Christmas without extended family

[bananaramadramas]

This will be the first christmas ever we have spend Christmas just as our household (last year kids were with their dad).

How do you make it special and not feel like just a Sunday roast (with pigs in blankets and presents obviously!)

I'm worried the kids are going to be bored (18 & 8)

Thanks!

Special breakfast, we have mince pies whilst opening presents, then we have smoked salmon and scrambled eggs (bacon for any salmon refusniks) and bucks fizz, or components thereof.
Christmas time or music all day.
After dinner is usually collapse in a heap and call asleep, but could be time for games, like charades or a new board game.

Special breakfast, normally French Toast or pancakes or scrambled eggs, I tend to buy a game that we can play all together (nothing too stressful, last year it was Uno) this year it's Jenga. I also bought the Reindeer toss game, it was reduced on Amazon and was good fun for a while. A couple of movies and a relaxed meal served during the afternoon at some point so I can relax with a glass of fizz once everything is cooked.

I also worried about this ( and still worry each year!) but have found on the day it does still feel special.

I let mine choose what they want for breakfast, then they like to have a party food lunch and then Xmas dinner in the evening ( with crackers and set the table etc). I often have a plan to go for a walk but they always just want to stay on their pyjamas and look at their presents/relax in front of a movie etc.

I keep suggesting inviting another family round but the kids always say no they like the day as it is!

We never spend it with extended family. Part of Christmas Day for us is falling asleep on the sofa watching a Christmas movie. I did this as a child too, usually to superman.

Christmas Day kind of goes like this…
Wake up - presents
Munch on an easy brekkie, toast or cereal while everyone chills with presents and gets dressed at own pace
Brunch about 11ish (no set time or rush). Brunch tends to be pancakes, bacon, sausages, fruit, syrup. Some years it might be something different but DCs generally vote in pancakes.
Dcs set up table for brunch.
More chilling, playing, building Lego or whatever everyone wants to do. It may involve a walk, scooters etc..
Stick on a Christmas movie, some (me) will guarantee to fall asleep.no one is forced to watch. As long as we are all together I don’t care if they chill on their devices, or are playing we toys, or like me snoring on the couch, just as long as we are together. The DCs usually have fun doing something to me.
Christmas dinner about 5ish, again no rush, dinners ready when it’s ready. DCs set the table. I’m not precious about it looking perfect as long as they are happy and have fun setting it up.
After dinner games
Bed

I absolutely love just spending it at home with me and the kids, hate going to families so much I make a choice not to, I find it so much better being at home the day is just so relaxed and chilled and you can do what you want without having to please others, the kids prefer it too!