So are you looking forward to Christmas yet or still feeling frazzled?

[ClaireDeLoon]

I just thought as I switched on the lights on the tree that now that everything is pretty much done/organised in terms of presents and arrangements made I feel relaxed and happy about Christmas, enjoying a few nights out with friends etc

I think I'm a bit of a control freak in that I do like to plan things in advance and feel a bit stressy if I still have presents to get, does anyone else get the same way?

[FrostyAndSlippery]

I'm fairly relaxed about everything except housework (just updated my support thread in fact! )

Presents were mostly bought a few months ago which is such a relief due to all the snow etc now. Finished wrapping, which I love, the other day.

Tree is up but still got lots of tidying to do, and am a bit nervous about getting all the food - we've got a lot of it but we have no car so are relying on dad being able to drive here on Sunday so we can get the last few bits.

[Bonsoir]

I'm feeling despondent - there is so much to do before my Christmas is ready and under control!

I like the creative project but feel I lack assistance with execution of my oeuvre, IYSWIM!

[Francagoestohollywood]

What are you planning Bonsoir?
This year I feel a bit meh about Christmas.

[englandsmistress]

all done, started in October! (smug)

[Bonsoir]

I need to write a list of everything I still need to buy or do, and to sort it out and then just get on with it, but the very thought of it makes me feel desperate! And my sister has just told me that she and her family (DH and three DCs) are not going to be staying at their own (freezing) farmhouse 65km from here but would prefer to be at the hotel in my block . This requires me to cater for them for an additional four meals

[bibbitybobbitysantahat]

Frazzled to infinity and beyond ...

[piratecatClaus]

I feel like it's been a huge stress build up this year, but I also know i have a few RL probs that have sapped my energy in other ways the last months.

I haven't that much to organise, but tho only a few family are coming to me, it is all UP to me iyswim!! Single mumhood means i have to do it all, which is fine but also tiring.

I seem to have had a headache for weeks anyone else?! Really looking forward to 3.20 on friday when dd finishes.

[Bonsoir]

Franca - normal English Christmas dinner with homemade everything (stuffing, bread sauce, cranberry sauce, gravy, mincepies ) and my parents are staying from 24th to 28th and need lots of feeding and a very clean apartment and lots of booze and...

I must write my lists and do an online shop at Monoprix and a physical shop at La Grande Epicerie. And I must spend a whole day cooking in advance! In that order, right?

[Francagoestohollywood]

Ouch Bonsoir
I still need to finish the shopping and my quest is daily boycotted by the unreliable Milanese public transport, which is at its worst at this time of the year.

I'm really looking forward to our English friends visiting for New Year's eve.

[Francagoestohollywood]

Thankfully, I don't have to cook any Christmas dinner, as we are at dh's uncle this year.

[Bonsoir]

I also need to wrap presents before Friday 4pm (as DD will be underfoot thereafter) and to buy a few more.

Trouble is, the weather is super unreliable so I plan to do things at home and then the weather is good so I think I should do shopping instead. And then I plan to shop and it snows...

[Bonsoir]

OK, tomorrow morning I am going to defrost my fridge-freezer in anticipation of filling it. While doing that I shall write my complete and ultimate food shopping list. I shall place my online order. By then it will be midday and I will be able to go to La Grande Epicerie and shop for all the stuff I couldn't get online.

Will then do some present wrapping before collecting DD from school at 5.20 (long day tomorrow).

Friday I must cook stuffing, mincepies, cranberry sauce and tomato sauce (for feeding all those DCs) and freeze.

[MayorNaze]

ha i am working xmas day and so everyone is going off to PIL

[blossoming]

I'm doing Christmas lunch, the whole shebang, but with lemon tart for dessert, with my parents as guests.
Then on boxing day I'm catering for my entire lot of inlaws. We will be 24.
Looking forward to Christmas..??!

[Bonsoir]

bloss - 24?!

[Francagoestohollywood]

Same thing here with the weather.
Plus, I have lots of non christmas related errands to run and it is busy!!!

[Chandon]

Oh but I feel CROSS about it!!!

Firstly, we were supposed to celebrate it just the four of us, nice and relaxed.

Then MIL and SIL call and say they want to come to us. Then BIL and SIL call and say they hear their parents are coming to us, so they'll come too. SIL then adds that a few weeks ago she decided to become vegan (but vegetarian is "acceptable" for her christmas dinner, she said). The other BIL and SIL call that we are all having christmas together and they feel peeved and left out, so they 9and their 4 (!!!) kids are coming too. WE NOW HAVE DINNER FOR 15 TO DO

Then MIL txts that dessert HAS to be home mad Christmas Pudding, otherwise it is "not really Christmas".

We are going on Hols, and not coming back until 24th (after all I did not think we'd have a big christmas to organise)so I have to organise all the food and presents THIS WEEK.

Have not been able to leave house all week due to sick DC.

Have hurt my back (recurring problem)and unable to even put decoration up, or do any tidying.

DH abroad.

I just want to call the effing inlaws and tell them to ef off. No effing clue where I am supposed to get all the last minute presents, food for 15 etc. without leaving the house.

rant over.

better get some wine.

Right now I hate them all, but know I will manage to be nice and gracious host on the day and might even anjoy it.

[WhatsWrongWithYou]

I was feeling reasonably organised (for me), until I came down with a stomach bug on Saturday night.

Scuppered all my plans for getting the tree/decorating/cleaning/wrapping presents.

Am only just starting to feel human, and now DS2 is off school with laryngitis, so have now lost the rest of this week as well.

Plus we go ski ing on the 19th, so everything has be ready before then < wails >.

DS1 has three things in his stocking; DD has no idea what she'd like so I'm scrabbling around trying to find last-minute presents for her.

I foresee the usual Christmas Eve scenario; me wrapping in a frenzy after the last DCs have gone to bed (after 10.30), DH watching me whilst swigging port and saying 'I don't know why you always leave it to the last minute.'

[SummerRain]

I'm officially finished my shopping so feeling very zen and relaxed about it

Enjoying the run up now

[ClaireDeLoon]

Chandon you MIL needs to being a nice homemade pudding with her then for you to heat up.

[blossoming]

Age range of my 24 in laws? Start at 2 months, ends at 82 ( miserable old goat), and every decade inbetween. I shall also have to be gracious host despite having major issues with one of the families.