How are you spending Christmas Eve?

[marychristmas44]

Sorry if there's already been one of these threads.

I've been battling a horrid cold all week but have still powered through the last few days doing the big food shop, taking dc out and doing all of the festive 'things' so today I'm taking it easy.

Chilling with a coffee now. Will bake with dc11 later and get some of our bakes parcelled up for gifts. Do a last few bits of wrapping and enjoy all the good TV - at least two Scrooge adaptations that I've seen so far! We may have a walk later on and we have a few friends coming for some nibbles this afternoon.

Happy Christmas everyone.

About to go for a swim and then spending the afternoon in the pub with friends having a Sunday roast.

I love these threads.

We arrived at my parents house yesterday. Sorted all food and realised we only need bananas and cranberry juice so will pop out later.

We’ve all done exercise this morning (not normal but my 7 year old wants to make sure she’s exhausted tonight so she doesn’t wake up!)

bacon sandwiches in a bit. A walk. a puzzle. A movie (probably the railway children).

My dad is recovering from surgery and prepping for chemo and is missing his usual Christmas tipple so I’ve gone all out with lots of mocktail options.

cheese and chocolate draped throughout.

We were planning on doing nothing much except for perhaps a wander round a street locally which goes all out with Christmas lights and is a bit of a festive tourist attraction (raises money for charity)

however some extended family who we see rarely have rather last minute suggested a walk/cafe visit at an NT place about half an hour away so going there

Going to visit family and then probably a nice chilled evening.

Christingle service at Church, then MIL's house for gingerbread house making and gift exchange before coming home, watching The Snowman, popping out Santa's mince pie and Rudolph's carrot and tucking DD up in bed. Then candlelit dinner for DH and I whilst we watch a trashy Christmas film.

Gutting the flat so I can lie on my couch and eat cheese and drink champagne contently tonight!

I’ve got to hoover top to bottom, mop the floors and tackle the ironing mountain, make sticky toffee pudding, clean the bathroom and fix the fence panel that’s now flapping in the wind.
I haven’t been able to do anything before as I’m still getting over the exhaustion of having covid. No clue how I’m going to manage today tbh.

Doing the big meal tonight. Out for festive coffee today in a little town. Watchies, rum and coke, Panettone.

I'm currently out for breakfast, once I'm home it'll be a 'normal' Sunday, as I'm on my own. So laundry catch up, a bit of cleaning , some relaxing, and the most Christmassy thing - making an alternative dessert for tomorrow. Oh and sorting out beds/bedding for guests 😁

DD still has a swimming lesson so we're out for that this morning then possibly lunch/wander round the town it's in to see their Christmas lights.

Probably a peaceful afternoon at home - DD wants to videochat with some family members - and then we're planning to go to m&s around 5pm to grab a couple of things that were missing from our online order.

This evening it's Christmas books, hot chocolate, and PJs.

Nothing this morning (still in pyjamas) and a walk this afternoon, KFC for dinner with mum & her DP, it's our Christmas Eve tradition then we'll do presents with then because we're at the in-laws tomorrow.
Hoping it stops raining soon because we won't want to go out if it's wet and very windy

Unless it's a garage I think you'll find m and s closed by 5

Annoyingly have to pop to Smyths when it opens as we built the wooden kitchen last night to find we were missing a shelf! Later this morning will be a dog walk, play in the park and then we are going to a Julia & Axel exhibition at the Lowry in Manchester with DD1. Christmas film tonight before bed.

Currently sat in a local pub having breakfast with Santa. Will then go the cemetery and do a present run before chilling at home this afternoon

We were going to be prepping for big curry Christmas Dinner with PIL but just had a message from MIL to say FIL has been vomiting all night. Originally today we were going to my mum's but everyone there is ill too. Feel sad for my DCS as they probably won't see any other family until at least boxing day now. Will be the first Christmas day just the 4 of us. I know it will be fine and lovely but just not what we had planned!

Was hoping to take the kids out on their bikes or just walk to the park but so far it's very wet and windy here!
Will need to think of something to tire them out for tonight.

Sitting on my arse, eating shite while watching TV. I’ve run myself ragged this last week getting Xmas organised alongside working FT. DH thinks he’s a hero because he’s going out to buy the beers later! He can’t drive and is a bit of a useless twat (but a loveable useless twat) so I end up doing everything 😀

It's just my children and myself. At the moment we currently have a storm going, just had kfc for dinner and watching some christmas horrors (currently got Jack Frost going), then bed.

I'm in Scotland - it's open until 6pm

My kids are currently with my dad while I get organised. They’ll be there with him until mid afternoon. I’ve got so much tidying up and cleaning to do but just having a 10 minute break. Once I’ve finished everything I need to do, the kids will come home and we will have a little Christmas party tea/play some games/watch a Christmas film. Then when the kids have all gone to bed I’ll be finishing wrapping 🥴. Hope to be in bed for midnight latest as it’s an early start tomorrow!

Off to the gym in a minute as I won't be able to go until NYE. Afterwards, I need to go to the supermarket for a handful of things we could do with but not the end of the world if I can't get them.

A quick tidy round the house later then a walk around the village for some fresh air and to judge all the Christmas house lights and we decide our favourites. (I don't do Xmas lights, too much effort 😑)

Then it's Christmas movie night and popcorn.

Today the hosting starts.

We were up early to slow cook the beef, my sister and her husband arrive at 12noon. My parents arrive at 4.

Sister and husband will leave mid evening (for his parent's house).

In the background, we're defrosting prepped bits, cooking a ham, poaching some pears and wildly hoovering, mopping, emptying bins, and making up the guest room before anyone arrives.

DH is playing carols on the piano, DD is plotting cooking some scrambled eggs (she's 7 so will need support in this mission).

This evening we'll open one present each before bed, and then do the final bits of wrapping when DD is in bed.

I love Christmas Eve, it may be my favourite day of the year.

Working till 6 then home to prep the veg for tomorrow and then watch a Christmas film or two with a glass of wine.

Sitting drinking coffee at the moment. When everyone gets up we'll make a gingerbread house, walk to the local village pub for some food and wine (although the wind is horrendous so it won't be the jolly stroll I imagined!) Then home for yet more food, Christmas film, leaving food out for Santa, hanging the stockings and bed.

Still all in pjs, Christmas Eve box has been done. We are going to have showers / baths all round, watch a film, family carol service at the church around the corner at 4pm, scampi, chips and peas for dinner and then a walk around the village to see all of the Christmas lights. Shortbread and whiskey out for Santa, reindeer food sprinkled and then 5 yo off to bed and we’ll maybe watch a film!