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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

What were your favourite Christmas moments that cost nothing?

64 replies

throwingpebbles · 26/12/2016 09:21

Just wondering, as there is so much pressure to spend in the build up to Christmas, but I had so many "favourite" moments this year that cost nothing...

The DC deciding to make up a Christmas story as they were all lying in bed too excited to sleep on Christmas Eve

Christingle and the walk back spotting Christmas lights

My step daughter sitting at the piano singing Christmas carols while my daughter gazed at her adoringly

My daughter (3) "playing" the piano and insisting that everyone danced

Baking mince pies and everyone making differing decorations for the top

what were yours?

OP posts:
Bragadocia · 26/12/2016 21:31

Dancing and singing with DS to poppy Christmas music.

Going to the beach to see the seafront Christmas lights, and DS(7) and I made sandcastles in the dark.

Listening to Kings' Carols and 9 Lessons as I potter on Christmas Eve.

Snuggling, watching The Snowman.

Christmas lights walks around the neighbourhood.

All the best Christmas things are free!

hazeyjane · 26/12/2016 21:38

Ok, apart from the stolen prosseco

D's sitting at the front in the nativity being a shepherd warming his hands by the fire and throwing a sheep into Jesus's crib (he has special needs and up until now would only ever sit holding the hand of his TA)

Blossomdeary · 26/12/2016 21:47

Having stayed the night on Christmas Eve with my DD, my DGS (7) asked me on Christmas Day if we were staying another night - when I said yes he did a kind of victory wave and said "YEEEES!" - now that made me feel very good indeed, especially as he is not one given to expressions of emotion. That was certainly my best Christmas present!

Original poster
throwingpebbles · 27/12/2016 08:07

Lovely blossom Xmas Smile

OP posts:
spababe · 27/12/2016 08:32

Had accidentally left the front door locked on Christmas day and my elderly parents arrived I went to let them in. They are both in their 80's. Seeing them standing together on the doorstep arm in arm through the glass and feeling a rush of love and hoping this wasn't our last Christmas all together.

JingleMum · 27/12/2016 10:00

MTW I second that! I too watched snowman & snowdog with DD on Christmas Eve, the lights were twinkling on the tree and everything just felt so magical. I actually started to cry Xmas Confused I do it every year! It's that song "hometown" on it that gets me.

blueskyinmarch · 27/12/2016 10:02

Playing games with the teens/20 somethings. I haven’t laughed so much in ages. Apparently my gorilla impersonation was a highlight. Xmas Grin

Autumnchill · 27/12/2016 10:11

Playing the annual 'try and beat Dad at Triv' yesterday. There was Dad jokes galore and we just laughed (he won as always!)

BigcatLittlecat · 27/12/2016 10:12

These are all beautiful! My favourite moment was when we arrived at DH parents house and we saw their faces when we walked in! They were so delighted! We had driven 400 miles to get there, worth every minute of driving!

annandale · 27/12/2016 10:21

Walking with dh, ds and db on the 23rd. DH and DB went quite fast up ahead talking, and I was able to chat to ds properly. He didn't moan about the walk, told me all sorts of stuff, it was lovely.

saffronwblue · 27/12/2016 10:27

My two middle aged cousins who fell out some years ago over aging parents and inheritance both came to my sister's house for Christmas lunch. Watching them both make an effort to greet each other and later pull a cracker together made me feel there may be a good shift in their family.

Shockers · 27/12/2016 10:30

Playing Articulate after dinner with DH and the three 'kids' (29, 18 &16).

Laughed so much my stomach hurt.

Spartak · 27/12/2016 10:35

On finding out that I would be waking up on Christmas morning by myself, my 7 year old nephew insisting that I stay over at his house, where he gave up his bed and slept on the floor so I wouldn't be lonely in the morning.

canteatcustard · 27/12/2016 12:21

Our dogs first christmas with us, although he looked cute in his new bow tie, I dont think he enjoyed it much. He did enjoy opening his pressie that contained a treat.

We all enjoyed singing on christmas day and my son played guitar, also did the same on boxing day with other side of family.
Lovely seeing my niece, 2yrs dancing to the music as we sang Last Christmas as a tribute to George Micheal!

isittheholidaysyet · 27/12/2016 12:27

Midnight Mass. I can never get into the Christmas spirit until the first note of the first carol at midnight Mass.

Playing monopoly yesterday with all the kids now big enough to to join in.

FourForYouGlenCoco · 27/12/2016 13:28

Getting the baby to sleep on Xmas eve and making it back downstairs just in time to snuggle up with my eldest (4yo) and watch Going On A Bear Hunt (and then blubbing at the end!)
Everyone (me, DH, DD, baby DS, MIL, BIL, SIL) sitting down to Xmas dinner and just happy and enjoying being together
Grown ups playing Cards Against Humanity once kids were in bed and all crying with laughter
Opening the presents from my mum (who's just finished chemo) and choking up a bit imagining her lovingly wrapping them all up with her little bald head (I know this one sounds weird!)
We had a lovely Xmas this year - I'd love to do the whole lot over again ❤️

tonymac84 · 27/12/2016 15:21

@throwingpebbles mine has to be the lo playing with cousin's doll house. Was mesmerised by all the little bits of furniture and it was hilarious when he tried to sit on one of the tiny seats Grin

Fadingmemory · 27/12/2016 15:26

Spending ages opening presents with family and explaining Christmas traditions to a friend from abroad who was so interested in everything. Her delight at being given a Christmas stocking was lovely to see.

SecretWitch · 27/12/2016 15:33

Almost crying with laughter at the kitchen table with my mother over dessert. We have a bit of a complicated relationship so melting into laughter with her was indeed special.

Watching my older children (18 and 20) watch their much younger sister open the gifts they bought for her. Younger sister was thrilled with the gifts and attention from her big brother and sister.

Celebrating my lovely daughter's 18th Birhday. I always sing to her "Tabitha born on a Christmas morn" then cry. She has become such a fabulous young woman.

SecretWitch · 27/12/2016 15:36

@FourForYouGlenCoco...I know exactly what you mean about your mum. Sending good wishes for her recovery Flowers

Original poster
throwingpebbles · 27/12/2016 16:14

These are so lovely, I have a tear in my eye Xmas Smile

OP posts:
CaptainCallisto · 27/12/2016 16:17

DS2 (just turned three) edging gradually closer to my white-bearded dad and whispering 'Grandad, are you Santa?' just loud enough for us all to hear Smile

DS1 is 5 and is a very literal child. He has a cushion shaped like a rocket that he loves. My sister asked him if it had taken him on any adventures in space. 'Don't be ridiculous, AuntyCallisto, it's a cushion'. I think my mum laughed for about twenty minutes Grin

Seeing MIL who is recovering from oesophageal cancer with all her family yesterday, when we really thought she wouldn't make it through the summer.

Piglet208 · 27/12/2016 16:20

These stories are better than any Christmas movie! My best moment was after dinner playing a simple clue guessing game at the table with Dh, dm (85), ds (18) and ds (21). We laughed so much. It was lovely.

Hidingtonothing · 27/12/2016 16:34

We always go to DM's for Christmas dinner, was dreading this year as DGM died in October so first one without her. Think we all expected it to be a difficult and emotional day so there didn't seem to be the usual pressure to make it 'perfect' and the result was a really relaxed and thoroughly lovely time. Favourite bits were me, DM and DH all mucking in to finish dinner off and dish up, drinking wine and laughing lots while we did it and playing cards with DD in the living room and hearing DM and my DH laughing and joking in the kitchen while washing up. Just made me really happy that we all managed to have a nice day despite missing DGM, we talked about her quite a bit and told stories about her that made us smile but it wasn't unbearably sad like I thought it would be, I think she would have approved.

BikeRunSki · 27/12/2016 17:50

A really big genuine "thank you hug" from DS(8) after we'd been to the Magic Latern Festival in Leeds last night (it was spectacular).

DD(5) togged up to the 9s in minature outfoor gear, determined not to get left behind out for a mountain bike ride with DH and DS(8). She's a trooper that one, it was -2 and she did 10 miles!