I'm just going to say it.

[MintyGlint]

I'm ready for Christmas now.

That glint of the winter sun early in a morning. You can see your breath but the sunshine makes everything sparkle.

The feeling in the air as shoppers wander home, it's already dark and everywhere glows with lights and candles.

The sound of schoolchildren singing carols at our local church.

The look on faces when they open gifts, cooking as a family. The drive between houses to see other family. Hot chocolate, warm slippers, tinsel.

My first Christmas as a mother. Waking up with my daughter every day.

Just me? It's probably just me.

[BlancheBlue]

Give over - it is going to be an Indian summer weather wise this week. Stuff Christmas!

[OiWithThePoodlesAlready]

Halloween is celebrated here. Its been quite a big deal since I was a child. Im in Scotland so it's traditional here. We also have bonfire night to look forward to.

I get the impression that in America Christmas traditionally isnt such a big deal. Juat cultural differences I guess

[OiWithThePoodlesAlready]

nocapes bonfire night is my favourite too. Me and dd1 snuggle up by the window and watch people set off their fireworks o the grass outside our house. It's lovely.

[MollHackabout]

What a lovely OP

I adore Christmas. DD is 19 and starts uni this year (happily she's staying at home) and she's even more excited for Christmas as an adult than she was as a child! OP, you have so many lovely Christmases with your gorgeous DD ahead

As for everyone getting pissy about Christmas - why isn't it OK for people to post about something they're excited about? Nobody complains when people post about summer holidays they've booked for July in, say, February. This Christmas will be extra special for the OP so why can't you either be happy for her or not post at all? Yes, Christmas can be expensive (although it needn't be) and it can be lonely and hard for some people (I know, it's been like that for me in the past). But why not let those who love it just enjoy it, even the very thought of it, September or not?

[NoCapes]

Poodles that sounds lovely, we usually go out to a huge bonfire and fireworks display the local radio station put on and there's usually a bit of a funfair too, I love it getting the kids all wrapped up in big wool hats and wellies and eating toffee apples by the fire
Last year I was in hospital after having DS2 on the 3rd and we were both quite poorly, I was gutted to miss it but the nurses made me a big hot chocolate and me & the baby had snuggles in bed and watched the fireworks out of the window, it was actually really lovely

Oh I'm so excited

[MrsKoala]

DH has been talking about xmas since we moved in in May He loves it. I'm dreading it.

We will have a 4yo, a 2yo, a newborn, fil with dementia and my parents who can't leave their house for longer than a couple of hours because of their fucking dog which destroys everything and dh is allergic to.

I'm buying everything from m&s and sitting very still while everyone tantrums around me.

Also, I'm just not that organised or willing to prepare early for things. I'm with BikeSki it's ds1 birthday on sat and I've done fuck all. Our baby is due in October and I'm still not thinking about that! Christmas is so so so long away.

[Lorelei76]

OP where on earth do you live that you can see your breath in the morning? I hate that...! It doesn't usually happen till November?

[OiWithThePoodlesAlready]

lorelei the op was talking about things she's looking forward to, not things that have already happened!

[bigtapdancingpimp]

I want Autumn too. Where I live we just have summer and winter.

Someone told me earlier it was going to rain, didn't fucking happen. I've not seen rain for over five months

[Lorelei76]

oh thanks, sorry, I was awake till 5 and still only 1/2 a coffee downed.

[Bearfrills]

I'm going to be massively pregnant at Christmas and I'm so looking forward to it because it's the perfect excuse to do it our way.

We usually have some of DH's family round for dinner and, while they're generally nice, they sometimes irritate the fuck out of me. They show up far too early, we'll say to come round about 11ish because that gives us the morning just us and the DC for lazing in PJs and opening gifts. They'll show up at 9. If the DC get toys out they get told not to drag everything out whereas our opinion is that it's Christmas, they can drag it all out of they want to. We never force the DC to eat everything on their plates, doubly so on Christmas when they're excited and tend to just graze instead but they'll tell the DC to eat it "or Santa will take all your toys back". They get in my way in the kitchen, nice that they want to help but they don't ask what needs doing and end up hindering rather than helping like draining the potatoes without actually checking they're cooked or switching the veg on to cook when the turkey is still a good 90 minutes away from being done. One year DH had carried the food through and I said I'd be there in a second was just switching cooker off, grabbing a second bottle of fizz for the table and washing my hands. I went through and they'd dished it all out leaving me barely anything, had started eating and had pulled all the crackers including mine.

This year I've told DH that we are absolutely not having anyone over for dinner and are having what I've wanted for the last eight years - a Christmas just us. We're getting as much of the dinner ready prepped as we can so are buying veg already chopped, have ordered a ready dressed turkey crown from the butcher, and so on. We're looking forward to lazing in our PJs for the whole morning, dressed for dinner, playing with the DC and their toys, having no schedule whatsoever and no worries about having dinner ready by a certain time. If anyone wants to stop by for a little visit they're welcome to but it's going to be so nice not hosting anyone.

[MrsRyanGosling15]

Oh frig it, I'm going to watch Elf today!!

[CakeNinja]

That was the cringeist OP I've read in ages!

Enjoy your first Christmas with your dd op, it's obvious you are very excited

[Badders123]

Bloody love it :)
I try and celebrate the whole of advent rather than just Xmas day as I find that can lead to feelings of disappointment and regret.
It's not healthy to attach such importance to one day (however special it may be)
I do the whole advent calendar, advent candle thing for my DC, carol concerts, Xmas fairs, finding a nice tree and then decorating the tree, carols from kings on Xmas eve....ooooh lovely :)
We bake, make paper Chains...stockings...
I think Xmas Eve is my fave day of the year!

[randomer]

how about everybody donates the money they spend on crackers and puts it in a fund. the interest could then be used for any number of things.....poorly puppies,people with no water,lonely elderly,rehab programmes.

Now that would be something worth celebrating.

[ScarletForYa]

[Badders123]

Randomer...you're assuming people don't give to charity at Xmas?
We don't buy for adults, I am donating to unicef this year.

[Judydreamsofhorses]

I am so looking forward to Christmas. Last year was our first in this house, and we hosted, which was lovely, but I am happy to be going to DP's family this year. I feel guilty saying this, but the Indian summer is annoying me - I had seven weeks off (teacher in Scotland) and the weather was shit, now it's lovely and I feel like I can't breathe in my classroom because it's so hot.

[NoCapes]

randomer how about you don't tell people how to spend their money?!

[Cococrumble]

I completely agree with you OP I can't wait for the lovely cold weather, Christmas music in shops and all the candles and lights. Our local M&S gets brass bands/string quartets etc in store for most of December and it's bloody lovely!

It's also going to be my first Christmas as a mother as DD is due the end of November and I'm so excited for new baby cuddles by the light of the Christmas tree.

I hope all your plans work out, it's so lovely to have something happy to look forward to!

[Ilovenannyplum]

I want it to be Christmas too but only because I'm betting married on the 28th December and I'm extremely excited!

[maddiesparks]

I love the whole second half of the year. From the start of the school holidays which I love, into Autumn - I love Autumn, the darker nights, the crisp cold mornings, pyjamas at 4pm, Halloween with the kids, bonfire night then the lovely lovely run up to Christmas (which is as good as Christmas itself IMO). Happy days. I'm not a fan of Januray through to June - too much rain and too many grey full days.

[maddiesparks]

Coco i had two of my boys just before Christmas, it's a lovely time of year to have a new born!

[Badders123]

Ooooh my brother had an Xmas wedding!
(Beginning of Dec though)
It was very cold but so bright and sunny.
My eldest son was a page boy and I read the reading.
Lovely day :)
Congrats!

[Armi]

I need to lose weight. I can't remember the last time I wore a cosy jumper - my fat jacket keeps me at simmering point all the year round.