What does your Christ Eve look like?

[Weesiewoo]

I've spent the day making cheesecakes, salads and laughing with my teenagers in the kitchen. Cranked up the music and danced. By mid afternoon I was praying for a storm as it was so hot. This evening we went for a swim after dinner, in fact I've been in 3 times. I've had a few glasses of wine and feeling really festive now.
What does your Christmas Eve look like?

DH has had his leave cancelled and is on nights (NHS) so he arrived home at about 8.30 and is in bed. DS(8) and I made cookies, DD(12) is upstairs on the phone. Making lunch now, DH will hopefully get up for a bit before he heads back to the hospital at 6ish so we can do the Christmas Eve box and try to FaceTime him for the night before Christmas bedtime story later on. Then desperately try to get the kids to sleep while I wrap, wrap, wrap - and get them to stay away from presents before he gets home in the morning, they open them, and he sleeps again!

On my own downstairs as DP and DSD tested positive for covid the other day and are prob still infectious. Bit of a rubbish run up to Christmas this year, but at least there’s no competition for the remote!

I'm currently in soft play, hoping to tire my DC out!

Partner has been to see his grandkids. We are now relaxing with a Buck’s Fizz (me), and a snooze (him). Taking dog out later, then probably a film or two - relaxing after a hard, stressful year

Hospital at 2pm as just had breast cancer surgery and need to be drained, said they will also do NYE. Husband has collected all the Christmas good from the butchers incl veg, cheese and Xmas pudding as got a hamper. Then will be back to my recliner. Living the dream here.

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

It looks like the usual hell on earth NHS christmas Eve with people (always men) coming in with giant diabetic foot ulcers they've sat on for months and then decided on xmas eve that it needs immediate attention and then I have to arrange for them to go into hospital. I'm supposed to finish at 5 but because of xmas eve panic I'll be going home at 8 and there will be more than a few amputations due to people not seeking medical treatment immediately. Its the same every year.

That’s so bizarre! Why do they do that? I hope you still manage to have a break and a nice time.

DP and I are on much-needed hols (UK) on our own. We’ve been out buying last-minute stuff and will probably watch a film this afternoon, maybe go for a stroll on the beach. Will have our Christmas dinner of roast chicken and lots of lovely sides later, watch another movie and that’s it. Leftovers, chocolate and lots of reading and telly tomorrow.

I called my parents well before midday, and they were already drinking, and I also got a side order of casual racism about some poor HCP, who'd had the misfortune of treating them. It's my first totally sober Christmas since the age of c. 12 - I quit last January. I'm simultaneously proud and reaffirmed in my decision, and really craving a drink suddenly after the phone call.

But I've done some meal prepping, some aimless tidying, and gone for a walk. Been in touch with some friends. Now I'm here with a coke and a bag of chips, trying to relax, waiting for DH to get off work.

@WayshrineNotFound

That's a massive achievement! Well done and keep going!

@TowandaForever - Thank you very much. I have alcohol-free mulled "wine" for tonight and Nozeco for tomorrow!

Have been to the trampoline park to tire the DCs out (just like the soft play plan from PP!), we had lunch out and then made reindeer cookies, next up Christmas movie and present wrapping!

Working in retail so spending the day being shouted at by customers for having run out of certain stock 😂 Clock watching and looking forward to getting home later tonight for my baby’s first Christmas.

We've tidied up a bomb site, aka dc1's bedroom. It seriously looked like it'd been ransacked in a burglary. We've also tidied up as much as possible downstairs but it feels a bit like trying to sweep up the sand off the beach. We have a cupboard to build later.

We're going to settle down to watch the Muppets' Christmas Carol in a bit and then carry on with the tidying.

Same as any other day, washing to do and tea to make.

DH reading his book
Kids watching movie marathon
We don't do Christmas dinner so no prep for tomo, will mostly be attending the rest of my day with my feet up, the fire on and eating as many mince pies and I can cope with!

DH is at work until 3. DD and I have prepped the dinner for tomorrow, veg, potatoes, stuffings, starters etc. Laid the table for tomorrow, just about to clean up and then we are doing to dinner tonight at nandos then cinema which is our Christmas tradition. Everything wrapped and ready, stocking filled and hidden (even though DD doesn’t believe in Santa anymore!) and music on loud and singing and dancing. Lovely day so far ❤️ I love Christmas Eve 🥰

First vespers then midnight mass. Staying in my favourite city as my parents uninvited me for Christmas, as they are worried about covid.

Kids have just had pain au chocolat for brekkie. Will go ice skating in a bit. Cold here, minus 12. Seeing Father Christmas this pm, so should be very Christmassy. Just got some spicy chicken out for dinner, wasn't sure what to cook.

Took cat to vet in the morning so she doesn’t have one of her turns when it’s shut.
Bought a big platter of foods to eat tonight and avoid cooking. Slightly regretting now (it’s already bedtime where we are) as I ate most of it and the prawns are repeating on me.
Just drank some of the ginger beer we set out for Santa🧑‍🎄 and it was fiery but hit the spot! We have been watching a Harry Potter movie each night for the past few days and today was the Goblet of Fire. Enjoyed the Yule Ball part.
We have deep snow outside so it feels like Christmas!

Happy Holidays Mumsnetters!

Started off with 5YO waking me up at 2am by covering me in vomit. She just calmly stood at the side of my bed, puking on me. Both of us has to shower, stripped the bed, opened the windows and went to sleep on the sofa.

Teen DDs woke us up around 9am, and made us breakfast.

We’ve played a few games, had lunch and now we’re watching Home Alone.

Then it’s bath time, hot chocolate and snacks and another film.

We've just come back from a few days away so had a fair bit to catch up on. So far we have been to tesco for the few bits missed off the online shop (sprouts, horseradish, chestnuts, cauliflower cheese), dropped pressies off with family, cleaned the whole house, set the table for dinner tomorrow, played Christmas carols, picked up the parcels from the sorting office, put up some more christmas lights done three loads of washing, eaten a baked camembert with a baguette and olives. Dh has been for a 4 h gym session and been to asda for emergency man-christmas eve-shopping, getting home in time to find all the jobs are conveniently done.

Still to do: in laws popping in for a drink and to drop off some gifts, prep some veg for tomorrow if I can be faffed, finish the last few bits of wrapping, watch Encanto with the dds on disney plus. Steak and chips for tea.

Worked til 1 ( I’m in retail & the shop was manic!) then popped to the bank as my card’s been stopped due to fraud & I needed cash. The money I lost has already been refunded which is great. Also need to go to the chemist to collect some painkillers. Sleeping really badly at the mo. DH is making mincepies & the beef has been marinating overnight in the fridge. We’ll prep the veg later. Going to cook the meat here in the morning but do everything else at DM’s. She & DF have come to us for several years but DM can no longer cope with the stairs. DD13 is in her room as per but did venture out shopping with DH this morning. They’ll have Maccie D’s for tea which has become a Christmas Eve tradition but the last couple of times I ate it I didn’t digest it very well so I’ll maybe have a jacket spud. We’ll probably watch Love Actually tonight.

BitcheofBlakiven hope your DD5 is recovered now

Been for a long walk with the kids. Cleaned. Had bailey's coffee. Chilling.

We don't actually celebrate Christmas, but we are having in-laws over - it was going to be tomorrow, but SIL is going abroad tomorrow. Slight drama this morning as DH ordered a goose from posh butcher's shop and they screwed up the order, having put down turkey, which none of us want. We found two ducks (the last two) in M&S instead.

Been to Otley for shops and Costa this morning. It was like a normal Friday down there. Now listening to the Carols from Cambridge on Radio 4. Pub later.