Has anyone enjoyed their Christmas?

[sojo44]

I keep hearing sad/stressful/angry stories this Christmas, so wanted to spread some cheer. Tell me what you've enjoyed about Christmas this year!

I've loved having a long walk in the woods with DH and doggo, loved my presents and just having a nice relaxing time at home playing games, having a drink, eating and lots of laughs. We're not doing anything special or out of the ordinary but I love it.

Quite relaxed so far (we are at our house in America to be near family so it’s not even noon yet!). The children woke at their normal time and we had coffees and croissants and opened presents. My parents and sister stopped over to say hello and have already gone. We are still in our pajamas, whoops. Now we are watching a Christmas film until the kids go for their naps, at which time I’ll get dressed, the champagne will be popped and I will set about warming up the Christmas dinner (which I ordered 100% of from a caterer because I just didn’t feel like cooking this year!!). It’s unseasonably warm here so we will probably go for a walk to see decorated houses after dark.

Yep - lovely day here!

We had a lie-in, had coffee and did presents, then took the dog on a lovely walk along the seafront.

Then it was home for TV and then Christmas lunch, then post-lunch naps and films - currently watching Finding Dory and debating a mince pie!

Yep, it has been lovely!
I wrapped the presents as they arrived from Amazon, so no late-night wrapping stress last night, and the stocking bits DH and I finished off in the afternoon. DH did the shopping, I prepped the veg yesterday and DH cooked today. Dishes all done, presents enjoyed by all, house tidied and all is serene :) Lovely relaxing day, the most organized and relaxed we have been in years :) even MIL is not being as annoying

Yeah. I was really quite anxious about today, it's the first one we've spent at home and we haven't got a table as we live in a house smaller than a shoebox 😂

But it's been lovely, we visited my mum and dad first thing- we nipped to my best friend's house to say merry xmas, then to PILs.
Home for lunch (which was lovely)
Currently watching tv, drinking gin and watching dd build a big lego set.
It's been sooooo chilled out.

Me too. My Christmas lunch was awesome. We have had a terrible year losing a couple of close family members. Called my parents who live abroad and they seem alright, talked to my cute niece and she told me how happy she was to get her favourite chocolates, made me smile. Then just a lazy day with DH. No drama with his family because we dont do Christmas this year

Despite being full of the cold and just ready for bed, I have loved today. It’s the first year my LO has been aware of Christmas, and his little face just says it all. He’s had one melt down, but that’s it. Very surprised on how he’s handled it. So bring on the cheese and monopoly

Lovely day here! Relaxed all day, plenty of delicious food & drink, great presents too. Can't believe people saying, "it's over now" - it's hardly started, today is only the first day of Christmas! We've got lots more planned for the next eleven days

We don't have stories about lovely relaxing days, with extended family and lots of nice gifts, but its been more than ok. H and I are marking time, I have various frightening health issues, long term money problems, DD2 aged 16 has depression she is battling, BUT - we are all together, we have lots of food and more than enough socks (bit of a theme this year!!). We have a nice place to live whilst we can afford it, we are warm, and we have our beloved dog. We appreciate that too many people we loved are not with us and in a way that makes us even more grateful.

So I'd say that was a brilliant Christmas really.

I've had a great day.

I'm not very well but have had some lovely presents, all my family are here and my mum has cooked a wonderful Christmas dinner. Just about to have a nap while the rest of the family play board games.

Me.

My daughter and husband came to visit last night, we had a lovely evening with them and DP's daughter who is here for Christmas,

We foster and have a almost three year old and a six week old baby with us, we were able to give them a wonderful day. The three year old had an IKEA kitchen and you would think we'd given her the crown jewels. The baby has hit the 6 week growth spurt and has spent most of the day in someone's arms but is as happy as a 6 week old, drug withdrawer can be. The puppy has been content shredding a large cardboard box across the floor and DP and I are happy together.

Yes!! Lovely dinner followed by games, yule log and double cream and a box of quality streets. Just been to my mums about to go home and have a long bath, watch films / tv and have some nibbles in a few hours if I'm ever slightly hungry again!

We've had a lovely couple of days
Kids have bought some fab thoughtful presents, friends have been around and we have had a bonkers but brill Xmas eve
Lovely dinner
Tomorrow ds1 will spend the day with his partner and ds2 is in work
I think the key is to not expect "perfect "
And to have some time and space apart
We have a few things planned together for later in the week and I am working a bit
Learnt from the past to be honest about expectations and to make allowances so everyone gets a nice time

Yesterday was lovely, my new dp drove up to see me and meet my family, alas this morning he had to be dutiful and hang out with his kids and I had stbexh coming so could have been hard but actually he's been on his best behaviour and bought me a thoughtful gift (I got him nothing ).

@DishingOutDone - sounds like a wonderful Christmas to me - focused on the positive. I'm sure that with that mindset, you and DD16 will overcome that black dog she has on her shoulders. Hang in there DD16.

@bloodywhitecat - that had me in tears. You have given both those babies the crown jewels - a happy, safe, calm, secure Christmas, with all that they need, and more than they'd have known to want.

Oh and food was excellent though I say it myself

Nothing special here but nice Christmas.

Just the four of us plus our 15 year old cat and 1 year old indoor rabbit. Just had a lovely Christmas meal and prosecco made my DH. The cats eyes nearly popped out of her head when I told her we were having big chicken (aka turkey). Then DS said and sausage in bacon which made her ears double in size. She has been sitting watching the oven.

Beautiful day here and feeling so lucky to have such a lovely family and pets.

Adult DC are here, that's enough to make me happy. Long walk this morning, simple lunch, nice presents all round, plenty of nibbles (although one DC is eating leftover roast parsnips cold with hummous) and a traditional walk in the dark to spot the best/most naff lights. Brilliant all round.

Oh gosh! I'm just loving reading all these! It's making my heart grow all sizes bigger!

What makes me smile so much is seeing how happy we are with what we have, even if it's a (seemingly) simple no fuss Christmas or when times can be hard 💖

Weird day here, but it’s been so nice. I have been really poorly with a disgusting cold, so yesterday DP cancelled our guests. We’ve put the turkey in the freezer, and have had bacon sandwiches, pigs in blankets, and cheese, watching Christmas films. Hopefully we’ll have a rescheduled Christmas dinner at the weekend.

Amazing. The three of us have been in PJs all day, our DD is a toddler and we just went with the flow, had a great time. We got her a toy castle playset thing and didn't realise it was massive and needed assembly so we had a great time all building it together and playing with it.

Christmas dinner was a spread from M&S so no prep required beyond chucking stuff in the oven. We ate it on the living room floor on a picnic blanket and some of her dolls joined us for dinner. DD has been happy and cute all day, no meltdowns and she even slept in until 9am, so we all got a lie in. Currently on the sofa with a glass of mulled wine while DH and DD are playing with her new toy cars.

I used to go all out cooking and hosting and planning and making everything run to some imaginary schedule and actually it always ended up making me stressed - it's been great just to kick back, chill out and have a totally relaxed day with no pressure. I think Pyjama Christmas is going to be our new family tradition.

Me! I’m single this year so I’ve avoided the usual hurt experienced when you’ve gone to great lengths to get the perfect gift for your partner and he’s grabbed the last thing left on the shelf on Christmas Eve! 😂

Toddler was a bloody nightmare but that's to be expected and next year will be better (I hope!). On the plus side DH got me a lovely present and dinner turned out perfectly which is a pretty big deal for me as I consider myself a fairly rubbish cook! And there's three bottles of Prosecco waiting for me once the toddler is in bed...

Had a lovely day, thanks. DH has been busy with church services and I managed to attend both yesterday and main service today. Now we and DSD are at my parents' and have had some nice presents and silly trivia games. I’m in early stage labour which is mildly stressful but having a nice time nonetheless.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Yes, we've had a lovely day.

We did Christmas on Sunday with DS2 and his girlfriend because they're both nurses and he's working today. They both loved their gifts and they bought me a bird bath that I've wanted for months.

DS1 got home on Monday, he's in the army, so it's just been the 3 of us. It's been so peaceful and relaxing. He loved all his presents, as did we. Our dinner was really nice too. I've got a uti that is a bit persistent so am starting to flag a bit so I'll probably go to bed to watch Call The Midwife and read my new book while they watch a film.

Me too! Had a lovely chilled day. Dc and dh loves their gifts. Dh cooked whole dinner while I had a long nap-result!