What will you definitely or definitely not be repeating next Christmas?

[Trudee]

I made a note in my phone last year in an attempt to stop me repeating the same mistakes. It worked well although I now need to add 'buy less biscuits'
Interested to see what everyone else would put on their lists?

Busy, glad your Mum is ok m'dear

After a similar thread last year, I vowed never to host extended family on xmas day again - and didn't!!!!

Don't get me wrong - I like them, it's just that I prefer to enjoy the day with DH & DC, not chained to the kitchen whilst everyone else watches my DC open their presents.

Anyway this is my smug update to say how much I enjoyed it and will be sticking to my never again mantra.

I'll host other occasions, but not Xmas.

I'll definitely be making Nigella's gingerbread stuffing again next year - it was fabulous.

Same: stay at home with no relatives (like we do every year).
Different: less food. But mainly less presents with no surprises, as dd3 (8) was overwhelmed and couldn’t cope. It’s actually prompted me to ask for an asd assessment soon as along with other signs, her reaction was extreme!

Same: hello fresh Christmas box. So wonderful to remove virtually all food shopping stress. Much better meal than I would have made and less waste as it's the right amount of food - nicely generous, but not excessive.
Different: think a bit more about after lunch. It gets all a bit flat after with just one DC - who has been waiting around all morning while I cook. I need to make sure I make quality time for him, maybe plan a little activity. All he wants is my attention.

I’m with Alice and Ash, next year I want to not host anyone preferably, see everyone once but not multiple times, not travel, and we have decided to just have all the cold foods (stilton, pate, florentines) not a big roast. Tricky, due to family factors, but DH and I have hatched a plan for him to get his Mum a rare invite to his sisters and now I just need to work on my Mum travelling to dbro instead of them all coming here.

To not host anyone next year. I miss our simple xmas day just DH and DC and not all the drama my family inevitably bring.

Thank you Mrsmadevans .

Next year guests again will be carefully chosen. Everyone who comes helps. There is none of that sitting on my arse expecting others to run around after me crap.
Everyone brings booze and nibbles and we all chip in for food.
No-one cooks as we have a potluck take-away - see what's open on the day.
As things are used people put things in the dishwasher and when it's full it's put on. Someone eventually empties it and we start again.
We have fun. We have a laugh. And it's an extremely relaxed couple of days.
Sleeping bags and pillows are brought with guests in case they decide to sleep over and everyone fits somewhere.
Boxing day, I usually have various bake at home pastries in the freezer, someone pops them in the oven, someone else pops to the shop for whatever else we may want for brunch.

Other years have included a potluck dinner and people bring a dish. Have cooked the whole traditional dinner. Had a bbq lol (that was actually a laugh).

To make sure we don't overbook ourselves. We've got 2 weeks off and only 1 of those days we're not doing something as trying to please everyone. I slept 10hrs solid yesterday as frazzled

1.To go away for Christmas in a cottage somewhere.

1. Start shopping earlier in year.
2. Definitely make Nigella’s clementine cake again - it was amazing!!

Do dinner later again as it meant I could enjoy presents and stuff without having to keep a check on dinner. I only did this as dh was working but will do it again.
I'd actually like to not have a load of people here but the kids just love seeing everyone so find that tricky.

Less bread, we will sink under the weight of it and all that's been used was toast for breakfast for one and half a roll. We're actually having Christmas dinner tomorrow as my in-laws are coming. Still have loads from Christmas day to eat

I won’t be buying ‘special Christmas food’ next year about 80% was untouched and went out of date. I’ll go back to previous years buying a few presents a month rather than my unprepared panic buys this year. No unnecessary spending hopefully I can cut down my budget even more. Normal roast dinner for lunch no extras which also went to waste this year.

A very good Christmas and pretty much everything perfect. First Christmas just the four of us as usually swop with mine or dh parents.

Keep;
Every few years have Christmas just us, without travelling. I really liked sticking to our own agenda and doing completely what we wanted. Ds liked just being able to chill out and have a long session of Lego.

Start shopping early, I began in September and spread the cost and finished the Wednesday before Christmas.

Less is more present wise. Just the right amount. Dcs appreciates what they had and played with it all.

Get Christmas food delivered, what a joy, no stress of shopping. Buy more veg and less sweet things.

Include Christmas activities in Christmas Eve box. It kept the dcs busy on Christmas morning so dh and I could cook.

Get rid of;
Throw away/give away all chocolate as soon as it's given to me. I have eaten far too much. Way more than usual.

Do more games with the dc on Christmas Day. They were happy playing with toys but we then fell into the trap of watching tv.

Just give them presents from the elves as from dh and me. Ds questioning it anyway. They knew it was from us anyway.

Not get flu.

Goose. Game changer.

Order meats from the butcher in Jan/Feb as can then spread the cost over the whole year and stick to a simple gravy of bisto, oxo & the meat juices as better than ones I’ve spent hours reducing & buying special ingredients for.

I will stick not buying food & snacks just because it’s Christmas as I haven’t missed them and will again start buying presents from September to be prepared sooner and spread the cost.

Same:

• don’t over egg it. We didn’t hype the children up with carrots for the reindeer and loads of talk about Father Christmas and we think it really helped keep them happy, not overwhelmed and relaxed (under 5s)
• go for a long walk after breakfast and stockings then back for presents under the tree
• no Christmas Eve boxes or spying elves. Honestly think it wouldn’t suit ours and would just be too much
• use the Manage Christmas app to keep track of presents bought

Different - have the traditional Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve so that both parents can be with the children and we both prefer the boxing day buffet anyway

• even less food than we did this year. It’s just not needed or wanted

theworldistoosmall Your Christmas sounds amazing!!

To insist that the 10 family members that come on Boxing Day bag up their own rubbish and take it with them . My dad brings that many presents that are all opened at my house and I’m left with mountains of plastic, cardboard and paper strewn everywhere. Nobody helped me tidy up the buffet stuff either- house a total tip tonight.Next year I will insist everyone helps .

Keep :
-minimal gifts for kids.

• Minimal decorating. ( less ornaments on surfaces and more fairy lights instead!)
• reinforcing the enjoyment of giving with my children.
• plan a thing just after Xmas - this year it’s a few days away with family in a city we haven’t been to in years.

Change next year

• more healthy snack foods available in fridge
• be more clear with ex not to even think about turning up uninvited on Xmas day.
• don’t use it as an excuse to eat extra crappy for all of the month.😳
• have all done/wrapped etc by mid December.
• try side dish recipes throughout year instead of on the day.
• buy more chestnuts

This was our first year of a really good Christmas.

Keep:
No buying gifts for siblings or extended family. Absolute game changer. This saved so much financial stress.
Get food shop delivered.
No turkey. We got really good steaks and cooked those instead. This was amazing on Christmas day. They took 7 mins in the pan and some resting time.
Start shopping for DCs presents in Sept to get good sale items. 3 for 2 and 20% off sales were great.
Clear old toys and give to charity to make way for the new toys. Made tidying up the toys an absolute gift!

Different:
Less chocolate
More meals cooked and in the freezer for the lazy days after Christmas.

If we are here & not away then will repeat Pre-prepared veg which were brilliant & took so much hassle out of lunch for so many and also will repeat bubble and squeak baked in the oven on Boxing Day using all leftover veg.

Repeat: Bavarian red cabbage and marmite sprouts, wrapping presents early on Christmas Eve not leave them till the evening, and the homemade boozy crackers.

Remove: arguments, rushing round with DS helping him to buy last minute presents - he will be more organised next year!