New PJs for christmas eve

[BreakOutTheKaraoke]

Does anyone else have new PJs for Xmas eve? In our house, one of santas elves visit while DD is in the bath on Xmas eve, and leaves 2 wrapped up pressies- a new pair of PJs and a christmassy book. My friend is extending this even further now, and her elves leave a christmas eve hamper! This has the PJs in, a book, a family DVD to watch, a fleece blanket each for the kids, new mugs and a snowman soup to go in.

Does anyone else do this sort of thing?

[BootifulBernie]

Yep.

I got this 'tradition' from MN about 5 years ago!

DCs have a 'Christmas Eve box', with new PJs, toothbrush, flannel, bubble bath, hot choc & marshamallows, biscuits, a Christmas DVD and a Christmassy book each. I do it on the cheap, nothing fancy. But they get it at about 4pm on Xmas Eve and they LOVE it.

[BreakOutTheKaraoke]

So do I! (Santa remembers to bring me new PJs too, wrapped up and everything!)

[CherryMonster]

we do! started the tradition for ds1's first christmas (he is 11 now) and have done ot every year since. did do a christmas eve hamper last year with a dvd, book, goodies etc, but wont be this year as will only have 2 of the kids. but will still do new pj's (and for the adults except db who doesnt wear them so has slippers instead) and slipper socks

[moajab]

Yes I've done this the last few years. It's amazing how quick kids will get into their pyjamas when they're new! I've also got them each a Christmas cup this year which I shall wrap up and put with their Christmas Eve dinner.

[GingerbreadLatteGoneColdAgain]

Been done in our family for as long as I can remember, My nana right through to Dd all have new Pj's on Christmas eve, No idea why, its just something that is done every year! Bath, new pj's and snuggle on the sofa with blankets and read Twas the night before Christmas! Love it! :o

[FreudianFoxSquishedByAPouffe]

I love that idea. Our kids are young so we are still building up our ideal Xmas, we can't afford any extras ATM but next year I will try and time it so they would be getting new jammies anyway IYSWIM!

I thought about the new story at bedtime too, nice to see others do that.

Our only Xmas eve tradition so far is that each year I've bought a lovely tree ornament for both DCs. On Xmas eve they will open them and hang them up before bed. When they're grown up they will each have a special collection of decorations :)

[GrimmaTheNome]

Just the PJs or nightie for DD. I think much more than this is overdoing it a bit TBH - if you give them all those bits and bobs xmas eve, whats left for the stocking?

The PJs ensure the kids are nicely attired for scampering around in the small hours next morning.


DD does also usually choose a new tree ornament each year but that's near the start of Dec when we put the tree up.

[mumofloads]

The elves leave a parcel at our front door. It will contain:
New PJs

A christmas book

A bar of chocolate with the childs name and a message from santa on it.

A individual sachet of hot chocolate with marsh mallows and edible glitter topping. I use those cellophane cones for this).

All six children get a parcel even the grown up dd. She would never forgive if I stopped including her . Although she does get Thorntons viennese (sp) truffles instead of the chocolate bar.

[dracschick]

New pjs are a neccesity so you dont look mismatched and badly laundered on the xmas morning photos .

[GingerbreadLatteGoneColdAgain]

Mumofloads, that sound lovely. (not sure about the edible glitter iyswim)! Yum to the Viennese truffles, they are scrummy!
Dracschick hahaha! Hair brushed before any presents are opened, Dd looks like a raggy doll in last yrs pics! :o

[Megglevache]

OMG I thought I was so original.

On xmas eve the children have their bath, I open the landing window and make the curtains bellow- then I put the parcels on their bed along with new slippers/some fairy lights and a little note from Mr Head Elf- telling them there's a 30 minutes countdown to bed.- Then I hide in my room and shake my jingle bells as loudly as I can remembering to stop as soon as I catch a glimpse of naked and sopping wet child running to the window and catching their death


ahhh I think sometimes they like this better than xmas day.

[notheroldie]

Ooooooh I love all these ideas.
We spent Christmas abroad last year and I really missed all the Christmassy twinkly stuff.
I want to start a new set of traditions in our family and the new PJ thing is brill :)

So, new PJs, fleecy blankets, "twas the night before Christmas" story, and a plate of DH's Father Christmas's favourite nibbles and drink and off to bed...

I cant wait!

[Megglevache]

notheroldie- will you start that thread now- I want to read it already

[notheroldie]

I'm still stealing thinking up ideas!

One thing I want is the advent calendars AND advent boxes, (those wooden things with drawers or flaps to hide mini gifts), go to the Carol service, do the bath, PJs, rev the DC's up too much to go to sleep and probably forget most of it...

[BreakOutTheKaraoke]

Has anyone who does the hot chocolate and marshmallows seen snowman soup? My friend makes them and they look fab! <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=www.uramoo.co.uk/snowman%2520soup.JPG&imgrefurl=www.uramoo.co.uk/Christmas.html&h=920&w=473&sz=39&tbnid=vbcOpMt1TxQ2cM:&tbnh=147&tbnw=76&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsnowman%2Bsoup&zoom=1&q=snowman+soup&hl=en&usg=__flSXk7VaEsGzM4eXfxzSaKOajZs=&sa=X&ei=zyjxTMnTA8G1hAe2iOWvDA&ved=0CDYQ9QEwBg" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">Here

Thats not hers, BTW, just a random off the net! They have instructions on moneysaving expert, and they're really easy to make.

[BreakOutTheKaraoke]

The tree ornament is a lovely idea, I may steal borrow that one!

[notheroldie]

yes the ornaments! ... (add to list)

My DCs made pottery ones this week, will be fired and ready for the ceremonial hanging of them on Christmas eve!

I want them to expeience all the excitement I had when I was little.

[OracleInaCoracle]

We used to have this when I was a little girl and dh and i have kept it for ds. go for a walk at about 3pm and while we are out neighbour jack frost comes round and puts a parcel on our doorstep with an ice cube or 4, we get back at about 4.30. the parcel contains PJ's, dressing gown, slippers, a book and new bath goodies. we also have a little note saying that FC is en route and reminding us that he isnt allowed to enter the house if there are any children awake.

ds is usually in bed by 6.30

[gregssausageroll]

I am starting it this year. DH has no idea about it yet either.

So far I'm planning on asking the neighbour to knock on the door and leave the box about 5ish.

It will contain

new pjs and slippers - bought already from Boots!

Some reindeer food for santa and a small santa stop here sign.

Possibly a DVD and may be some chocolate coins.

Daddy is getting a couple bottles of his favourite port that he won't actually believe I've managed to get hold of.

Very much looking forward to it.

[FreudianFoxSquishedByAPouffe]

Notheroldie I'm getting the wooden advent calendars this year, last year they were in tesco for a fiver in the sale! Much more fun than chocolate ones, some drawers will have sweets or a gift, other times an activity or a treasure hunt clue if the gift is too big.

I'm not sure what to leave out for Santa - no mince pies or sherry here

Love the snowman soup idea too! Kids a bit young this year so that's one I'll note for the future.

[mumofloads]

meggle we do the bells thing as well but get a neighbour to do it outside the window. Their faces are a picture when they think santa is here.

[mumofloads]

freudian I make gingerbread for santa, has the added benefit that cooking it makes the house smell extra christmassy.

[FreudianFoxSquishedByAPouffe]

Ooh that's a fab idea thanks - we can bake it all together. Will try to find out how to make it gluten free as DH Santa is a coeliac...

[babybear5]

every year for 15 years santa brings my dc's new pj's. Youngest is 9 months, so still a way to go yet. I love xmas eve. All the kids have a bath, get in to new pj's, have hot chocolate, put out cookies etc, leave santa's key hung up outside, sprinkle reindeer dust for him to follow (while dh rings little bell unseen) and then we all go in, climb into one bed and read 'the night before xmas' (i could do it without the book after 15 years ) I looooooove xmas eve as much as xmas day