It's almost Christmas in July time - Christmas Countdown 2018 part 4

[BiddyPop]

I believe it's day 190

HOW did we get past the 200 mark so fast? And only 12 Days until Christmas in July starts, for anyone who celebrates that.

I love JL decorations, I buy some every year. By the time I am in my seventies every single part ofy house will be decorated :)

Thank you I do use templates cooking but sometimes have to adapt to make them small enough :)

Morning all
Needless to say DH has yet again declared his shoulder is much better proceeded to take the shoulder through a few moves to prove it to me
and he doesn't need the GP!

It seems we are all in the collective wars so here's hoping we all get better very soon , especially the little ones . Flapjack l so hope your DS is out of hospital soon my dear.

Your weekend will soon be here Fluffy! 😆

Morning! Watching Talking Tom and Friends.

DH tracked it down by going 30 mins out of his way bless him :)

Ahhh, that's lovely! They're a bit bloody elusive, aren't they?!

Morning ladies, my family who’ve come to visit are all off doing their own thing today. So we’re doing some back to school shopping, first year of school for DS1 and first year of nursery for the twins, I’m so emotional. And then we’re gonna have a walk down to the beach and spend the evening there. It’s the first time we’re going out as a family of 6 and the first time I’ve left the house since having baby Fred so very nervous. Then I’m shopping for Christmas decorations tonight. We live in a lovely little village and I’m so excited to see how Christmas is celebrated around here!.

Darn, I should have asked DD to get it for me - another chore in Easons to keep her occupied (and not crawling under my desk again for laughs, like she is 3 not 12! She's in the office with me today and, um, slightly spirited - but at least in good form and teasing spirited!).

I must freeze some beans tonight - there's loads coming now and we can't eat them all. So that will be part of Christmas dinner I hope!

Otherwise, it's more trying to get organized after 2 weekends away on the trot (Scout camp - loads of laundry!! - and down to a family party which included surfing, so more wet gear! and party outfits as well) and start packing for holidays this weekend. Which includes clearing my desk (when DD is not distracting me). She's been sent to the stationary store for whiteboard markers, and a magazine to read.....

I know fluffy it's as though the shops think people aren't thinking about Christmas yet. More fool them

Making chicken breasts in BBQ sauce with potato wedges for lunch. 😋🍗

So what are everyone's plans for Christmas? Are people staying home, having family over, going away etc?

It will just be the three of us for Christmas itself but we will have the in-laws staying the weekend before probably until Christmas Eve. Will also probably do a Christmas meal for our friends most of whom will stay over as they live away.

So Christmas Day and Boxing Day will be relaxed and quiet. Bit nervous about that as not sure how that will feel but we had lots of guests last year and it was too much and we agreed to have a quiet one this year.

We'll be having a quiet one as well - just DH, DD(12) and I on the day most likely. We are happy to host but no one will travel to us (they "have" to be "at home" on Christmas Day).

We'll have our traditional Open House in the afternoon/evening of 26th, for DD's birthday and Christmas gathering, of neighbours and any family who are free to come.

And we'll travel "down home" to see both extended families over the course of the break - probably New Year's in my DPs holiday house (traditional gathering spot) and a day or 2 on one side or the other for DMIL.

We will preceed that though with the Christmas Eve Swim in the local yacht club - which involves hot showers and mulled wine afterwards and lots of chat and fun! Last year, a few of the older sailors went in wearing Santa costumes (over lifejackets and even a hot water bottle wrapped up underneath in 1 case!).

Another quiet one here as well. As we live so far away our families will just give us the money to buy DC presents. DM and her DP will come down the day before Christmas Eve and stay until Boxing Day.

Thinking of doing elf on the shelf and a Christmas even box this year as the boys are a little bit older. But I’m not a very imaginative person so will definitely run out of ideas by the 2nd day or Christmas. It’s quite cloudy by us today and there’s meant to be rain after so we are feeling very Christmassy!.

Yes I have steered clear of the elf wicker as I am not imaginative and I don't want to start something I may regret! Good to hear of other quiet Christmas's we can share tips on how to make them special :)

We live right next to a church so hopefully they have some things on during the Christmas period. I’m so excited for this Christmas. It’s the first one that all my eldest boys will know what’s happening for. And Fred will only be four months old so we will still have a tiny baby to share it with. I’m thinking of starting some new traditions as we don’t have any at the minute.

No elf here either. Not our cup of tea at all!

We will be at home and will do our (now) usual buffet from lunch onwards so we don't have to spend too long away from the fun in the kitchen. The in laws will come to us all day. I will then do a roast on Boxing Day, probably at ours this year (I did it at PiL's last year) so we get a kind-of traditional meal (though it won't be turkey).

I finish on 20 Dec and go back on 2 Jan, so we will visit my family after Christmas, I think. They're down south and thankfully don't expect us to travel to them!

Thank you Mrs for good wishes for my son but sadly all hopes dashed on the home front . He needs another course of intravenous antibiotics so I am still here. Ah well. Thank God for the NHS I say ! You lot and your Christmas musings will keep me afloat no doubt x

I hope your son feels better soon Flapjack x

Hello! Popping along to say I am over summer now and ready for Autumn and the twinkly lights of Christmas! I have treated myself to a peppermint hot chocolate and looking online at potential Christmas presents.
This year DS will be almost 3 and baby DD will be 13 months so I’m keen to make it special and start some traditions. Anyone got any lovely traditions they would like to share? Last year we spent the first week of December in hospital with 3 week old DD with suspected Meningitis and it was utterly horrendous. I would love to put those memories to bed and make this year really special.
So far I’ve got;
Visit Santa
Santa train
1st December box each with matching PJs
Christmas stories for December bedtimes.
Thanks all! (And sorry if this has already been asked)

Wicker, have a look on this board for "advent" threads - there are a few that have a looooooong list on it that I drew up years ago (from posts on a few similar threads on an Irish parenting forum and a US Christmas forum combined). So there are loads of ideas on that, which suit a range of ages (some are for very small only, some are for much older only, and some suit all ages even into the 90s!).

Flapjack, sorry to hear that DS will need more antib's but at least he's in the right place. Is there anything we can muse upon to cheer you or him up?

Fluffy, we're like you - no Elf here. (But sometimes a few mad ideas in the advent calendar! And the soft toys have been known to set up a tea party, or have one reading a Christmas story to them all, on DD's bed some nights!). I've never gone as far as proper mischief like a cotton wool snowball fight or other mayhem though....

MrsMad, I hope you persuaded DH to keep his Dr appointment and get it checked out - if something keeps happening, it's very very wise to get it checked, even if it keeps resolving itself.

Meanwhile, I've actually got more real work done today than all last week! And we got our jobs done at lunch as well, and found a birthday cake for DH (his birthday was yesterday but as he was in the UK, we'll celebrate tonight when he gets home). Going to try and get a few more bits done before I need to leave....

Welcome Any!

Have had a look at traditions and seen something about putting a sack under the tree where the kids can put any unwanted toys/clothes in and on Christmas Eve donate it to a charity so think we might do that.

Will continue to have a look though! Want to make Christmas really special for the kids!.

No doubt it'll just be us again, no one ever invites us, and we don't have room to put people up. I'd like my mum and DS1 to come, but they don't have a car, so it would mean a taxi both ways.

Any Christmas contemplations welcome
I just love all things Christmas !

Any and Wicker, try this thread for my humungous list (I think).