Alternatives to traditional Christmas roast

[ColdFeetWarmHeart]

Does anyone do anything different to the full turkey and trimmings??

I like Christmas dinner, but with young dcs I just can't be bothered. Up until now I have spent every Christmas day with my parents, my DH joining us for the last 8 years and now our kids. I don't want to do that next year. It just seemed like we were in a rush Christmas day, open presents, get dressed, head to my parents.
While they're young I'd like to just spend Christmas day indoors with the kids, staying in our Christmas pj's and playing with their new toys. I don't want to be wasting time cooking a fancy dinner (which the kids won't eat!), pratting about laying the table all nice with coordinating napkins and crackers, and then spending ages washing up. I think I'd much rather have a carpet picnic of some kind.

What do you all eat??

Personally I do do the full Christmas dinner and kids all eat it, mainly because we have all the extras like pigs in blankets, stuffings and sauces that we don't normally have. And I love the leftovers on Boxing Day.

BUT, Christmas is what you make it. If you want to have a carpet picnic of favourite foods while kids play with toys, go for it. It's a time for you to spend with people you love and to have a feast of whatever you want. As long as you enjoy the day it doesn't really matter what you eat, as long as you enjoy eating it!

We always have a Chinese, prawn toasts, crispy duck and pancakes, mostly home made but always a bought in dessert to follow. Boxing Day we have a roast. But everything is thought of to have the maximum things we enjoy with the minimum amount spent in the kitchen. I spend enough hours in there without spending Christmas Day and Boxing Day in there as well. Just do what suits you most, you really don't have to follow traditions. To me it is more important to spend time with DH and DS, or just have time myself. I do like setting the table at Christmas though......