I know it's stressful, it's tough with no money and everyone always argues and you have to cope with awful MILs etc....

[PuppyMonkey]

But AIBU to still find this period just before Christmas Day really exciting????

Go on, admit it - you love it.

hands up here but I'm lucky enough to have all the food buying and present wrapping done and no MIL viiting!

I heart it too... have been off with the kids since Tuesday :)

HAve most of the cleaning done, just waiting for tomorrow (dds birthday) and that's when it all begins for me :)

Now I am all sorted and I have a full stock of booze, yes, I am excited

I'm a bit worried I might have peaked too soon.

The best best best time for me is Christmas Eve! I love it!!! More than The Day itself.

As for Boxing Day: bloody hate it!

Now that I know for definite that I have tomorrow off and I don't have to struggle into the snow to work dressed like the michelin man, YEEESS getting excited.

If needing to steam clean the carpet, cook a thousand mince pies, wrap the entire contents of 2 wardrobes, be polite to a DH who is finding every excuse under the sun to make more work for himself, and keep 2 poorly boys entertained is your idea of excited then yes, I am extremely excited

I LOVE it!

Is a bit stressfull as I am never as organised as I would like to be, but ......... I am sooooo excited!

Yes, absolutely this is the best. I've taken my holiday this week, love the anticipation, even if DCs have been "over excited" at times. I will be glad to get away from it all and back to work in those days between Christmas and New Year when it seems no-one knows what to do with themselves. And if I ever go shopping on Boxing Day, please someone shoot me

Love it love it. I annoy my husband by saying stuff like 'Ooooooh - it's Christmas Eve Eve Eve Eve!' and the like. And doing stupid claps like that bloke from Pineapple studios.

It's Christmas Eve Eve! Hee hee! (clapping)

I love it
butterflies in my tummy
will be better once I am safely ensconced in my mums with a drink in hand though!!

I've had the flu so have just dragged myself around the house doing one or two things and then back to bed the past 5 days or so. No chance for Christmas spirit to well up. Feel better today though, so getting gradually into it.

Met my neighbours on the way back from shopping today. They are elderly and they told me they just cannot get into the swing of it at all this year. Found it a bit sad really, didn't know what to say. The wife has started to get health problems, lost weight , she's just a slip of thing. Apparently all the things she experienced as a young woman during the war is breaking out and causing her nerve problems and ill health. Isn't that sad? Don't know what happened really, just that two babies died - one just after the birth, the other just after the war ended -disease.

It's DD's 2nd birthday today so we will be putting up the tree tomorrow, might make a few mince pies in a bit. DH braved the supermarket earlier (came back a little shaken) and we are set! Love this time of year

don't know now, should I maybe invite them round or leave them be if they cannot face Christmas this year? Is it thoughtless to kind of impose Christmas spirit thing on people when they are not up for it?

Or should I maybe bake a cake and take it round to them? What do you think?

Sorry x-posted there - I think a cake is a lovely idea...

I am excited too, but that's because for the first time in 4 years I am not working Christmas Eve or Boxing day as I am back being a CM again and self employed so picking my on hols!

I'm loving it again this year now DS is 3. I've found the last few a bit stressful. Boxing day is good too, when we're on our own again and can stay in pyjamas and order a curry.

I love love love it! Everything about it! Even though I have the lurgy and have lost my sense of taste on the one fortnight a year when I allow myself as many chocolates as I can stuff into my face, it's still lovely.

Ellensmellons - my DH rolled his eyes this morning when I squeaked and announced it was Christmas Eve Eve. Grumpy old git.

Only 2 hours left at work at that's me done till 2011 (Yipee! )

Just to make my mince pies this evening!

I almost love Christmas Eve as much as Christmas day and as for all the other days in between Chrsitmas and New Year, it's the only time of the year I allow my self to indulge in watching far too many cheesy TV shows and films and stuff myself silly with choccies!

DAN Could you ask them to join you for christmas diner? Hate to think of others being unhappy.

I'm super excited, maybe more than the children!!
Everyone apart from me has the lurgy so they are all lying around sneezing

Dinner - obviously, although a christmas diner does sound fab

Love it too - have had a fab day playing games / Thomas track with 2x DS's. It's even better now we insist in Xmas dinner on our own (all visiting done before / after and my great-aunt organises a family party every year - we all pay towards DJ/food and get to see everyone in one go ) Dan, how lovely of you to think about your neighbours - cake / box of biscuits etc a lovely idea.

I could ask but I don't know , they just said they were not in the mood for it, they are depressed. They only speak Czech. Our guests are English or German speaking so not sure that will work

I might invite them for coffee and cake though. Sorry to have hijacked a bit. It is weighing on my mind a bit after seeing them. They are very old. They have a dd and grandchildren here but seem to be just keeping to themselve this year. Wasn't sure if the done thing is to try and cheer them up or respect how they feel. Hmm

Sorry to distract from the cheerfulness though!

ah you know what, I'll just bake a cake now and take it round