to think most mumsnetters do or try to do TOO MUCH for xmas

[FolornHope]

she sashays past with no coooking to do.
NO turkey to do as are going to rels.( but even so fgs its a roast meal)
no micne pie/cake crap as no one likes it
presents done ages ago( you do haeva year to getready)

I don't do too much. I do enough. Cake gets made months before - only needs icing. I buy mince meat but make pastry - putting them together and cooking them takes about 10mins. Mum makes my Christmas pud. I do make a chocolate log but that in't hard really. What else is there to do? Apart from cook a slightly more complex roast dinner.

Buying and decorating tree and making a wreath isn't that onerous - and it's a lovely thing to do with my children.

I find presents a pita TBH but I buy them months before and wrap them bit by bit over December.

The worst job for me is to try to make sure the house is vaguely clean on Christmas day - tall order with my family

oh meant to say also this is the first year we are hosting xmas day so it's a bit of a big deal as my newly aquired PIL are coming for dinner and my MIL is very traditional, I've even made my own table decoration.

Christmas is partly about memories. Creating memories for your dcs and remembering christmas of your old childhood. Well it is for me anyway. There are certain things I want to do because that is a the taste or tradition of x-mas for me. I do go to much more effort than for a normal sunday roast. I don't stress, if it goes a bit wrong it's not the end of the world but I enjoy going the extra mile and making it all that extra bit special. A bit of stress is part of the fun.

Lovemygirls OFSTED interrupted my Christmas prep this year, so I only managed to do mincemeat this weekend. I love making an effort for Christmas, I do the nice pinny, smart pyjamas for presents, special breakfast etc because I enjoy looking after my family. I also love to bake and cook and Christmas gives me the chance. We start in November. I love opening my cupboards and seeing my jars fulls of glistening goodies that we have made.

so if you dont do it you ARENT looking after them?

i PLAYED with mine today
Beat that suckerz

I played with mine today, I do everyday, we also went for a winter walk through woodlands and to the park and they all made their own table decorations too

If I don't do it I won't be giving the people I love and care about a present for christmas and it might only be a jar of biscuits and truffles but they will know they are thought about and loved

Right off to go and sort it all whilst having a glass of vino

Mine also pulled the tree over today I'm not bothered it's not perfect it doesn't have to be perfect I just have to know I have done what I can to make them feel loved, welcome and wanted. It's all to see the look on their faces and memories that will last a life time

I just can't do enough. I just can't do enough. Der der derder der der der der.

Who asked ya?

Christmas is not the problem for me.

It is the fact that within the space of a week, I have:

• Christmas
• Wedding anniversary
• Mums birthday
• DH birthday

And to throw a bit more into the mix, am 36+2, so another birthday will be slotted in at some point!

And to think that I thought a wedding in the snow would be romantic...well it was. Just not very practical for anniversaries!

Well this year its just us for christmas day so is extremely easy.

But last year - well I was early stages pregnant and being very sick and had all my family for christmas and then DH's immediately after.

Turkey delivery man made me cry and I had to cook a lot of food in between being sick. But I was mad - did ridiculous amounts of veg all in their own special way - parsnips dauphinoise anyone?

But you are quite right - I am a control freak extraordinaire. I made everything from quince paste to chutney and couldn't even drink.

It is quite good fun though.

I don't think you being reasonable.

After all it just a roast dinner. Why do people need to do starters, when you only normally have then when you eat out or buy so much food they end up throwing most away.

Just remembered that last year I made two different types of red cabbage and made DH taste test them before deciding which one to do for christmas day - honestly - I was a crazy lady.

This year we're not having red cabbage as turns out no one really likes it.

forlorn, it is ds's b'day today. I made him a cake, played with them, took them out iceskating and made nice tea. beat that, sucker! Then wrapped all stocking presents. Now am basking in glow of a voddy and tonic.

I am a bit baffled by all the fuss. Keep wondering what I've forgotten. This year it's the first time my parents have come to us rather than us to them. The Ocado order arrived yesterday, dh went out today to get a couple of items. Tree is up, presents wrapped, house fairly clean...it is, as far as I can tell, just a fairly normal roast meal plus some salmon at the start.

I just know I'll regret saying this at 4pm on Christmas Day when I realise the day is ruined because I forgot something crucial....

Forlornhope what did you play with yours?

Probably TWISTER

She's very bendy

YANBU. I think people sometimes feel this immense pressure to make Xmas 'perfect', like an advert, which I think is very counterproductive (and annoying if you are a family member). My aunt used to be like this but has chilled out in recent years.

This Mumsnetter doesn't.

Am currently sat with a cup of tea, in my messy house, dicking around on laptop while DS watched Power Rangers. This is pretty much the plan for the day. If I was at home I would be at Mum's house eating prawns and drinking beer.

Doesn't do to take things too seriously IME, it all works out.

I do have a massive gammon to put in the oven tomorrow, which we are all looking forward too and might knock up some crunchy roast potatoes to have with it - or might not, gammon doesn't need accessories I find.

We just have Christmas with our own family, so we don't go overboard on trimmings and decorations.

When we have had people to stay, I have definitely gone overboard with making all the trimmings from scratch, having nuts and cheeseboard etc.

Now, I am happy to have supermarket prepared chipolatas, stuffing, cranberry etc. We get a works hamper which always has a Christmas pudding, cake and mince pies. None of us are great fans, so this is definitely enough. We have roast lunches most Sundays, so it is just the same with an extra veggie and some bought-in trimmings. DH & I team to deal with the turkey, so it is actually a bit easier than most other roasts.

I only started my Christmas shopping on Saturday, and had what I could wrapped in the store. I walked into town three times, and was out of the house for about an hour at a time. We did Amazon for rellies - amazing how quick you can be with 'one-click ordering' turned on.

Am too busy to reply due to wrapping Christmas pyjamas, making mince pies and preparing reindeer dust for the little darlings coming round tonight...

Everyone does too much for christmas.

it is Madness.

what is the cooking all day shit that some people do? the perfect dessert ( iceland anyone?)

Ah yes - we have a frozen Dime cake (gluten free - perfect) for pudding. I'm cooking the sodding meal for them all, if they want anything more posh they have to bring it themselves!