Advice for a family who doesn’t do the ‘go out for a walk on Xmas day’ thing…

[sweetmelody]

For the first time in a few years, most of my extended family are having Xmas dinner together – at mine! There will be 25+ of us including a fair few children. We have a lovely park at the end of the road and thought it might be an idea to include a walk as part of the day. We tend to eat around 3ish. How do others fit this in around the day? Before or after eating? Everyone, or kids plus some supervisors to give the kitchen staff me a bit of breathing space to set up/tidy up/whatever?

Keen to do something a bit different this year to avoid the eat/open presents/flop in front of TV or Wii scenario (although we will definitely do some games)

All suggestions gratefully received!

We do stockings and a nice breakfast, church, then presents with nibbles and drinks. We're usually done by 1.30ish and can then go for a walk/play with toys/do games until dinner which is at 5.30ish. I make sure most of the food prep is done the day before so only the actual cooking needs to be done and I start around 3.30. This will only be our second year of 'doing' Christmas, so might take a bit of tweaking, but this is how it is happening in my head It is fun finding new traditions though. Enjoy!

This is put first Christmas at our own house as a family and our plan A is...

Kids will be up at 5/6 not part of my plan
Open stockings and main present
Play
Walk dog / play with outdoor toys
Make and have lunch (but nothing over top)
Play - one of us will walk dog as kids prob Be busy
About 4pm go to in laws for buffet tea and presents from them.
Home and kids to bed
Wine

I don't think my plan is very relevant to you though!

We do stockings, breakfast, church, presents, eat on the dot of 1pm or so, and therefore walk afterwards in order to collapse back home and start picking at leftovers at around 4.

What about notifying all guests that you will be walking at 11.30 am and if they want to join you, to get there in time and actually plan that you will get out around 12 noon?

We don't usually walk on Christmas Day but Boxing Day always features a walk and I always think you want to be heading back by about 2-2.30ish before it starts getting too dark and cold.

We find it works well to have 2 big meals over Christmas - brunch and then a very late lunch sometime between 3 and 4 - we have cheese etc in the evening.

we have Christmas dinner at 6 ish so there is time for a walk.

get up, brew up, pressies, brakkie, walk, get home, cook / play with new stuff / read new books, dinner, boardgame. maybe DVD if anyone got a good one for xmas.

We eat early at 1ish as our children are still little and get hungry. So a walk is generally to the local park for an hour at 3ish and home before dark. I wouldn't make the walk compulsory though. Some choose to stay here and slob, others offer to help wash up and the leftovers go for a walk. We then play games and stuff until the dr who Xmas special comes on. Dcs have a sandwich in front of the tv at 5ish and those of us who aren't too stuffed from lunch have cheese and biscuits at 7/8ish.

We don't really bother, the day seems to fill itself up without going for a walk, there is nowhere very interesting to walk from the house, no one wants to drive to somewhere more interesting and we have a green opposite, so usually take the DCs over there fore a bit of a play about instead.

Our timetable is

Stockings around 7
Downstairs to get the oven on at about 7.45
More present opening interspersed with croissants and coffee - no sit down breakfast, we don't like cooked breakfasts and cereal toast is everyday.
Clear up and get dressed about 11, take the DCs out to play for a bit.
Grandparents arrive, nibbles as elevenses around midday (instead of a start with the main dinner), open presents with grandparents
Dinner starts sometime between 3 and 4
Watch telly/fall asleep on sofa/DCs play
Pudding and maybe crackers and cheese eaten at about 7, no evening meal.

My family would think I'd taken leave of my senses if I suggested a walk. I usually escape with the dog for a bit.