What are your plans in the run up to christmas?

[Rosvita]

Hi all,
Just thought I'd start a thread about what people's plans are in the run up to Christmas? I like to have lots of 'Christmasy' things planned to do with the kids and family days out,especially as it is likely that I will have to work some of Christmas Day and don't yet know what our plans for the day itself are (we normally go to inlaws but they are moving next month into a smaller place and have said they are not doing christmas dinner etc for everyone this year).

Anyway so far I have christmas paper chains and figures to make with the kids,school carol service (doesn't seem to be a nativity for their year this year :( ),church service and christmas tree festival,longleat Xmas family day out and trip to see Frozen at the cinema. Also will go out to see a road near us which always goes ott with lights each year! Was considering panto but hoping Ds will get a chance to go with school (wouldn't want him to miss out this year but not really dh's thing and not sure dd would sit still for long enough!plus trying to cut down on our spending).Have already completed my shopping for the children and a few others so just a few relatives left to buy for.

Are you for real?

I've just booked tickets for Christmas at Kew Gardens. They are having a special illuminated trail which will open in the evenings and also a Christmas market. Can't wait!

Grants, this is the Christmas topic, the op is talking about Christmas, why wouldn't she be real ?

We have 2 pantomimes booked, that's about it at the moment op. Looking forward to the usual round of toddler group nativity show and party and all the school stuff. Can't wait.

Panto, guillivers world christmas event, 2 Xmas parties, one Xmas movie night, one trip to see the new frozen movie....tired thinking about it!! Exciting December though! Between family stuff, school rainbows and brownies events dec is jam packed!

What do you mean 'are you for real?'

We have also booked tickets for Christmas at Kew and Lapland UK. The DCs will be going to Panto with the school. Going to see Boing! at Sadlers Wells and DD and I are going to the Nutcracker in Covent Garden. They are both still of an age to be in nativities (think this will be DD's last one!) and will hopefully go to see Frozen at some point. May brave Hyde Park Winterwonderland. Every year I say never again and every year we end up going...

excuse the typing, got one of the guinea-pigs

so far- nutcracker ballet for dd and i in november
i really like the look of the kew gardens illuminated trail

dh and i have an adults only shopping day - this year maybe westfields white city

shopping with dh and the dc

cinema trip

usually we go to london, see the lights and go sometimes to hyde park winter wonderland. been there 3 times -alternate years- but last year was so busy. it's grown , but there were so many people with buggys and small children (and dogs), trying to negioate through the mud was a nightmare.
iirc the dc went on 2-3 rides and even then the queues were so long.

so we'll give london a miss this year i reckon.

I think I may do a hamper to give to dc's on Dec 1st, with christmas books, DVD's, craft stuff etc. We will go to the big garden centre near my mum's and get a new christmas decoration each and look at the beautiful christmas displays. I will take dd1 late night shopping on one day during December and then take her to Ask or Frankie and Benny's for something to eat (dd2) is too little for late night shopping, I'll take her out for lunch one of the days. We're going to Thomas land mid December and I want to take them to a carol service. We'll put the tree up together and over a couple of nights I wrap the presents, on my own, with a christmas film on (usually Its A Wonderful Life) with a drink. There are loads of other things inbetween like school plays, Victorian Fayre etc its all soooo exciting!!!!

I always finish the Christmas shopping in November, so I can enjoy the festivities in December.

Tree goes up first weekend in December. I decorate the tree, we drink mulled wine (adults), light the Christmas candle, play Christmas CD and the children decorate the room.

One weekend, my mum and I will take the girls for a Christmas shopping trip. They buy their gifts for family (us, my parents, grandparents, uncle, teachers, friends and each other). We usually combine it with the visit to see FC and engage in whatever Christmas activity they have got on (ice skating rink etc).

If we have time (and we haven't for the past few years tbh) we like to visit a Victorian market.

Another weekend, the girls will make things for Christmas. Usually they decorate something for the tree (and they do it for my mum's and nan's tree as well). Yellow Moon is great for having Christmas decorations that children can make. Often, they make gifts for people too. For example, in the past they have decorated bookmarks which I have laminated for people.

A third weekend is taken up with their Christmas display at gymnastics.

One afternoon / evening, I have a big Christmas wrapping session. I play the Christmas songs, drink mulled wine and wrap all the gifts. I love all the bows and making them look pretty etc. DD1 is now getting old enough to help (and do a good job), so its a nice bonding time.

Throughout December, we watch the Box of Delights with the last episode on Christmas Eve. I have mulled wine or Hot chocolate with Baileys, and the girls like hot chocolate with marshmallows.

Christmas Eve, we see family and friends. Then Its Christmas!!

We tend to do Panto after Christmas.

Going to Longleat Christmas Day & Santa train the 14th.

Seeing a panto on the 15th. (Peter Pan at Epsom)

17th going to a Christmas quiz evening.

19th a mince pie & mulled wine party at best friends.

Faux Christmas dinner with relatives that go abroad for Christmas on the 20th.

Seeing another Panto matinee (Aladdin at Wimbledon) on the 21st, followed by dinner with some friends.

Visiting Santa and watching a Christmas circus followed by 'family christmas' dinner with all of DH relatives on the 22nd.

23rd winter wonderland and the DD's go home with grandparents and DH and I seeing Charlie & the Chocolate factory.

24th DH's birthday, seeing lots of family and a massive festive party / meal with friends and family.

Going to fit in frozen, DD's nativity, lots of shopping and seeing Disney On Ice too a couple of days after Christmas.

Looking for more ideas to fill in the other days though, so Christmassy things to do / days out around Surrey and London greatly appreciated!

Obviously also lots of decorating, getting a tree & Christmas movies too

Booked the Kew Gardens walk (with all the twinkley twinkley lights).
Hope it's dry and cold so I can wear my lovely cape (and stride about like her in the Scottish Widows commercial)

Many many years ago, DH and I ( in the pre - children days) went to The Orangery for afternoon tea.
'Twas very refined and ££ for some bits of fancy toast and see through cake. Not the sort of thing my DC would enjoy but I'm sure I'll find them a McD or a KFC ( riff raff)

1st December we'll go and buy a tree and some new decorations. Come home and decorate whilst listening to Christmas songs. Then we'll watch Elf.

7th December we're going to watch The Nutcracker.

We'll go outdoor ice skating at least once in December.

We'll most likely host a Christmas party again this year, about a week before Christmas.

20th we're going to Manchester for a couple of nights. The first day we'll go to the Trafford centre (will have done all the shopping but we like to go and get a few bits without rushing around like a headless chicken!) it's nice to people watch and take in the atmosphere. Then that night we're going to see West Side Story. The next day we'll go around the city centre and Christmas markets. Then we'll go out for a nice dinner and visit the markets at night. I can't wait for mulled wine!

Then the next day is our wedding anniversary and dh is planning a surprise :)

Christmas Eve we'll no doubt have a small buffet/nibbly bits whilst watching Christmas films/tv.

Christmas Day is spent with my family and Boxing Day is spent with Dh's family.

We'll be visiting other family in the week after Christmas then on New Year's Day, we're flying off to Cape Verde for a week

Also, we'll be going to the local light switch on, which I think is in November. Then also the Christmas carol concert in the local cathedral :)

I love reading everybody's Christmas plans! I'm Australian and it's just not the same here. I was in London in December a few years ago and loved the winter wonderland, the outdoor ice skating, etc!

Anyway, it's our first Christmas with a baby and our own home, so we'll be decorating the front of the house with lights and a reindeer and putting up the biggest Christmas tree I can find. Going to carols by candlelight one evening, carols with family on Christmas Eve, making gingerbread men and icing biscuits, re-watching my favourite Christmas movies, going out to look at all the lights on the houses, finding our baby a stocking and santa sack... I can't wait! :)

Curiousgeorgie love your list of festive activites-all sounds like lots of fun!just waiting til next Friday when I'll have the funds to pay for longleat.

And grants yes I am for real and although it is only September tickets for Christmas activites such as pantos,attractions etc are booking up fast and I was merely interested in other people's ideas too!

70isaLimitNotaTarget Taking this thread off at a tangent - where did you get your cape?? I've wanted one for ages.

DSJames
it's an M&S one from last year but they've got new ones this year in different colours.

For the first time in my adult life I won't be working Christmas! I am planning lots of family days out - Black Country museum being the most notable - we've been before its brilliant! We'll go to the pantomime in brum and maybe take the kids to London on the train. We've never been to the German market before so that's a definite... I'll probably take the kids to the museums in Oxford at some point in dec too.

Mostly I'm planning on relaxing! I break up on the 24th and don't go back untill the 3rd! Heaven!

70isaLimitNotaTarget Thanks ! Off to look at their website!!

Nov 5th - Fireworks.
Nov 6th - Christmas carols and films come out of the attic. No overt display of Christmas as I am sure neighbours think its too early.
First weekend in Dec - Trees go up in dining room, music room hall, and outside house.
Second weekend in Dec - Tree goes up in family room.
Kids go to see panto with Grandma.
Later - Family trip to panto.
Just before Christmas - Christmas family trip. This year to London for two nights. Seeing Charlie and the Chocolote factory. Will visit the museums. Might visit Kew. Avoid Winter Wonderland.
Will get back home in time for Strictly Come Dancing final and takeaway as now a family institution.
Sunday before Christmas - Carols around the tree. (Residents association arrange a mulled wine and Christmas carol service.)
Monday before Christmas - Visit Santa at local garden centre and chill out.
Christmas Eve - Back at work! Visit mum in the eve with family to have traditional billion course Polish meal.
Followed by Zzzzz and mayhem.

DS will be just two, so this year it's see lots of lights, visit some Christmas markets, see the Nativity in the cathedral, see the 3 Kings on the 5th - they come into the harbour by boat and wind their way to the town centre on three floats, flinging sweets to the kids as they go
Some walks in the cold to collect sticks, twigs, leaves and pine cones to use craftily
First Sunday in Advent (1st, I think) at a German friend's house for brunch every year is amazing!

That is about it. Sprinkle with some crafts, maybe Muppet Christmas Carol and blankets