What are you doing Christmas Eve?

[MsMiaWallace]

DH is at work until 2pm so looking at inspo for afternoon with 3 small kids.

What are you guys up to?

First time not working, so we’ll be ice skating at Kelvingrove museum just as it gets dark. Then home for bath, set out cookies and all that jazz. DH and I usually watch a comedy dvd once kids are in bed.

Probably a walk or something during the day. Might have a go at building a gingerbread house. Christmassy movie. After dinner we go for a walk round the local area to see the Christmas lights. The local school usually organises an advent window trail, where different houses make window displays and light them each day in turn. That tires the kids out and we can get them to bed at a reasonable hour.

We always meet family in the pub in the evening, the day is spent getting last bits from the supermarket, walk around the park to burn off some energy. I’ve heard the Blackpool illuminations are on on Christmas Eve if you don’t live too far away that might be a change.

No kids so no help, but I’m excited for Christmas Eve this year.

6 of us including my parents and brother and brother in law are renting a house for Christmas.

We will collect our bread from our local bakery around 8am then hit the road for around a 4 hour journey to meet up.

We’ll grab something from the services for lunch, may be even a McDonald’s, before checking into our cottage.

We’ll unpack, then pork a pork joint in the oven, before getting out our tree and decorations and making the place really festive.

We’ll have hot roast pork sandwiches for tea and probably have a little wander in the town with the dogs before hitting the sack.

It will be the first time in over 15 years me and my parents and my brother have gone to bed in the same house on Christmas Eve! Very excited!

A long country walk in the morning to blow some cobwebs away and prepare for spending the day indoors tomorrow. A bit of cleaning and baking some gingerbread, then veg prep, and at about 3-4pm we go out for another walk to see everyone’s Christmas lights. When we get back we have the Christmas Eve box, a picky tea, Christmas film and hot chocolate and Christmas really starts,.

We usually end up doing some last minute shopping, meaning DH dashes into Tesco and Waitrose to see if there are any last minute bargains. Usually ends up buying loads of perishable stuff that won't fit in the fridge. We have DD and family coming to us this year so I expect there will be lots of film watching whilst we do what prep we can for Christmas dinner.

Probably getting some veg in the morning (we always go into town first thing, it's all quiet and we're walking home just as the rest of the world is just about starting to come in), probably go to the gym or for a short run, then hopefully get the bits that can be prepared in advance done whilst there's something on TV or he'll put some music on (stuff like stacking veg up in the steamer, making the GF stuffing), then a long bath and watch TV.

It's all very relaxed and peaceful.

We have a movie day. We snuggle up together on the sofa with blankets, watch Christmas movies and eat junk. Then at bedtime we all get a shower and into new PJs, read Santa is coming to *** and then we track santa on norad, and go to bed ready for him arriving.

Once the little 2 are asleep I get to work laying out presents.

My favourite day of the whole year!

Fancy breakfast, usually with mimosas but heavily preg at Xmas this year. Festive walk to the local garden centre to see Santa and his reindeer in the morning.

Home for a day of Christmas films and general festiveness. Always watch the grinch & muppets Xmas carol on Xmas eve.

Usually would have a champers with kings carols but will have some nosecco or similar. Will do Xmas eve box with dc, baTh time, new pjs, book.

Then dh and I will watch a film with a cheeseboard/fancy picky bits.

Bed at a decent hour for two full on days following- I can't wait!! Like the idea of a panto when dc are older.

Christmas light safari? Hot chocolate and Christmas music in the car and drive around looking at Christmas lights. Also works on foot.

We are going to a Carvery for breakfast with Santa, then something else to help the kids burn off some energy (park or swimming probably),a walk to see Christmas lights once it is dark, hot chocolate and Christmas film, then baths and pjs, read the night before Christmas and bed. Once they are down we will get the presents in stockings and under the tree, drink some booze, watch a film and have ham egg and chips. Can't bloody wait.

My DS will
Be with his dad Xmas eve. I’m working till 5 (but will probably get away by 4.30) and our plan is to be in the pub for 6.30, stay there till about 8. Then home, takeaway, a few baileys and a Christmas film. I’m going to do a Christmas Eve box for me and DP so we’ll open that. I love Christmas Eve, I’m sad DS won’t be here but it is what it is and he’ll have a lovely Christmas at his dads

I'm on leave so I'll be cooking the ham, getting the turkey ready for brining etc. I've got a Morrison's order coming in the morning and then we'll go out for brunch, back for more Christmas dinner prep, general pottering and then a buffet tea before telly and bed.

I never plan to go far or do much except get ahead for the big day.

DD has two panto performances, we are watching the 5 pm one. Then we are coming home to watch the Muppets Christmas Carol. While I drink Santa's wine....

Taking Christmas food to my ex husband's house as we are doing Christmas Day there instead of at mine because he has terminal cancer and only 3 to 6 months to live. My DS and I will be doing Christmas Dinner for the three of us and I am staying over until Boxing Day.

My kids are teens but I don't think we ever did anything special - the kids would just be excited and I'd be panicking about wrapping the last few presents, my husband did the cooking so would probably do some prep.

I'm working so
outdoor carol service with nativity
crib service
early 'midnight' mass
midnight mass

(yes I'm a vicar)

We are heading into to Edinburgh to visit the markets and are having afternoon tea at the Dome, we'll hopefully walk the legs off the kids so they are ready for a bath and bed when we get home.

I will be working until 1, when I get home they get thier Christmas Eve box, we prepare veg and such ready for the next day, we then have Chinese takeaway, watch a nightmare before Christmas, kids have baths, DP takes them out in the car to see Christmas lights around the neighbourhood so I can do operation move the presents somewhere more easily accessible, they come home and go to bed around 9/9.30... we wait for them to sleep and then they are usually up at 6/6.30 😴😴

Some great Xmas Eve plans!

It's just me and DP this year as DSD is at her mums, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what we could do just the two of us? So far I've cooked up a little plan;

Prep veg and cook the ham, nice long walk and end up in the pub late afternoon, pick up a takeaway on the way home and then showered, into new PJs and a night in front of the tv with drinks!

@Gingersay

We are heading into to Edinburgh to visit the markets and are having afternoon tea at the Dome, we'll hopefully walk the legs off the kids so they are ready for a bath and bed when we get home.

Afternoon tea at the dome on Christmas Eve sounds great *@Gingersay*

@Bluebellbike

Taking Christmas food to my ex husband's house as we are doing Christmas Day there instead of at mine because he has terminal cancer and only 3 to 6 months to live. My DS and I will be doing Christmas Dinner for the three of us and I am staying over until Boxing Day.

@Bluebellbike I am sorry.

I hope you three have a lovely Christmas. You sound really lovely.

Working, then an evening carol service.

Last minute shopping for bread and fresh veg (v v early) followed by Bacon and Egg butty for breakfast.

Carols from Kings...DH will be bound and gagged and locked in the garage for the duration of it this year! 🤦‍♀️

Die Hard - you can't beat a bit of Nakatomi Plaza on Christmas Eve - with a glass of Baileys.

Dog walk first thing, then my Waitrose Christmas delivery arrives (hopefully) - drinks at lunchtime with my elderly aunt - then home to make sausage rolls and mince pies. When I lived at home we always had pheasant for Christmas Eve Dinner but DH hates it, so guess it will be something very ordinary (and not Christmassy!). Miss those days!