Christmas Eve jobs

[Queuing4Fergs]

I have annoyingly woken at 6.30am this morning thinking of all the jobs I need to do:

1. Last minute dash to Sainsburys for crackers (I didnt get them earlier as their offering was shit but now can't get any elsewhere), christmas pudding (hopefully discounted) and brandy cream (if any left)
2. Make a pavlova and assemble the trifle
3. Ironing
4. Clear out the last of the Christmas decorations and other boxes from the spare room to make room for the DS' new gaming chairs
5. Get gaming chairs from garage up 3 flights of stairs to the spare room and set them up ready for tomorrow (without the DSs seeing them or putting my back out)
6. Last minute tidy up and vacuum

Will rope in DH and DSs as appropriate though it may be easier just to send them out for a walk to burn off some energy.

Anyone else with a to do list today?

I've lots to do...but also want to spend time with the family, I believe the Christmas festivities begin on Christmas Eve....so go for a long walk, play some board games, drink mulled wine and dance to Christmas carols in the kitchen (while doing prep for tomorrow's meal) bake a baileys cheesecake with my DD.

I shall not....and never will iron on Christmas Eve! Life's too short!

Picked up click & collect at 7am - shop was empty and fully stocked. No queues to get in and the checkouts were all open and empty.

I've put on the Xmas bedding and played fridge Tetris. Just got to clean downstairs loo and hoover through.

OH is taking DSD home and then will come back for my first ever Xmas without my parents (I'm 42!) - really looking forward to it!

Other side of the world here to the UK, so close to midnight as I type.

Today (Christmas eve) I got up super early, 5.30am, to go to fish market. There was quite a queue, and I waited over an hour, but happily got fresh prawns, smoked salmon and a fresh side of salmon.

A quick dash afterwards to supermarket for the last few bits of veg, greens and cream.

A warm ham and cheese croissant and a coffee in the park on my way home.

Home by 9am. Tetris the fridge and pantry to fit everything in. Again. A nap for a couple of hours. House cleaning - vacuum, clean bathroom and kitchen, de-clutter usual weekly crap from dining/lounge. 2x loads of washing. Put new mattress topper on our bed and make it nice.

4pm: Eat some nice cheese, crackers and sample smoked salmon. Drink a big glass of Chardonnay.

Make tiramisu and prep veg for cooking tomorrow. Drink another glass of Chardonnay. Wrap presents for close family coming tomorrow.

Make dinner. Simple pie and salad.

Shuffle dining room furniture around a bit and set table for small gathering tomorrow. Eat some chocolate and sample a tiny bit of special summer gin and soda. Set table for Christmas lunch. Prep kitchen for cooking blitz in the morning.

I’m bloody exhausted.

Happy Christmas to all!

Build a toy kitchen, wrap presents and persuade some very excitable children to sleep. There will definitely be no ironing of table clothes or poncy cooking chez Toquismiquis. I’m knackered after my 1yo woke up at 3 last night and my 4yo woke up at 6 full of excitement of it being Christmas Eve and then had an epic meltdown in Sainsbury’s. I’m wondering how early it is acceptable to start drinking.

Took DC for a winter walk this morning.
Nipped into Sainsbury’s for last minute bits.
Cleaned most of the house yesterday, just need to do kitchen and dining room today.
Got two presents left to wrap.
May prep some veg later.

Peoples lists sound stressful. I haven’t done any housework as no one will be visiting, I have peeled potatoes and veg to save me time tomorrow, we then went for a drive to get milk from the milk station (which took half the day as there was a queue), now relaxing watching tv with the kids and will get a takeaway for dinner.

Tomorrow will be pretty stress free and straight forward, Christmas dinner is just the same as a Sunday roast and desert just needs taking out the freezer.

I have all done now except to wrap a few santa gifts when dc are in bed (purposely left until then as I like to do this last minute)

I have a gammon on in the slow cooker and house is clean and dcs clothes ready. Prepped all veg for tomorrow. Santa's tray out. We went to the cinema and made paper chains and mince pies. So it's mulled wine and TV now.

I managed to get it all done before MIL arrived with 10 minutes to spare....

Had a lovely easy dinner now just waiting for DC to fall asleep so I can do the last bits and go to bed myself!

Tomorrows lunch is fairly simple roast with an easy starter and pudding so from now on Im hoping its easy. It was a bit stressful at first with MIL cos she had to adapt to being in a noisy active household after months of solitude but its going well now and she is so thankful to be with us.

I've done a lot of what I planned but also some relaxing.

Bathroom cleaned.
Me clean also.
All my clothes put away.
Presents all delivered.
Last bits of shopping done.
Table flower arrangement made.
Sausage meat cooked for stuffing (and most herbs chopped and added to breadcrumbs I made)

Now sitting with DH and DD, glass of wine, and quietly chilling.

I must say though it's probably been the most relaxed Eve ever. I've had a half hour to read in peace after a relaxed family breakfast, watched a movie with DH, and I'm not worried about prep because we are not going out tomorrow.

I have:

• made the gammon for tomorrow
• prepped the veg
• made the Christmas Eve dinner
• cleaned the house
• arranged the flowers for the table
• dyed my hair
• painted my nails

I am now sat around trying to get up the energy to wrap the last presents

Dh cleaned the whole house while I was at work Wednesday, I said how nice that was. He asked when my Mother was arriving tomorrow, I said she comiing Christmas day. Yeah, tomorrow he said! He was one day out, and thought today (Christmas eve) was Christmas day. But at least I only need a quick tidy and wipe around now grin
I've prepped all the veg this evning, cooked the ham and eaten lots of chocolate.

Housework done. 2 loads of washing done. Walk in the lovely sunshine and collect fruit.
Back home finish ironing. Wrap last present up and doorstop deliver neighbors’ present. Refill bird table , restock fat balls and put out coconut halves for the birds.
Exstend dining room table and put on fresh table cloth. dress table ready for tomorrow.
Have shower and then large glass of red while cooking tea.
Watch Christmas tv with dh including dr who Christmas Carol - classic.

I ended up havjng presents to wrap this morning when Dh decided we should leave wine and chocolates on the doorsteps of our neighbours- luckily I had enough of both to do that, but only ordinary everyday wine and some of the naice chocs I had planned to eat ourselves as a treat. [grr]