If christmas was just your family unit what would you do to make it awesomely awesome

[kiwidreamer]

It will be just DH, myself and 2 DC (6 & 3) this Xmas, no family here (or us in NZ) for Christmas for the first time in six years. If you were to have the holidays with just your family unit what would you do to make it extra special? I've splashed out on LaplandUK for the 20th of December but need more ideas so I don't get melancholy and depressed.

We go to the panto on christmas eve, then crib service in the evening. Presents in our bed in the morning, then bacon sarnies. Stay in pjs, a lunch of the things we really like, a walk round town (enjoying everyone being cheery), then tea of puddings .

Are you near London at all, Winter Wonderland seems increasingly packed however there are many other things to do there.

I think lots of little christmas shows, local smaller theatres do fantastic ones for about 8 per ticket.

Line up presents that are games too. Great music and so on

We are normally just us for Christmas as both sets of parents prefer to go to our siblings.

I always do my own crackers for dinner with something little to play with at the table. During dinner FC drops off an extra present for the whole family (coincidently at the same time as I go to the toilet) which is a game for us to play together after lunch.

We also do a walk as a family in the afternoon (we actually do two, but on the morning walk one parent takes the dc while the other cooks).

E are always just our family unit as family are not local. We start on the 22nd (my half birthday), usually do theatre with the kids and sometimes something else like a steam train ride/Father Christmas somewhere before Xmas. In the 24th we have a bigme in the evening although on another thread several mums mentioned doing new pyjamas and hot chocolate with the kids on the sofa on Xmas Eve (plus of course you can follow FC's progress on Noriad's tracker online). We also try and go for a walk to look at everyone's lights. Boxing Day we do a walk and try and find homes for the new presents, and a walk if the weather's good. We also traditionally have an at home for friends on 29th (our wedding anniversary) which is great as friends are, unbelievably, willing to travel some distance to see us! Ds1 also tends to request a pyjama day at least once.
Like others above, we tend to get games we can play as a family (dev are going to be 8 & 3 this year), often crackers which include a game.
It's just a lovely relaxed time for us.

I dont celebrate Christmas but tend to invite friends/relations round for a none xmassy meal. I tend to invite people who would otherwise be on their own & as I live away from my family I know how it feels. It is also my sils bday around that time so we hold a bday tea party for her on xmas day.

We build our own relationships & memories with the people we love to spend time with. I am sure you can start to establish your own traditions this year.

We go to a music event of some sort in the few days before Christmas, this year it's an orchestral carols by candlelight concert in the national concert hall on the night of 23rd, which dd is finally old enough to stay up for. We'll get dinner in town beforehand, milanos or similar, but I will have to book it ahead.

I have to go to work in the city centre for a couple of hours on Christmas Eve, so dd comes with me while DH has a quiet coffee. Then we all meet up and go into marks Nd Spencer's to get a few nibbles for over the next few days and DD's birthday cake for Boxing Day. Nice lunch somewhere, then home. (Grabbing any other shopping or bits we need before leaving too).

At some stage in the afternoon, dd and I bake cookies - some years we do it from flour, butter and eggs; others, we just slice off chunks from a half batch of dough that I make earlier in December and freeze. I always make sure I have a half batch in freezer for Xmas Eve, in case. So it depends on time and energy levels. We also prep veggies for the following dY, and tack Santa in. The kitchen while we work.

After dinner, we have a hamper with pjs, bath bombs and hot choc. Dd runs up for bath and the first reading of 'twas the night before Christmas of the year.

Christmas morning we have a stocking to look at, then getting dressed for mass. We do dinner in the evening, but that's because when we stay at home in our house, we do have to visit my aunts and uncles, and dh's aunt (more immediate family live 3 hours away). We pop home between visits to turn on turkey, then do spuds, veg c when we get home after the last visit. A few nibble bits, open the wine, light the fire, all about dusk. I really try to get a walk in while it's bright if we have a chance.

We do board games as well, more over the following days. And we do have to have birthday cake and presents on Boxing Day so we invite the neighbours in that afternoon for nibbles and wine, cake in late afternoon.

Over the next few days, long walks on the local beach or the local hilly park. Maybe a family trip to the cinema. Something in the theatre if there's something we'd like, panto ora music event (often there's a screening of the snowman with a full orchestra). More board games and cards. Lots of TV (well, for dd - I generally am running too much). I usually keep plenty of craft materials and a few ideas up my sleeve for bad weather, and we might go baking together too.

We often have Christmas as just DH, DS and I and to be honest I try not to 'drag it all out' - I will be working Christmas Eve this year so DH will be home with DS - we will have a nice evening meal and DS and I go to Midnight Mass; special Christmas breakfast, followed by Church in the morning, hopefully a walk, film, presents and board games - meal in the evening and the DS is off on a school trip on Boxing Day, I hope to do some voluntary work and DH will go fishing . I'll be back at work on the Saturday and hoping to persuade DH to do some decorating as he will have most of the following week off .

Invite some friends or neighbours round for a few drinkies on Xmas Eve?

For many years it was just the three of us. Can't say we ever has a problem having a great time.

It was awesome It being Christmas and having a whole day together without having to rush about and do other things. Oh the simplicity of those days.

The only thing we did to make it 'awesome' was to wait until dark to eat by candlelight.

Occasionally we would go/have friends or neighbours round for drinks late morning. Walk the dogs. All very simple.

We are having a Christmas eve hamper containing tickets to panto, Christmas jumpers, new pj's, lush bubble bath, magic key, dvd, bedtime story, cookie mix and carrots. Although we are having my parents for dinner, I am most looking forward to playing with dd and her new toys in the morning. For me, making it all about her will make me happy.

We are just 3 of us. It can be tricky but we do Christmas Eve hamper. DH and I share a bottle of champers once DS is in bed.

Up on Christmas Day - let DS open presents while we have coffee and then DH will put the BBQ on for bacon and eggs. Lunch is just when I get it ready. DS can eat what he likes. We try and get out for some fresh air for a while.

DH likes the calm of it. He works for a huge courier company meaning late evenings in December and a particularly late Christmas Eve too.

Elf on the shelf
Xmas eve hamper
Decorate a gingerbread house
Xmas crafts/activity books
Go see the lights in town

We do sundown Christmas Eve to see Santa and usually a panto on 27th which we all get dressed up for. Christmas Day is usually a pyjama day for dc and Boxing Day we make time for a long walk in the woods. We have sit down meals on the evening around 6pm, tea at 3:30 with sandwiches and cake, and late, hot, leisurely breakfasts such as panettone, croissants, brioche, bacon, scrambled eggs...

I love the idea of a day just the 4 of us! What bliss!

We let the kids get us up at the crack of dawn, open their presents and have salmon and bucks fizz for breakfast.

We eat Christmas dinner at lunchtime (ish) then spend the afternoon playing board games, watching movies and playing with new toys. Might go for a walk if its dry.

To be honest, I think the build up is the best bit, we go to Exeter Christmas market, make mince pies, decorate the house and the best bit, CHRISTMAS MUSIC! haha, and Arthur Christmas of course....