What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?

[Fuckingitup]

A little early for Christmas talk?

First year single and in new home with DC and thinking that Christmas might actually be lovely. Christmas Day will be small no in-laws or my family.
(Although Stbxh welcome for as much of the day as he wants)

Will have hot chocolate and watch the snowman and the snowdog Christmas eve.

What are you looking forward to? Do you have lovely Christmas traditions?

Two weeks off work (I didn't get more than a couple of days at a time off in the summer so I'm ready for a long break!).
Lovely long walks with the dog during said time off then warming up with hot chocolate.
Being single for the first time in years.
Family coming to stay for a few days as I'm hosting Christmas this year.
It being acceptable to eat chocolates for breakfast and be boozing in the morning while waiting for the sprouts to cook!

Nothing. DS has already had his present due to a mishap earlier this year (involving his phone and a swimming pool - yes really 🙄) and I've got to cook, aaaaand we can't have a Christmas Tree.

Boo bloody hiss!

my mum and dad are treating us all to a meal at the local carvery we went there a couple of years ago it was great, huge pile of food and no left overs!

Just spending family time. My partner works long hours and it will be nice to have him home with our 3 year old who is really understanding Christmas and looking forward to it all.

Last Christmas was really tough, my niece died 3 weeks before suddenly from meningitis so we didn't have our tree up, didn't do activities etc. While we have got the first anniversary coming up the whole family is more positive about Christmas this year.

Me and DH are being made redundant at the end of this month, but with an excellent redundancy package, so I'm taking the whole of December off!
Will start looking for work in new year, but We are off to Tenerife in early Dec, then will relax and enjoy build up to Xmas without running around and working until 5 pm Xmas Eve!
Oh of course all the food and drink and DC and GDC coming too!!

This Xmas will be the first Xmas all our family are together as we have DSD here for the first ever time. She normally comes for the 2nd week of the holidays but this year she will be waking up with us and DC and it's adding to the excitement massively.

Peggy

I just went Nc with my mother after years of misery so I am super excited to have a peaceful, relaxing Christmas with my dh and dc!

Time off work (without laptop, phone etc)
Espresso martinis with DM
Making salt dough decorations and cards with DS
Full monty Christmas dinner, plus leftovers and I'll be cooking so I can make sure there's enough for leftovers

DS1 is 2.5 years old so he's just starting to get it. At the moment he's getting very excited and yelling "Christmas! Christmas tree! Look mummy Christmas tree!" every time we go to the supermarket so I can't wait to see what he makes of the day itself!

And it's 4 month old DS2's first Christmas

I usually do a mega clean and tidy up just before Christmas, then put decorations and tree up. I'm looking forward to spending a few days enjoying my nice tidy house over Christmas - before it all goes to pot again in the new year!

It's going to be a really hard one as mil passed away earlier this year, we're all apprehensive about it. But I am looking forward to seeing the dc's faces as they wake up on the morning. My dad has just moved to this area so we'll be seeing him on Christmas Day which will be great. Also fil is coming up and we're all meeting in the evening at sil's for a drink and nibbles in memory of mil, she loved her prosecco!

So sorry Peggy.

and to gemdrop

YesItsMe why no Christmas tree?

Why no tree? Because my cat is mental and likely to bring the whole lot down, trashing the room in the process. He a lovely big fat furry fucker!

I'm looking forward to spending the day on my own with my cat. I'll pop to my local for a bit to see friends and hibernate.

I've always wanted to spend the day on my own. Other people don't understand it and I've already had offers to spend Christmas with their families. They're worried I'll be lonely. Which is very caring of them.

Oh give over auntiestella - don't click on it then. It's not offensive to talk about Christmas any time of year, if you don't want to then don't.

op - but nervous about this year as possibly last year with FiL and it's also first year without my dad BUT I'm looking forward to us all having time together and all the build up - the tree, the lights, school fair, nativity, waiting for Santa and all that.

Yes the first year we had cats + Christmas tree that happened repeatedly. The following year we put clove-studded oranges on the tree, and the cats didn't go near it. They even swerved and occasionally hissed at it when they passed it! Never had a problem since

Smoked salmon, pigs in blankets and lighting the fire Christmas Eve. DS face when he opens his present.

I wonder what the equivalent of clove studded oranges is for toddlers?!

I forgot about school nativity Haudyerwheesht. Always sweet. I hope it's a nice Christmas for your family.

I'm an atheist but I might seek out some carol singing (maybe some Bailey's first).

My DS will have a lovely Christmas with us and extended family but like every other year, DD will be with her dad and family so I'm really looking forward to the time post Christmas when she'll be back.

need to get a MIL bingo card ready to get me through till then

My children coming home and us being altogether for longer than 48hrs.

DS1 is in the army and is very busy between now and Christmas leave so it's unlikely he'll be home before then. He was supposed to be on duty over Christmas, but this week he was told he's been stood down because he volunteered to do the floods last year. So for now, he's going to be at home.

DS2 is at uni doing nursing so doesn't get home often. He definitely won't be home before 19/12.

We're getting pet rats and the DC have no idea. Could not be more excited!

I love Christmas.

Same as every year: a non-stop supply of Twiglets.

Yes - I had a very naughty dog last year so couldn't put my Christmas tree up. I missed it so much although I put lots of lights, etc up. In the end I brought a cheap pre-lit 3 foot tree and put in on my unit quite high up. I even managed to put some decorations on it. Not sure if this could be an option for you although I realise cats can be buggers for climbing up.