Well....how did it go?

mammyof7

Last year we decided to have our lunch on Christams eve due to the stress/ lack of time/ hyper kids and mess of the actual day. It was so much easier that we did it again this year and the meal was delicious, I really enjoyed it. However, thats were it went down hill!

Hubby and I had already decided not to buy each other presents but my daughter then informed me at 3pm on Christmas eve that the OH HAD bought me something (don't want to appear ungrateful but I wish he hadn't has we had already agreed upon this and tbh we could'nt afford it). So cue a mad rush to town for a return pressie.

Returned home, and waited, and waited and waited for the flaming kids to go to sleep, which eventually happened after midnight. Mislaid a very expensive present which caused major stress but was eventually found. Went to bed and the first child was up at 2am, YES THATS RIGHT 2AM :mad::mad::mad:. Eventually gave in at half six and traipsed down with the tribe in tow like a zomie

All presents seemed well received :j. Had gammon and chips for our dinner then had our annual visit of the MIL. Son number 1 and his new gf came for a couple of hours later on (which was actaully very pleasent) Only downer of the day was that I have been thinking a lot about my baby boy (who we lost 5 years ago) lately. He died on 19th Dec, came home on Christmas day and was buried on the 27th so this time of year is always hard. However lately it's been on my mind even more and tbh I really felt it this Christmas.

Today the Christmas mess has just got out of control, so after a family discussion the tree and decs have all gone and been packed away to next year . I'm going to sound scrooge like but the relief is amazing!

pinkduvetdiva

Our Christmas was good, but weird. I met my OH's parents on Christmas Eve and stayed at theirs overnight, then OH's dad dropped us off at my mum's house, where OH met mum briefly and gave her her pressie. After he'd gone, we stopped to chat to Mum's next door neighbour and cooed a bit over her new granddaughter After that, my auntie called from Jamaica, so by the time that was all done, we couldn't be fussed cooking the Xmas dinner, so we'll be doing it tomorrow! As yet, I've still not had a Christmas drink or done the whole stuffing my face with chocolate thing, but it really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Thinking of those poor children and their families in Connecticut and the young brothers that were killed in the car crash yesterday makes me thankful that my loved ones are OK. Here's to a happy and prosperous 2013 for us all! xxx :beer:

coolcait

It was good.

As usual, there were a few hiccups to manoevre around - like someone having the lurgy, and somone having been ridiculously stupid just before the big day. With all the fallout that brings.

But, looking at the big picture, it was a pretty good day.

Almost Walton-like in its cast-of-thousands, good-natured simplicity. :rotfl:

If you care to look for that aspect of it.

[In case anyone is wondering - yes, I did get a bag of hyphens in my stocking! ]

Zara77

My family had a weird old Christmas,at home it was lovely but externally a auntie passed away. Which happened a few day before Christmas,thankfully everything was done just before the Christmas day.
Normally i'm not too organised for Christmas but this year i had already brought all the main pressies for everyone and just needed food shopping. I got all the food in on the 23rd,even the disposable foil tins for cooking veg/chicken in! I do main Christmas dinner on Christmas eve,for my immediate household. Which really went off really well this year. We cut a few corners-super lucky with veg(ready prep)-got all reduced. So no peeling mass amounts of potatoes and carrots this year! I even got families favourite juice reduced but still with long date-this made them even happier.
Christmas Eve starts off with breakie-ready to cook croissants and waffles. Fruit-cherries,melon,mango and sharon fruit-everything everyone really enjoys(a few bits were reduced ie cherries-so tastier)
Lunch-again try to do super easy,pasta,filled with spinach and ricotta,I just add pesto and toasted pine nuts/walnuts.
Around 4 o'clock,kids had hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallow.
We then watched Miracle on 34th Street and It's a Wonderful Life.
Whilst the kids are watching,a few of use adults popped into kitchen,opened veg packets-put onto trays and seasoned. Chicken(family can not stand turkey!)was then put in. Whole lot took about and hour and a half-which is not too bad.
We had dinner for the first time ever at 7.30pm! A record at mine because it normally take soo long to prep veggies!
Straight after dinner all the kids help to tidy-even hoover up before presents are open!
Actually this Christmas was really quite peaceful,everyone behaved and we all just appreciated each other.
Although from this year onwards, i will be getting ready prep veggies,tin trays again and nicer croissants.
I hope everyone has had a good Christmas-whatever way you managed to celebrate:o

red_devil

it all passed well.

missprice

I was ill all over the hols
on the big day I ate 1 slice of dry toast.
On the other hand I didn’t have to cook :beer:

still not great now but getting better.

sparrer

After many, many years of providing for clients in my residential home, never getting a day off let alone Christmas, working through the annual relatives cocktail morning with pleurisy one year, often managing without staff who didn't turn up because they were suddenly 'ill' even though they'd been offered extra days off and double pay, and so on...
I'm retired now and didn't have to lift a finger this year. DD cooked an amazing meal (well she would, she had a good teacher ) the now grown-up DGC helped serve and clear away, while I was just told to sit and relax, which I did with pleasure.
I feel for everyone who had to work at the shopping, prep, cooking breakfasts, dinners, teas, clearing up, entertaining, making up beds for guests, keeping the peace etc, but your turn will come. Believe me, it's worth waiting for

mumps

I wasn't looking forward to Christmas, uncle died a few weeks ago and I was ill in run up to Christmas but in fact it was the best Christmas in years. Meal was great, I know I shouldn't say it as I cooked it but it was, DH, three of my four with us and 2 grandchildren. What more could I ask for?

consultant31

aliasojo wrote: »

Then yesterday I was presented with a stocking full of presents, I got my slippers and socks, but I also got a Nexus 7 and some other 'bits'.

I like the Nexus and I don't want to hurt his feelings but £200! :eek: I could have put it to the debt, put it towards winter tyres, bought a new cooker, got daughter's passport, saved it for emergencies etc etc etc.:rotfl:

Oh just for once, stuff the practicals and enjoy your Nexus, I'm sure your OH was looking forward to being able to give you something special, you deserve it

I got a Nexus 7 too but I'm not very technically minded so not sure how much use I'll get from it. Got the Nexus Book for Dummies to go with it :rotfl::rotfl:

aliasojo

consultant31 wrote: »

Oh just for once, stuff the practicals and enjoy your Nexus, I'm sure your OH was looking forward to being able to give you something special, you deserve it

I got a Nexus 7 too but I'm not very technically minded so not sure how much use I'll get from it. Got the Nexus Book for Dummies to go with it :rotfl::rotfl:

He was tbh. He really wanted to get me an ipad mini but settled for a Nexus due to cost. (Thank goodness. :rotfl:)

I've got 'Draw Something' downloaded onto it now (I draw really badly so it's 'interesting' ) and 'Words With friends' (Scrabble really), and so far that's all I've done.

I'm going to put some films on a USB stick next. Nexus for Dummies sounds good.

Well today is the first day I'll be sat on the couch watching films and eating chocolate. Son went home last night after his flying visit so it's back to just me and the kids again as OH is at work. I'm quite looking forward to a quiet day.