Missed Christmas...how can I make the next a good one?

[GingerbreadBaubles]

Dh worked over Christmas until the 28th, I had flu for 3 weeks so basically our Christmas was very low key no festivities enjoyed.

A year before my dad got taken to hospital so that Christmas was also pretty much cancelled! This year I hope to be at home with dh neither of us working. So how can I plan some festive fun to get into the Christmas spirit? I know it's a year away and I love spring and summer but Christmas is a really special time for me for many reasons and for the past few years I've been disappointed!

I need ideas so I can plan whilst on my summer holiday!

Funnily enough I was thinking about that this morning as I was packing away my Christmas stuff and I also worked most of Christmas (although I did have Christmas Day off). I think things like going to pantos, going to see Father Christmas (even if it's just in a shopping centre), making mince pies and paper chains together are what we remember. I'm sure other people will have loads of ideas and I also suggest you look at Pinterest. I know that loads of MNers have previously shared their own Pinterest boards so maybe have a look at some of the old threads on this board. I hope that helps x

I think I need to make some plans for next year that include everybody being at least low-grade ill. That nearly always seems to happen and so it would be only sensible to have plans that cover it. And then if we are all well, we can do the complicated cooking / healthy walks / quality family time that I always imagine we will do. And if we are ill, well at least we'll have planned out some extra-special takeaways and ready meals, bought some DVDs and stocked up on trashy reading.

I always enjoy the following about Christmas:

wrapping all the presents in stints throughout December at my Dad's house (where I store them), listening to Christmas music
Baking Nigella's Christmas cupcakes (easier than a full cake and seem to go quicker!)
sitting down to clove oranges - they last for at least a week and a half and smell amazing
getting out the DC's wooden Christmas advent calendars and filling each drawer with a sweetie and a joke or forfeit
putting the Christmas duvet covers on the boys' beds
Panto on Christmas Eve
Leaving out the mince pie, carrot and glass of brandy for FC and Rudolph on Xmas Eve

We do all these things every year and usually a few more activities that change each year.

oh and we always bake Christmas cookies and the boys decorate them

Have you got DC? As a stopgap, could you have a celebration at Easter? My friend used to have an 'Easter tree' (just big twigs in a vase sprayed white, decorated with little hanging ornamental eggs and chicks), a pretend nest with fluffy chicks, toy bunnies, etc at the base. I think I've even seen Easter bunting and paper chains in pastel colours in the shops. You could do chocolate rice crispy cakes with mini eggs on and other Eastery things. You could still have a roast dinner on Easter Sunday.

For next Christmas, think about all the things you would like to do and plan how to fit them in to your schedule. Decide what you would like to eat and plan menus. Think about your decorations, are you happy with what you have or would you like new/different? If you are creative plan what you can make. Obviously illness can't be helped, but getting ahead with preparations can make it easier to cope. Get yourself an A5 spiral notebook from Poundland to take on holiday and write notes in. Look at the mumsnet Christmas recipes, and through your own recipe books for food inspiration.

We had this exact

Sorry DD hit send. We had this exact conversation last night as DS was a bit sad we had all been ill.

So we're sitting down tonight and each of us is sharing what we love. Because it's so easy to plough all your efforts into something because it "traditional". But if it's not particularly special to anyone then you can just do other things.

Love these ideas, will definitely make orange and clove pomanders this year and girlywirly thanks for the great ideas! Dh is already groaning, he's a bit of a grinch until Christmas Eve then he get excited.

No small children, 12yr old dsd who's not really arsed about much except The Vamps

As a means to tie us over until Christmas we are having a "family celebration" at the end of January.

We're closing the curtains, having a roast, using the crackers we never used, sobbing out with a "family" film. DS has asked for us to put balloons up and do a secret Santa where we get something very small for one other person. But I'm still considering that present request.

But it'll be fun.

Sounds like a lovely idea patilla!

I have celebrated Christmas but I feel something was missing in this Christmas and I want to do some more celebration with my family only. Therefore I am planning to buy some online gifts for my family members with after Christmas offers and a surprise family party.

YY to planning a Panto or seeing the Christmas Lights (our local ones switch on in November)
My DC are 15 and 12.6 so the DS (15) is less keen to do all the family stuff (he didn't enjoy Harry Potter like we did)
DD and I go to see a ballet .

we had DF,DM,Dbro,DSil ,their Dcat for 3 days (and there's DH,DS.DD and me in our house) so we had a full house and the DC kipping on sofas etc.
It was more of a 'grown up' Christmas, and we didn't watch any rubbishy Christmas TV except the soaps , but played board games.

When my DC were little, I used to take them out to the shopping centre (usually Lakeside) let them look at the lights, buy a decoration, a present for each other, and have tea.

But even my Tradition of The £2 Jar has changed. ( I save £2 coins throughout the year, last year we got £280 in it. The original plan was we shared it out and spent it. Had to be used for frivolities. Last year DD wanted an iPad, so she used her money and mine towards it, and DS saves his money, so I just put his into his bank account.)
This year, I'll keep the jar money mwah ha ha because Nectar Points from Sainsburys will be 50% less.

Does everyone have a Christmas Jumper?
A nice Christmas outfit?
Christmas Bedding?
Fleeces?

Thats nice simple festive things that people remember warm'n'fuzzily looking back

Walking round at night to look at everyones lights / decorations, then hot chocolate.

And YY to Easter Tree, Easter Wreath, Chocolate Crispy Cake Nest ( cornflakes chocolate, in a round tin with a glass in the middle. Line with clingfilm and wrap the glass so it all comes apart. Top with Mini Eggs.
(Easter is quite early this year so it'll still feel like winter )