Anyone else had a lovely Christmas?

[Christmasjoyis]

I see so many negative posts but this year we’ve loved Christmas so far. We keep it simple- lovely food, walks, board games, don’t go overboard on presents or get into Instagram trends. We don’t sign up for driving around the country trying to people please and make sure we have time to rest and relax . Lots of carol services and time in church. Feeling very content 😌 anyone joining me and what was your best bit?

We’re currently sat on the sofa with the beautiful Christmas lights up watching Amanda land Christmas special having salmon and eggs for breakfast before a big walk and a countryside pub.

In previous years we’ve squeezed holidays in for the kids before Christmas - Disney Lapland etc and found it too much so we’re feeling happier now we’ve realised we don’t need this and it put too much stress on. Merry Christmas I hope yours has been lovely .

Sounds lovely op - yes keep it simple!

Thank you- I didn’t want the post to sound annoying as don’t get me wrong- we have had illness / financial worries / people got ill and we ended up hosting another family and muddling through but I actually thoroughly enjoyed that as we found emergency chairs and made do! I’ve also been ill in previous years or sleep deprived with babies so this was the first I felt normal.

I have loved seeing families together in a time when the world seems so divided and turbulent. Hope you’ve had a lovely one as well!

Yes it's been wonderful.
I would have liked a night away but it's fine

Yes we had a perfect Christmas thankyou. Great food, lots of wine, fun games, great company and lovely presents. No dramas or arguments whatsoever.

Brilliant! I think it’s given my love back for Christmas. I was struggling with the mental load of it all and when it actually came around it’s been more peaceful and I realise we don’t need all the stuff.

hopefully you can book a night away maybe in January!

I did. My dinner was the best ever. My roast potatoes were insta worthy, the yorkshires rose so much they stuck to the top of the oven 😁Both DC giggled while I tried to fill their stocking, when I dropped one and swore DS thought it was hilarious.

I have. I didn't make it to church which I normally love, but despite that I had a lovely time
I didn't have my children on the day but I have learnt to make my peace with that and we did festive things like ice skating earlier in the month and we will do some lovely family walks and games now they are back

I think what made it lovely is that all I wanted from the day was a peaceful restful time. We just read books (I have been reading my way through Christmassy themed books all December) watched films that are old favourites and went on a dog walk.

Also I now buy myself a few gifts I really want each December. And that means there's no pressure or expectation for others to give me what I wish for. I remember when I really didn't have any money to spend on myself that it felt a bit devastating to get gifts I didn't want, as there was so much I was going without.

My house doesn't look picture perfect and I'm not in great health but I feel content and I still have a lovely list of Christmas/winter themed books to work through

Yes, lovely.

Yes this year has been very different as no hosting or going to others, it’s just been us and it’s been lovely and relaxing. We’ve seen everyone we want to see before Christmas and just taken everything at our own pace. It’s been a hard year and no one has felt particularly Christmassy in the run up but that’s almost been nicer because it’s just been a couple of days not a month long binge.

Pretty good to far. DH and I had a miserable last Christmas so we were determined not to repeat that this year. The three main days have all been good and we are looking forward to what we are calling “real Christmas” which is just the two of us hiding from our families until 2026

We had a gorgeous Christmas Day and we love this between bit. So relaxing. I am steadfastly ignoring all the ‘pop in for drinks’ messages on WhatsApp as I just want to stay home.

We did. DH, DC and I. Brunch, presents and my parents came for Dinner and Trivial Pursuit after.

This was the first Christmas without MIL so it was hard for all of us, but it was a surprisingly good day.

Yes, I did. Drove down to stay with a friend for three days. We did lovely food, country walks, Christmas movies and silly games. No rush, no drama.
Back home on boxing day, video call with extended family and about to go to my Saturday class in a minute.
Loving being single and carefree at Christmas!

Yes, I was a bit stressed at times in the run up to it.. but lovely memories I'll keep forever of just being with loved ones and feeling festive. Enjoying small moments and the usual traditions etc.

Yes, a lovely Christmas as always and for that we count ourselves very lucky 🎄

3 adult DSs who get along exceptionally well.

Lovely thoughtful gifts from all.

Lots of board games played and some Christmas TV watched together.

7 of us for Christmas dinner cooked by my husband and all the washing up/cleaning down done by our 3 DSs.

It's come to a bit of an abrupt end today as 2 of them are back at work and middle DS is off home tomorrow.

But it's been amazing! 🎄⭐

I love this thread! Unsure how I make the run up a bit less mad though - it’s having kids, there’s Christmas jumper days, school Christmas fayres, nativities , carol services etc that turn the start of December into mental load we really don’t need! Actual Christmas has been lovely but it’s the mental load before I’ve realised I don’t like. I think that’s why I was so surprised Christmas has been so lovely now we’ve got to it

Lovely Christmas here too, just the two of us and our dog, so relaxing. We've done the years & years of hosting and entertaining which was great fun every year until it became physically and mentally draining. Now we do just us and love it.

Yes, but I'd like to do things differently next year.
I've hosted mum for 13 years now, and pils every other year.
Extended family on boxing day.
I'm tired tbh.
And the dc are older now.
Not sure what want, but just not that ^

It's been lovely thanks, OP.

Good food, good company.

Low maintenance families and no martyrs. Our Christmas starts Christmas Eve and carries on until Twelfth Night so I shall wish you all a Merry Christmas ♡

Yes, we have had a lovely Christmas and are also going away today too. Cannot wait!

Despite working Christmas Day early and Boxing Day LD ( nurse )

I had the best Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, was really relaxing, DH cooked, my daughter and her boyfriend came round in the afternoon.

I am now off for 2 days and have 2 lovely lunches with friends planned

I had a lovely Christmas with lovely people. Got spoilt with presents which were stunningly wrapped by my brother and sister in law. The only thing is it was A LOT of work.

I was originally only supposed to be on breakfast and desserts. So I woke up very early (4am) thinking I’d get ahead of brekkie (homemade cinnamon rolls). And then go back to sleep until 10am. However, after presents the person who was in charge of mains was clearly not feeling up to cooking. We are all recovering from a mild cold. So I ended up doing the whole thing. I was absolutely knackered. Did get a lot of help from my husband cooking. But my god was it a lot of work. I can’t help but feel the person on mains was putting it on a bit too. When I was that level of sick I still made chicken pot pie and dessert for everyone who is over. I don’t know I just felt like I did a bit more than my fair share. And definitely felt a tiny bit resentful. Had to set and decorate the table also.

But the meal was absolutely lovely and we had great conversation, fun games and movies.

Yes, I had a lovely Christmas.

I managed to get the wrapping finished in advance, spent Christmas Eve with a friend, went to midnight mass, pottered around the kitchen with plenty of help and no pressure for a specific meal time, ate nice food, didn't drink too much., got some thoughtful gifts (and, like a previous poster, bought some presents for myself), had fun conversations with DH and our teenagers, played a nice board game and spent yesterday watching tv and eating leftovers and chocolate.

I've still got lots of holiday left, so am planning what I most want to do.

Yes, really nice.
Everything went ok food wise, lovely presents, no disasters. Everyone here has a bad cold, so that's a bit crappy, but aside from that, great.

I've loved ours. a minor argument with my sister yesterday but we did well to make it 48 hours before that happened! the weather's been lovely, we've been on lovely walks and bike rides, played lots of games and had lovely food and drink.