it now sits in the cupboard, banned from ever getting it out again LOL