Sorry, I have another christmas question!

[ludaloo]

I just wondered if anyone had any ideas, or anything special they do on christmas eve? I have 3 very small and excitable kids, who drive us nuts all day! The evening is worse still as they get hyper!
Growing up it was tradition for us to open one present the night before christmas...I guess to keep us quite for a moment! We do the whole, glass of milk and mince pie for santa and a carrot for Rudolph (although dd1 insisted we put them for ALL the reindeer but I didn't have enough to spare, so they all got celery!!) I think opening a pressie might make matters worse though...they will want more!
Any ideas on how to while away those LONG LONG hours??

Nope, I'm a bucket.

We make hats for Christmas Eve meal.

Ilove the snowman theme idea!

Jodieg's reindeer food looks good, do you think sugar can be coloured with food colouring? I can imagine it might just go gooey! but would be good if it did!

I love Christmas! Some lovely ideas here too. I feel all warm and snuggly just reading about it...xx

There are some brilliant ideas! Can't wait for christmas to come!!!
Even my "bahhumbug" dh is impressed!

We go to a carol service suitable for kids at about 6pm then invite a few people round for drinks and nibbles. By the time they go home the kids are truly ready for bed! I do make sure it's not masses of kids though, the last thing you want to do late on Christmas Eve is tidy up a trashed house.

Llllooonnggg walk, no matter what the weather.

This may be our last Xmas in Edinburgh, so it's up the town on the bus for us to take in the sights.

When I was younge we had my cousins over for christmas eve, our next door neighbour would dress up as santa and come over to give us kids 1 present each. But before he came over we'd turn all the electric lights off and only have candle light. My mum used to tell us he didnt like electric lights. The candles added to the exitment it made it really special. I used to look forward to christmas eve more that christmas.

ah bidlil...sounds lovely
When I was a kid the Round Table used to put on a santa visit...they would put him on a trailer with loads of lights, and pressies, we would chase him down the road screaming at him!

BIGlil even

We used to go to midnight mass on christmas eve. Not perticulally religious but used to love going to church at midnight. Then christmas day we'd open presents on the floor round the tree in pjs with ginger bread men that we made. Then play with new toys untill my dad and uncle had made the christmas dinner. Then in the evening we'd whatch tv together.

Lol oh how id hate to be a dressed up santa. Being mobed by screaming children...

I agree a nice long walk with plenty of fresh air and back for a lovely warm snack. We do hotdogs and/or tomato soup with rolls.

My DD love's Christmas films, especially Miracle on 34th Street and The Grinch.

We spend Christmas Eve watching Christmassy dvds. We have quite a few and what we don't get though Christmas Eve we watch Christmas afternoon. Then go out for tea then a drive around to all of the Christmas lights. Come home and they get to open one present (usually from distant relative who has posted them). Then we put out the milk, mince pie and carrots for Santa and Reindeer. looove Christmas.

Take 'em to Midnight Mass! . That'll tire them out nicely and you might even get a lie in on Christmas day. My parents took me from the age of 6. I loved it and I never had a problem getting to sleep afterwards. However if you are not at all religious (as we aren't) I should make a special meal (bath and PJs first), then watch fav Xmas DVD and then bed. And no arguments or Father Christmas won't come!!!! My eldest 2 have serious doubts about the bearded chap but they still can't wait to get to bed - the only problem we had last year was with DS#2 who's only 3 and could feel the excitement but didn't know what it was all about. Wouldn't go to sleep at all for hours!! Hoping it's better this year - last year I was total empty of Christmas spirit by mindight and was thinking of waiting up for Father C and handing him DS#2 in exchange for the pressies....

Thats the thing is'nt it - the feeling of excitement. DD gets her vibes off me. As soon as I know she asleep I race upstair to put her stocking together. Then can't wait to go to bed myself so I can put the stocking in her room.

just though will have 2-3 week onld baby this year - there's no way she's going to sleep if baby is crying - what will I do?

Just bumped it up for another thread.....