Tell me about your first Christmas at home with DC's

[lizardqueenie]

So- I know it's July (apparantly) but need to get plans made soon in my family! Dd will be 2.3 this Christmas & I'm really so so excited to make it special for her, decorate the house, have a lovely dinner with DH. Family all live fairly local (inc my folks, IL's, brother & his GF & son & SIL her DH & kids)

I wonder if it might be a bit quiet if it's just myself, DH & dd so am trying to think of who we can invite to a) keep the peace, b) make it more fun & festive & c) who we can actually for in our mid terrace. We usually go to one set of parents house for dinner alternating it each year.

So what was your first Christmas like where you had your dc & family to you? Any tips/ pitfalls/ advice. Thank you :)

definately a tree, my DC have to put up with a mum who decorates everything that stays still.
Even the guinea-pigs got Santa hats last year

Glass decorations seem to get less and less every year though

Oh do you think I'd get away Santa hats fort he snails? It seems I've over looked them, poor things!

Are they giant land snails?
Otherwise you'll have trouble getting hats small enough !

I bought some Santa bottle top things (4 for a £1 in Poundland).
They kept them on just long enough enough for an embarressing photo

You could knit some for the snails- but add a velcro chip strap. Slippery little devils

This converstion is getting very obscure! Yes they are huge snails so should be able to get hats to fit.

Hello!

We've had Xmas on our own since moving away (DD's 2nd, she is now 5). I find it a bit quiet and not as festive as I'd like (but vastly preferable to inviting my killjoy family) and ends up being more about toys than anything else. We might invite my friends (a mother and son) who spend Xmas on their own too, but other than that, I'd really love some ideas on how to feel a bit more festive :) (sorry for hijack)

Well now I want to get some pets just so I can bedeck them with Santa hats. Gecko Santa anyone?

Ha ha- haven't checked back on this thread for a few days and just chuckled to
Myself at the thought of snails with bonnets with chin straps- ha ha

Perhaps you could just decorate their shell with a little tinsel? Or get them to pose under some mistletoe if they are feeling amorous!

Anywho - thank you for all the tips- especially practical ones, that's the kind of thing I need!

There you go fuzzpig if you want pets get snails.
And if they refuse to wear the hats, fry the blighters in garlic butter.

The guinea-pigs know that I'm stuffing them with parsley to flavour their meat (tastes like chicken apparently).

Luckily DH and I are vegetarian, we could get 2 meals from GP1

"Garlic Butter" and "salt" are swear words in this house.