Ideas for Christmas Eve

[Northernmonkeys]

I'm sure this has probably been done but I cba to trawl through the threads so please can anyone give me ideas for what you do on Christmas Eve to make it special?

We are taking DS on Santa Express in the morning but would like more ideas to build traditions and relax as a little family.

Activities and meals and traditions, what are yours?

we're going to the garden centre in the monring to the Santa's grotto

In the afternoon we'll watch The Snowman and have a buffet with inlaws

Then track Santa on Norad webpage, leave out mince pie and carrot hang stockigns and pray everyone goes to sleep!

Then baileys for me and fingers crossed xmas day is a nice day with no arguments with the dcs and I don't stuff MIL instead of the turkey

tbh this is the first year neither me or dh are working

One of us is usually working until at least 1pm

We are going ice skating, I am DS is very excited. Also having gingerbread lattes in Starbucks then home for a buffet tea and NORAD Santa tracker
If everyone is about early enough we are going to walk up a big hill with the dogs and have hot chocolate and mince pies at the top (just me and the dogs then)

It's DD's birthday Xmas eve and we usually have family round for it but not able to that this year.

I'm stuck on how to celebrate. I wanted to go to the local panto but it's booked out for Xmas eve.

Morning will be spent opening her presents, not sure about afternoon, and evening will be spent watching Christmas films whilst eating the goodies and wearing the new pyjamas that the elves bring on Xmas eve.

Family visiting in the morning, buffet style lunch or lunch out (nothing heavy though).

Then once it has begun to get dark we walk around and look at all of the Christmas lights. There is a village near us that puts on a huge charity light display, the children love it and the cold air and exercise wears them out.

When we get home the children all go for hot showers and get into fresh pyjamas whilst I whip up a huge plate of bacon sandwiches and hot chocolate with marshmallows. Then we settle down to watch a Christmas film or Christmas tv.

It's the perfect Christmas eve and it costs pretty much nothing and doesn't involve cooking anything but a bit of bacon

We like going to the cinema on Christmas Eve. It's usually almost empty. Otherwise, we tend to go out for a late breakfast, watch a film in the afternoon and then carols on the green before a buffet tea.

Cinema, baking, Christmas movie,buffet tea. Can't wait!

Great ideas! I was thinking of a buffet tea ...what does yours include? And do you make it all or is it shop bought? I was swaying towards shop bought as I will be cooking most of the following day!

Buffet tea - we're doing the 'Christmas ham' on the 23rd, so will have some of that along with M&S party food (on 3 for 2 just now),potato salad etc and some nice cheese. So minimal cooking/washing up. Washed down with fizz

C

Oops.

Cinema for DP and DS1 in the morning. TV, maybe park later. Chinese for dinner!!

How does the NORAD thing work? How old do the kids need to be to get if?

Buffet tea usually involves =
cheese board and a baked Camembert
grapes
celery, radishes and cherry tomatoes
bread and crackers
naice ham (for the carnivores)
hot sausage rolls (veggie ones)
pickled onions and red cabbage (both of which have to be Garners)
Kettle chips

meringues, berries and cream
mince pies
Christmas cake

All bought. The only thing I do is shove the sausage rolls in the oven, whip the cream and slash the camembert to shove garlic and rosemary in it.

We've always taken the DC out on Christmas Eve since they were tiny.
When my DS was 1yo, (if my parents were visiting, they took him while I was cooking) he went to the park to play on the swings.

When DD came along we went to feed the geese and have a walk round the lake.

Then when they were older we fed the reindeer and walked round a huge park.

Last year we went to the cinema (not shopping, shops were too busy for that malarky)

Breakfast croissants and jam, orange juice, coffee, scrambled egg and toast.

Lunch is fish fingers, veg grills , chips, salad, trifle/ice-cream

Christmas Eve Hampers
TV or a Christmas film at home

DC have their bath and PJs.
Late buffet- French bread, crisps, cheese, cake

Then when the DC are in bed, a scary film.

Remus , recommendations for veggie sausage rolls please.

We have the frozen Linda McCartney ones. Let them thaw a bit and cook each into three before cooking.

Been Floundering past couple of years, trying to get something establised.

This year DH has to work, every xmas eve which is annoying anyhow...

Theatre, children's Christmas show ( not panto), home, then either christingle or family church service, looking at cheap but cheerful meal out when DH gets home.....

Made a little father christmas cookie plate, so will leave that out....say goodbye to Elf....

I usually have to show up at work so dd has been coming with me since she was 1. Then we meet DH for any last minute shopping, home perhaps via relatives, walk in the park, making cookies (from scratch if have time and not stressed, I keep a spare roll of dough in freezer from previous session in case I need to slice and bake instead).

Something nice and simple for dinner, after I've prepped for Christmas Day meal, light Christmas candle and say a prayer for the good things in the year we,re finishing, lay out stocking, milk carrot and cookie, get out box with new pjs and bath bombs, send dd to bath and bed in new pjs, read 'Twas the night before Christmas. Tracking Santa happens intermittently all day once home.

This year, I am off so and we,re away, so might avoid city altogether but will have to get dd birthday cake for Boxing Day on the Eve, I intend having a walk on local beach, have pjs and story sorted already but we,ll probably spend a. Fair bit of time in both DH and my parent,s houses too on the day.