Countdowners united

[MamaPizzaChristmasToppings]

[ILoveChristmas01]

Yay...!!!!!!! I love Christmas - even more now I have a family. Just can't wait - started Christmas shopping this week - got some fab deals from the bookpeople website xxx

[MamaPizza]

Aw, baby's first Christmas I assume? It's awesome with children. I haven't got presents yet. Am I too late? Am I going to manage to get everything on time?

[OvO]

Can I join in please?

I'm always pretty organised for Christmas but this year I seem to have most of the presents bought already. Even got a start on stocking fillers and have the Christmas Eve pyjamas already bought. My Christmas cross stitch is almost finished too! This is unheard of; all my Christmas cross stitches get started in time but then put aside and finished roughly three years later!

I blame this forum for making me start everything so early this year.

[molepom]

I can't wait! I'm bored of this now...No sun, no summer, I made a sodding casserole yesterday, bought a wool cardigan and a blanket on Monday...

HEADS UP! John lewis are already selling christmas decorations online! I've bookmarked loads already and am buying them bit by bit.

Online Bodyshop voucher for 40% off and free gift when you spend over £5.00 is.....19804

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I had a look at the John Lewis site, their decorations are lovely.
We always buy a new decoration for the Christmas tree each year.

I've bought books for DS from The Works and a Marvins Magic Set for DD.
So that's a start to my present pile and it's only August


Will have a look at Body Shop online too.

[milk]

I really need Christmas this year!!! I need the joy and the magic it brings :)

[molepom]

Same here milk...for some reason, this year in particular seems to me really, dull...more than usual. I'm sure the weather is the reason for that. It seems to be in a constant state of Limbo which leaves everything else up in the air as you can't plan for anything.

Been trying to book train tickets to take the kids to the beach for 3 days now, but it wont stop piggin raining. Now it's seems dry today we cant go anywhere as I'm waiting for ds's new bed.

[anychocswilldo]

Ooooo can I join this thread? I can't wait till Christmas and now its August it doesn't seem so far away. I'm going to start shopping for the smaller presents at the end of this month and will get bigger things in November. I really want to have bought everything and have everything wrapped by beginning of December so I can do house and enjoy doing things with the kids. I'm v excited!
tho dh thinks I'm mad to be planning already

[milk]

Which are the best pre-Christmas sales?

I know Amazon has their lightening deals in November, and Sainsburys has their half price toy sale in October.

[IamnotaStepfordHousewife]

Sooo excited. Have been watching my Kirsties Homemade Christmas recording on sky plus from last year got paper and cards in Jan sales and busy making knitted teddies for all the little ones in our family. Also scarves for adults and chutney. Thinking of doing a Christmas eve hamper.

[molepom]

You HAVE to do a Christmas Eve Hamper! That's when the magic really kicks in for the kids.

PJ's
Hot chocolate
DVD's
Bubble bath
Sweets or popcorn
Toothbrush
Little note from Santa's Elves.

[IamnotaStepfordHousewife]

Thanks for the suggestions molepom my DC will only have turned 1 in the October so not quite sure if the hamper will be more for me at this stage than for him

[iamstitch]

Just found this thread, can I join?

I LOVE Christmas I have to be super organised as we have the birthdays of 2 of our DC at the end of November so there's lots to think about!! Which means lists, lists and more lists I'm OCD organised

I've started my Christmas shopping but struggle every year to not get over excited and give them bits and pieces before hand.

If anyone's got some family traditions they would share I'd be really grateful. Eeeeek!!!!

[molepom]

Then you add a bottle of wine or two and some expensive choccies in the hamper seeing as your LO is too young.

Welcome IAMSTITCH...

I don't have any family tradtions as I'm trying to start some....one that I will be doing is something that was done to us at college last year....

Another student is German and ordered us to clean our workboots for the next day (fair enough they were mucky anyway) and we had theory the next morning so were told to keep them by the wall.

On a certain date in Nov (will research it to find out what it is), the elves visit your house to make sure your shoes and bedrooms are clean and tidy. As a reward and thankyou they leave a small bag of sweets or chocolates in your shoes.

We returned to put on our boots to find she had put in them, a small bag of assorted chocolates in a polythene bag, tied with a ribbon with a little tiny note from the elves reminding us to be good. It was a lovely touch from a lovely woman and one I am determined to carry on.

[iamstitch]

Thanks molepom I've just discovered tip junkie. My idea of heaven! Hopefully there will be some lovely Christmas ideas I can pinch from there!

[milk]

"PJ's
Hot chocolate
DVD's
Bubble bath
Sweets or popcorn
Toothbrush
Little note from Santa's Elves."

My additions:

• Marshmallows (for hot chocolate)
  
• Mini chocolate flakes (again for hot chocolate)
  
• Fleece slipper socks or electric foot warmers (the socks are cheaper)
  
• I would have both sweets (pick n mix type) and popcorn (toffee)
  
• Cashmere blanket

[fuzzpig]

hello! :) I just wanted to join in as I seem to be on most of the other Xmas threads and didn't want to miss anything :o

I might have two DVDs for our hamper this year - I got 'the Christmas toy' (Jim Henson kids film which I loved as a child) and can't wait to show it to the DCs, but I might get White Christmas for me and DH to watch later.

[molepom]

Ooooh, thanks Fuzz,

I never thought about getting a DVD for myself...might have to look into that now.

[Dawndonna]

We always do a christmas eve present. They are sent to their rooms after tea, there they will find either new bedding, jim jams, slippers, dressing gown. Something along the lines of snuggly bedtime things. They get changed and then we settle for film and nibbles.

[buzzgirly]

Hi everyone. Only 20 weeks to go! Is it a bit sad that dd and iwere dancing to Christmas music yesterday? My inlaws thought I was a bit mad!

I love hearing about everyone's traditions so I can steal them! I started some traditions last year after discovering these boards. We did Elf on the Shelf (which was brilliant), Christmas eve hamper and we covered the living room door with wrapping paper so dd had to burst through it. This year I plan to do a Christmas activity everyday in December with dcs - the elf will bring the new activity each day, pantomime, visiting family to deliver presents. I have also been collecting empty jars so that we can leave a row of tea candles on drive for Santa to find house. Just moved so DH was a bit when he saw me packing jar.

I love Christmas, and I am determined to spread it out through as much of December as possible. I always find boxing day and onwards such an anti-climax does anyone do anything interesting?

[fuzzpig]

Last year I hated boxing day. We have my parents round (Xmas day is just for us) and it is just so... meh.

Last year my mum gave us the contents of her work's Lost Property box in lieu of a present. I wonder why I hated Xmas as a child

I'm not sure what we are arranging this year - maybe have them round on 24th to get it out of the way or something. But we have agreed to put some money aside for the sales just so we can buy ourselves a little something after the anticlimax.

[funkybuddah]

Dd has asked to watch the polar express today!

Who am I to refuse :)

[anychocswilldo]

funkybuddah I keep trying to persuade dd1 to watch The Polar Express but she only wants to watch bloody Mulan on repeat i'm going to watch it tonight when dc's are in bed and I don't care what dh says

[IamnotaStepfordHousewife]

Buzzgirly what is Elf on the shelf?

[buzzgirly]

Iamnota Elf on the Shelf is an American tradition. The elf arrives before Christmas, ours came on 1st December, and keeps an eye on your children until the big day. He flies to the North Pole every night to tell Santa about good/bad behaviour, and is in a new hiding place every morning which dc have to find. Hope that amakes sense! I bought the Elf on the Shelf pack which came with the doll and book.

There are a few threads on mumsnet about it all if you do a search. I only started this last year after seeing it on mumsnet, but I was more excited about this than Christmas day. It's a really nice way of extending the whole festive season. i should get commission, I am always talking about it!