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.

[mugggletoeandwine]

I love it now I've done everything, finished work for the week and can enjoy it.
Before today I was just stressed.

[floozietoozie]

I'm bfing 12 week old dd in M&S and still have presents to buy... so am a leetle stressed! But as long as I get a decent amount of pressies wrapped tonight (going to mums tomorrow) I'll be happy. Although feel like I could sleep for a week at the moment.

[naturalbaby]

any tips on how to get me and hubby into festive spirit when i've got a seriously grotty cough/cold, he's got work to do (but can't do it cause i'm ill and 35weeks pregnant and am loosing the plot with the boys) and we're all going mad cause we've been housebound since saturday with the snow?!

am planning an evening of wrapping presents with nigella on the t.v before i crash back to sleep again. he hit the wine hours ago cause he had a headache! hoping to do a bit of last minute christmas shopping tomorrow dosed up on paracetamol. woohoo!! we're going for the posh shopping centre rather than the local high street.

[undercovasanta]

Am also worried I've peaked to soon.
Normally work right up to Xmas Eve, so Xmas seems to come quickly IYSWIM.

This year have taken the week off before Xmas as DD is now at school, and we have been snowed in since Friday! Its been hard to maintain the festive atmosphere whilst looking at the same four walls!

Still, am really looking forward to DCs opening their pressies!

[PuppyMonkey]

Two more sleeps...

[stickersarecurrency]

DS is 3.5 so this is the first year he's really got into it and excited. Plus, DP's at last got full time work, so having him around is a novelty. And I usually have to work through Christmas but I'm on mat leave. The tree's up, there's tinsel everywhere, DP's been tidying all day and tonight's Love Actually and a takeaway. Tomorrow DP's got an early shift so I'm taking DS to deliver a card to the ladies in the library, and we'll pick up some last minute bits at the shop, then we'll be all set.

I can't wait, this time tomorrow I'll probably be trying to bundle DS into bed around now.

[HecTheHallsWithBoughsOfHolly]

OH yes, I'm very excited

I don't find any of it stressful at all.

I find it hard to sleep on Christmas eve and I wake the kids up at silly o'clock on christmas morning [blush but I'm not stressed at all. What's to be stressed about? It's lovely!

[taffetazatyousantaclaus]

Dan I think thats lovely. When you take it round you could ask them over for a glass of something on Christmas Eve. It being better than Christmas Day.

As for us, I am very excited. We are reading Richard Scarry's the Night Before the Night Before Christmas tonight. And then tomorrow the standard the Night Before Christmas. Tomorrow is DH's first Christmas Eve off since we have had DC. 7 years!

[Caboodle]

Dan - a really lovely idea

[irregularegular]

I love Christmas!

I don't find anything stressful about it at all. But then, my mum cooks Xmas dinner!

[DanZZZenAroundTheTreeAgain]

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

[DanZZZenAroundTheTreeAgain]

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!

[Caboodle]

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.

[TheSleepFairy]

Dinner - obviously, although a christmas diner does sound fab

[TheSleepFairy]

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

[surfandturf]

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!

[clairefromsteps]

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.

[MamaVoo]

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.

[miSaltireandwine]

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!

[RhinestoneReindeerHerder]

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

[DanZZZenAroundTheTreeAgain]

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?

[RhinestoneReindeerHerder]

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

[DanZZZenAroundTheTreeAgain]

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.

[domeafavour]

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

[ellensmelons]

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)