What do you get up to on Christmas Day?

[Hai1988]

This is going to be my first Christmas at home with my DH and DS, we normally go out see all the family and have dinner and a different parent each year.

This year we have decided to stay at home and have this Christmas day just us.

Just wondered what you get up to on Christmas day?

For two hours from 4am, we send different DCs back to bed because it's not morning yet. By 6, we cave in and they bring their stockings into our bed and rip open their haul from Santa.

Stagger downstairs and into the dining-room. Dh always makes breakfast, and always sets off the smoke alarm (a little tradition of his own devising). Dcs are allowed to look in the sitting-room at the pile of gifts under the tree, and ooh and aah, but we draw out breakfast as long as possible with dcs looking properly at their stocking presents.

I used to insist on everyone getting dressed before main present opening, but have been over-ruled. So, at about 8 am we go into the sitting-room. Everyone is given one present from under the tree and we take turns opening them. I have to have a pen and paper to keep track of who gets what from whom, and have to take numerous photos which means that I'm really slow and they all have to wait. I also have to keep going into the kitchen armed with my lunch preparation list and they all have to wait for me to come back. Basically the whole morning is a chorus of "MUM! Hurry up! It's your turn. We're WAITING."

After present opening (which takes hours), we get dressed up in our festive finery; clear up the wrapping paper and get busy with screw-drivers and batteries. DH has a little festive rant about excessive packaging and DCs start nagging to open their selection boxes.

Friends pop in at about 11am with more gifts and we start on the fizz proper (previously diluted with orange juice). We eat at about 2pm and after lunch has been cleared away we get down to whatever family game Santa has left under the tree This year I think he is bringing the Lego Harry Potter board game. DH tries to fall asleep on the sofa...

We used to have a 'no tv' rule on Christmas Day, but the Dr Who special put paid to that, so now we all snuggle on the sofas to get a litle bit scared.

FoundWaiting your Christmas sounds like caos but lovely A proper family Christmas! How old are your ch?

ch? DC i mean!

Sounds like a great day found

Lol sounds great!! Except the packaging bit.... That's MY Xmas moan too!!

Buffet tea is it with leftovers??

Who does the washing up??

Soooo, the DDs get up about 07:30 and open their stocking presents, either in our bed or in grandparents' bed (we always have one set here!). The I get them all dressed up (and myself of course) while Grandma goes downstairs to get the breakfast sorted. Off we all trot for croissants and fresh orange. I am a cruel mummy - my DDs have to walk through the living room with the Santa sacks on show but not touch - mwahahaha!

After breakfast, we get into the present opening, with an adult assigned to each child to write down what they get from whom. If it's a year when ILs are here, SIL also comes and brings her two dogs so it's a leetle busy! During the present opening, I also keep halting proceedings whilst I run into the kitchen to do the next bit of lunch.

After present opening, DH and Grandpa get down to the business of tidying up wrapping paper and packaging (usually throwing it at each other) and also assembling/putting batteries into whatever's requires it. I get on with lunch. DD1 and grandma set the table, though I think DD2 will want in on that act now. At some point during all this, SIL drags all children, both dogs and whoever else wants to come out for a walk.

Lunch takes ages (with children getting up and down between courses). After lunch, Grandpa and DH do the dishes (anything that can't be shoved in the dishwasher). Then we lounge around for the rest of the day playing with the children, betting on who'll drop off for a nap first. If it's been a nice day weatherwise there might be a Dark Walk, as DD1 refers to it, to look at other people's Christmas lights (and get the dogs out the house again, as they've probably been at the sprouts and are farting like good 'uns).

Tea is left-overs laid out to pick at. Then DDs off to bed with new stories and cuddles. Adults then drink more wine, play stupid games and generally enjoy each other's company.

I can't wait now!

Thank you. It is lovely, but exhausting. Especially as we have to stay up late on Xmas Eve waiting for the man in red and doing as much preparation as possible.

DCs are, DS1 - 12, DD - 9 and DS2 - 6. Eldest is the biggest pain. He can't get to sleep for excitement, and is always first with the "He's been!". I thought he would grow out of it, but if his birthday is anything to go by, then not yet. (4:30am!)

I usually do the washing up with varying degrees of 'help'. It's DC's job to set and clear the table anyway and that doesn't change because it is Christmas. I don't mind doing it when they are in and out chatting and playing. If they left me in the kitchen on my own it would be an issue.

I don't allow any vast amounts of scoffing before lunch so it is a proper feast and as a result no-one is really hungry for tea. We usually have ham/turkey sandwiches, cheese and biscuits and either mince pies or Christmas cake. DD likes to set it all out on the dining-table and we help ourselves as and when. Of course there is always the Quality Street tin for those who have room.

yy to awake at silly o'clock. DS(7) now adept with the clock and the normal stay in your room til 7am rule is relaxed to 6am. DD (4) sleeps for England so DS will go in and wake her up. The cat will mew pitifully and scratch at the door downstairs to be let up to join in the fun.

Everyone goes to the top of the stairs to see if Santa has been ( he comes in through the loft) then into our bedroom for stocking opening.

Follow Santa's Smartie trail downstairs and then open the big present he's left. Play with that whilst I get breakfast ready, always dippy eggs and soldiers.

Everyone washes and gets dressed in something festive. DH normally wears a daft Santa hat. I buzz around prepping food and laying the table. Friends over around 11 for drinks then rellies arrive en masse around midday. May have a few more pressies at this point and nibbly bits and fizz.

Lunch around 3pm and then whilst others clear up I flop on the sofa and watch DC doling out presents from under the tree into piles on chairs for people to open, one by one. Takes forever but great fun.

Puzzle/Lego building/Board game then Doctor Who. Quality Street and cold stuff for small dinner.

Bliss, bliss, bliss.

these all sound like great christmass's

Ds3 and dd who are 5 and 7 about 6am they then go wake ds1 and ds2 who are 16 and 13 we then pile into front room and they dive in big 2 helping little ones if things are tricky .ds1 ds2 then clear rubbish away I build things or add stickers before I wrap things

Then there have breakfast wash faces etc then I'll get dressed ds3 and dd probably not ds1 ds2 will

then very relaxed day around 10 phone my granparents then my mum stepdad then basically just relax around 1 pm were eat but we have curry and rice. Then afternoon we just play toys ds3dd .ds1 and ds2 be new computer games and food wise after lunch it's what ever you want

Then tidy up bath for ds3 and dd into clean pjs and bedtime then I'll play new computer games with ds1 and ds2

Dc usually wake around 7 and we all creep downstairs together to see if santas been.
We eat breakfast on the floor surrounded by all the bits and bobs to be put together, lego etc. They get that much from santa they dont open any presents from anyone until later.
At 10 it will be a mad rush to get all 7 of us dressed and ready for mass at 11!
We call into neighbours for quick hello after mass.
I get home and begin xmas dinner and the dc are kept busy with toys. My turkey is cooked night before so thats it out of the way.
After 2 the relatives start arriving. One sister brings ham, another desert, another the starter. Mil does carrots& parsnips! In total there will be 14 adults and 6 children!

We usually sit down to eat about half 3 after all the gift exchanging. We take our time serving each course and its usually close to 7 when we are finished eating.
Around 9 we'll start to hear instruments being warmed up, as the musicians in the family begin the traditional session. A few neighbours and friends drop in and help us party to the early hours. Im usually serving turkey sandwiches around midnight. No such thing as a quiet relaxing xmas here, its a very irish one!