How to make Xmas eve special?

[TaytoCrisp]

This is our first Xmas as a family of four (dds are 4 and 11weeks). We are staying at home in our new house and for the first time are not travelling to see relatives. I would like Xmas eve to be very special, and not just a day of last minute prep. What do you do that makes Xmas eve special?

elquinto - 'we do the shitting log'

Tayto - DH usually also takes advantage of a loaf of fresh bread that afternoon and raids the party box of Taytos that DD insists we get for a special treat - a Tayto sandwich!! (And a big glass of fresh cold milk - there's no changing an Irishman!!)

We've managed to gradually move from rushing around last minute stress to something like a peaceful potter towards the big day as dc1 has got older, hoping the transition will be complete this year now we have dc2 as well.

DH works until late afternoon, so kids and I will probably go out for a long walk then come back in and make mince pies (did this with ds from 20 months ish, is now a tradition of sorts at 3.8). This is jus roll pastry, and allowing him to go mad with the mince jar, cutting out stars for the top.

At some point DH will come in and previous years will have rushed straight out again for last minute shopping, dropping in presents to family, and grabbing takeaway, but that isn't happening this year! I want to try and get something brewing in the slow cooker early on so it's nice and relaxed come the evening.

Then we are doing a. Christmas Eve basket with pyjamas, hot choclate and bath stuff, Things to leave out for Santa (mince pie and bottle of real ale that DH and I will then share once dc are in bed) and a book and DVD. Carrot for Rudolf, tea light for the garden so sleigh can land safely.

Then carols on and last minute food prep with beer and something nice to eat, then a more grown up Christmas film, fill stockings.

I can't wait

I'm wrapping before Xmas Eve for the first time ever, as the 'wrap while watching a film and having a drink' idea never goes to plan and its always a bit stressful when you have been wrapping for two hours and want to just chill out!

So, this year we are doing the same things we always do - a coffee/hot choc in a cafe, a walk, Christmas film and stories with the kids before bed. But i am also planning something nice for me and DH once the kids are in bed. A cheeseboard and booze picnic dinner on the sofa and some hot sex. Got rid of my bellywarmers for once some nice lingerie, even!

Ho ho ho.

HollyJollyXmas - it's kind of tradition in our house that by the time it strikes midnight to Xmas day we are having the sex, I don't know how it started but it's a very Happy start to Christmas

Christmas Eve is my favourite day. We always make sure that we have done everything before so that we are not rushing about on Christmas Eve.

In the morning we usually make snowflakes for the window, christmas biscuits and a gingerbread house, we often go out for a late lunch and we used to go to the Christmas Eve crib service at church until dh and the children admitted that this was their least favourite part of Christmas so now I make do with watching the Carol Service at Kings on TV.

In the evening the children go to bed relatively early and dh and I will have a few glasses of bubbly before taking on our Santa duties.

Christmas is also a sad time for me because I miss my loved ones who are no longer with us. We don't live close enough to visit their graves on Christmas Eve so Im thinking of starting a new ritual of lighting a candle for them on Christmas Eve and raising a toast to them.

Agree about the wrapping Christmas Eve being stressful! First time I tried it for the romantic factor ?!?! Then because I'm basically slack and hated wrapping it became last minute by default, this year I'm planning on it all being done this weekend!

For my childhood Christmas Eve tea we used to go out to the curry house and I've missed that for years and years. I think when ds2 gets older we will go out for a meal.

We bake cookies and have mulled wine/hot spiced apple juice and watch films, listen to Christmas music, put out food for Santa and reindeers and track them on that website (forgot name!). When Santa is close we send kids to bed and we make Santa footprints in flour on the floor (wood!), finish wrapping gifts then go to bed ourselves.