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?

Roasting = roasties

Do- disposable foil trays for veg, pigs in blankets, stuffing etc
Don’t- buy anything from the Disney shop until after Black Friday. Giant soft toys much less than half price

Also next year I want to make my own pudding and Christmas cake.

We did the game where every person starts with a gifts and a number on the dice makes you do a different action (so 1, pass right, 2 pass left etc) on Boxing Day and although all gifts were silly things from Tiger (melting snowman, whoopie cushion etc) the kids thoroughly enjoyed it and we had a real laugh playing it all together.

I also got less individual gifts and had a selection of 'family gifts' that were board games and the like which went down well.

Repeat: book skating for Christmas Eve. Go to my mum's for food so all we have to do is turn up then tIndy up . Max £200 per child and most of that useful; don't buy throughout the year as most of it goes wasted.

Also, I'm so happy that I ended up splurging on a really nice fake tree.
I've been team real tree for 40-odd years but it always makes me so stressed. I love my slimline Balsamhill tree and there will be no needles carpet to clog up the hoover.

I won't throw a big party followed by having people staying followed by a massive family party. I've spent the entire month cleaning and feeding people and being a skivvy. I'm shattered. Back at work today and feel like I need a break. Can't wait for NYD.

Interesting that lots of people are saying less presents... I have this sinking feeling I should have got more for 6yo DD. We spent about £230 on her presents and stocking but it was lots of small items, books, soft toys, polly pocket lockets, dolls etc. Her main gifts were a baby alive doll and a unicorn tent that goes over her bed. She got what she asked santa for too but it was also something small. She liked everything, I just feel like there wasn't that magical wow factor to any of her gifts. 22mnth old DS got half as much as he is so little but the few gifts he had he loved, and they were nice play sets (duplo cars, car mat, etc).

DD seems happy and got lots from big extended family who all visited on Xmas day too. Not sure why I can't shake the feeling I should have gotten different more exciting things?!

Her birthday is the week before Xmas and she got a lot of nice gifts and had a big party. We also did a lot of fun activities in December, ice skating, ballet etc. Maybe I could have gotten more exciting xmas gifts had we done less for her birthday but I always make an extra special effort to make sure it is lovely for her and not overshadowed by Xmas.

I am just a bit down and may be over thinking it all. Be nice to get it right for her next year though. x

Repeat
Just me, DD & DM
About the right amount of pressies
Rib of beef from new local farm - best ever
Long break from work, 12 days off, heaven
Work like a dog for a month before 24th so that everything is ready and I actually enjoy Christmas Eve onwards

Do differently
Less food, just can't eat the quantities we used to.
Waitrose pavlova wreath dessert - pile of crap

@AndNoneForGretchenWieners

Marmite sprouts?! Please tell me more!!

Repeat
Everything
Me with my two children
At home

Do differently
Honestly, nothing

@Fooferella

Why didn’t you go for some walks?!

I would stay at home Christmas day and definitely not go to SILs house for dinner. The way it worked out this year we had 3 days of visiting so the kids haven't really had a chance to play with their toys and we've had zero down time. Plus SIL is a terrible cook and not a great host so I didn't even enjoy the meal. (Sounds bitchy but even my DH agrees)

One thing we did do well was assemble and check all Santa presents worked early on. There was a problem with one that we were able to get sorted on time.

I always wish that Christmas came after Christmas, so I could relax and enjoy it.

So- I’ll start preparing earlier next year, then I can!

Mine was great apart from ds (18 months) being a bit overwhelmed.

Only thing I’m changing next year is to do Christmas dinner a bit earlier - we ate at 3pm but was then both too full up from grazing all morning and again too full up for puddings after. Will aim for 12/1pm next year.

We simplified Christmas which worked great and I think we could simplify even more for next year as we overdid the catering which was a bit wasteful.

I reduced the number of people I buy presents for by 6 this year but probably 3 of them would have preferred to exchange gifts really - it was me who asked not to. Feel slightly guilty but not enough to go back to exchanging gifts again, will probs spend a bit more on their birthdays though. We still buy for 16 people although DH buys for his side of the family which is great.

I made my own Christmas cards again which I really love to do.
We all played card games this year which was lovely and a change from the old favourite Articulate.

Decided next year after 10 straight years of ordering fresh free range turkey to get a fresh crown. Far too much waste and faffing about afterwards making pies and soups only to save waste

Repeat:

Small stocking for ds. He got so many gifts from extended family that he didn't need a lot from us/Santa.

Have a week off in mid December. I got lots of fiddly stuff done and out of the way.

Never again: visit family an hour away then come back to cook dinner. We ate very late. Next year we will stay at theirs for lunch and come back later I think.

Repeat:
No Christmas crackers - no one cared!
Staying at home.
Buying less - the kids were happy.

Won't repeat:
Christmas Eve at my Mum's - I usually prep dinner etc so it meant I was disorganised on the day.
Won't bother with turkey next year.

Lamazedragon that really does sound like a large amount of magical Christmas and birthday treats for DD! The gifts sound so special and like there were loads of them. Plus outings as well. Lucky girl!

Get a pre cooked turkey from the local butcher.

Next year-
Not arrange any pre Christmas get togethers for fear of catching a bug and being ill. Will see all not-close-enough-to-see-on-the-day family between Boxing Day and New Years instead.

Next year I'm going to put less time, money and effort into the tiny details that no one else actually notices. This year I went to bed Xmas eve afternoon feeling like death. The breakfast dishes hadn't been done and there was washing everywhere. No one noticed the house wasn't spotless. I spent the day in my pjs on the sofa, so the carrots weren't cut like I would have cut them, and the 'nice' dishes weren't used but DC had a really lovely day.

Gather stocking fillers earlier during the year. Left it quite late and standard was poor
Get DC to write wish list for ILs. Every bloody year they ask me to source a present and its a bloody nightmare. So stressful.
Double up on parsnips. One bloody baton is all I got.

Repeat:
If possible, have my 4yo DGD on Christmas Eve morning while her parents worked/slept after night shift, I get to enjoy her excitement while helping out.
Have her parents round for hot Pork Sandwiches and Roasties Christmas Eve early evening so they can all hang their stockings
Spend Boxing Day at their house having a full cooked dinner and games in the evening - had a wonderful time, we moved in the summer to live nearer to them so its the first year we've been able to do all of these things

Wont Repeat:
Travelling back 340 miles, spending 7 hours on motorways to visit extended family for a couple of hours. Not worth it for a quick exchange of presents (and their dog attacked mine, leaving her traumatised since). We drove away without my sister or mum even coming outside to wave us off. Fuck knows what happened there.

Different: not travelling (older dc 4 and 6 years) enjoyed it but me and baby dc were miserable - too little sleep too crowded too little food (mil caters tiny portions).

Less in stocking - dc not fussed about them.

Same: try and see lots of friends / family around the period but in laid back ways.

Buy less for me & Dh.

Make time for dc - play games, watch their shows, take bikes out etc.

Repeat: Not having turkey and playing family board games now the children are a bit older (they loved it). Activity tins for the stockings as it kept them quiet on Christmas morning.

Not repeat next year: Hosting Christmas, I am exhausted.