Please tell me what you're doing today/tonight - Xmas Eve

[200Cigarettes]

• We have a friend with er baby dropping by for a cup of tea and mince pie
• then the church christingle service - we're not religious but thought it was be nice for toddler. Then home to watch Shrek : Donkeys Xmas carols while I make dinner. Before bed leave out a mince pie and carot for santa and Rudolph.

Once kids are in bed :

• dh and I will have a nice dinner (warm green salad with prawns and smoked salmon and fries)
• watch a Xmas film
• get all the presents laid out in the living room for dc

After a horrible year I'm really looking forward to a nice Xmas.

Just in case someone doesn't know and would like to:

At either (or both, apparently) 4.25 and 6.04pm, Santa's sleigh can be seen zooming across the sky from West to East, directly overhead.

Well, ok then, it's the Space Station - but a bright light moving fairly fast, so if you have small children who believe in sleds and reindeer, could create some extra magic

JRmumma - hope everything's ok
We're going to watch toy story 2 & then have buffet with inlaws who are staying

Am at the station waiting for mum and Aunt. DH should have put a huge joint of pork in the oven. Then I will serve roast pork sandwiches at about 7.30pm. We'll probably play some games, watch some telly, put a mince pie an carot out (DC are 14 but we still do it).

Spent most of the afternoon getting the DC to write and deliver 4 cards to our neighbours - ever think it would be quicker to do it yourself ?!
Also went for short drive to deliver cards to couple of friends

This evening may have trial run of toad-in-the-hole - then it's mainly waiting up to help Santa out - in case he gets stuck up the chimney

Perhaps watch a movie together - hope they've got something good on
And DH has already started on the rum and coke whilst wrapping pressies, so some sort of XMas tipple in order soon I reckon

Merry Christmas to all x

Ooh, nearly 4.25pm - may get the DC to look out for that passing sleigh

Christmas Eve is over here but it was lovely. I got the wrapping finished by 2pm, DH arrived home from work and we all sang carols, did a new jigsaw, played Cleudo and watched Santa Claus the movie. I think I can hear Santa, must go to sleep!

Ooh, we just all went out in the garden to watch Santa's sleigh (AKA international space station) crossing the evening sky - was great, much brighter and clearer than I was expecting.

If you missed his first trip round the world he'll be going round again at 6.04pm - he must be as forgetful/disorganised as me

Many thanks Elibean (my DC - at 14 & 12 - were impressed in a combo Santa's sleigh/ international space station way )

This morning took DS1 to his karate class Xmas party, then went for a muddy walk in the Broads with DS2.

Dashed home to pick up DH who'd been busy chopping up a tree from our front garden that had been blown down.

Then went for a boat trip on the Broads to see Santa, with mince pies and mulled wine.

This afternoon have been watching Valiant and The Cat In the Hat Knows About Christmas. DH is now attempting to build a bed while I make kids' tea. Oh and I need to make some egg-free cakes for tomorrow.

Later, takeaway curry and wine!

It was too overcast here to see anything :(

Driving 200 miles from home to PIL for Christmas visit. DH and me both full of cold and DS has a ear and chest infection. Car is FULL of presents and luggage. Took most of today and yday to get it all ready. Feeling a bit bah humbug tbh. Looking forward to seeing family but already looking forward to Christmas AT HOME next year, starting new, family Christmas Eve traditions that don't involve a motorway service station dinner, and having Christmas Day our way too. Merry Christmas all!

I'm festively, whilst humming Christmas ditties under my breath, and having come home from work at 3pm, clearing up the mess, destruction and general detritus of last night's gales from the back garden. Only really 2 fence panels match-sticked, but one was the support for a magnificent climbing hydrangea which will be lucky to survive the ordeal of a Dec 24th pruning! So the Preparations towards tomorrow's Xmas lunch haven't happened, but about half a bottle of good red has, already!

However, we never lost power; sympathy to all who have! God!

We are on our boat in Spain. The wind's getting up, it's going to be horrible tomorrow. OH has decided to do a bit of diy - typical. I've got a nice pasta dinner simmering and thank goodness we have the use of a beautiful apartment tomorrow, where OH will be cooking a traditional English Christmas turkey dinner for friends (so he's forgiving for making a mess this evening). Our boat is only just big enough for us.

Reading the posts about families with young children has made me nostalgic. My daughter and her husband went home yesterday after a flying visit - she's 45 and she used to love Christmas so much. Well she still does, but Bailey's and vodka on the rocks was never a family tradition!

Nothing great.

Cooked the turkey, cabbage and prepped everything. Watched a movie.

We had chinese for tea.

Eastenders then Holby then hopefully get the kids into bed so I can clean my floors.

Just saw the International Space Station cross the sky.

Told DS it was the Star Of Bethlehem. He's 12. So didn't buy it .

I still do the carrot / mince pie and whisky and stocking creeping around and my DC are in their 30s!

Any advances

I wanted to watch something xmasey but dcs are watching The Simpsons

DC in their 30s?
Love it! Cannot compete!

been to our sons grave

cleaned the house

just had kfc

and now watching shrek before dd goes to bed

baby is sleeping and planning on wathcing karl pilkinton with dh and a glass of baileys

anyfuckerisinnocent I'm so sorry for your loss. X

Sorry I got your username wrong!

Woke up late (dd had lie in?!), walked to the dentist and the corner shop for some bits. DH went to the tip with a load of junk, he took dd round to see neighbours, so I could have a bit of a tidy.
Currently 38 weeks pregnant, so made up cot incase of any early arrival (niggly and twingey since Friday)
Sat down on sofa, decided not to cook tea as CBA, ordered take away. Now watching finding Nemo, before DD's bedtime. Will do carrot mince/ pie thing just before bed as well.
Going to family's for Xmas lunch tomorrow, and have only been asked to contribute salad, which I think I will do tomorrow.
Later, I will drink a pint of gaviscon, have a bath and go to bed early. Small prayer that the baby will stay put until after Boxing Day, and then sleep!

I cleaned and wrapped presents this morning, it was snowing here so when the roads improved I brought our baby to see the crib at the cathedral and lit candles for the family

Tem I got a few little last minute stocking fillers, went for coffee and mince pie. No dressing baby after I had a shower myself. Off to mass soon then going to load the car for trip tomorrow.

Am with the in laws. Just been for a freezing walk to see the insane Xmas lights in Haughton, Staffs. Now home and drinking red wine while DH cooks dinner for everyone. Am entertaining cats and mning while everyone else watches football (yuck). Will be forcing board games on people later. Earlier today I was knitting and re reading Harry Potter. Wish I was at my parents tbh but it's not so bad here

Some of these lists are making me feel knackered! I just cant really be arsed with it all this year, which is a shame cos I have got 12 people coming on Boxing day..
Just one thing, will someone please tell me-what Elves?!
I have never heard of Christmas Eve elves! Is this happening in UK, or is it forrin?