What are you NOT doing this year.

[BrisaOtonal]

Christmas with my little family is a WIP. Every year I try and add to it or tone it down. I keep a note book and as I put decorations away I make a note to myself for the next year. I just read the letter to myself and I can see the sarcasm in my writing.

So what are you changing or not doing this year? Here are the notes I wrote to myself:

You bought too much food. The shops are open on Boxing Day or 27th if you need anything.

Buy better crackers. They were rubbish.

Only buy 2 bottles of your favourite tipple for the Christmas period. You felt poisoned after finishing the 3rd bottle

Don't put up decorations until 01 Dec as you will get bored of them

Don't buy so much stuff. Book days out instead.

Suck up your Christmas obligations but make sure it is only 50% of the time and the other 50% is what you want to do with your family.

Reduce further the amount of effort and money spent on childish adults presents.

Momasita have you tried Artisan Du Chocolat? They are my treat to myself and something I definitely will be doing this year.

I am NOT getting carried away with presents for DS and I am going to relax. We’ve scaled back on the festive nonsense quite effectively over the past few years but my stress levels are still too high and for no good reason. I need to give myself permission to relax.

We are having our Christmas dinner on Boxing Day. Every year we go to my mums for a cooked breakfast and neither me or DH want a proper dinner after that, we’d be happy with just crackers and cheese etc so we’ve decided to have our Christmas dinner the next day.

A couple of years ago we decided with the exception of going to my mums in the morning we are not travelling on Christmas Day. We would spend 2+ hrs in the car one way to have Christmas dinner and presents then turn around and drive home again. When our DD’s started getting older and they didn’t get time to play with their presents we decided enough was enough. We do have an open door policy though, just let us know if you want feeding and we’ll be happy to see you. If we do end up with guests for Christmas Day we will have our Christmas dinner on Christmas Day.

Taking ds to disneyland paris next month after a hard year so xmas is going to be a toned down affair. He loves the kitchen and helping me cook so hes getting a kitchen and some bits and pieces in his stocking. He got so much tat last year my family have been warned not to this year as i have little room as it is

Oh and we are doing Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve so we can have a much more relaxing day.

We never, ever travel on Christmas Day either. I can’t think of anything worse.

Not having the in laws this year (MIL SIL BIL) all come don't eat Xmas dinner "I don't eat any veg" "I don't like any cake with cream" don't contribute anything; help, food, drink, personality.
Sooooooo looking forward to this one if I could oust not so DH too I would verge on it being perfect

I will not invite the inlaws

Christmas Day for the 4 of us ,me , DH and the 2 grown up DC
Give them cash and token gifts
Christmas dinner at night

Remember it’s DH birthday just before Christmas and have a party

But Mr Kipling mince pies
Don’t buy posh wine , just the slightly nicer stuff ( yes , Chablis , I’m looking at you )
Go for a nice walk round the block , get some fresh air !