What was your favourite part of Christmas?

[december2020]

I've read so many Christmas threads with disappointment or sadness (some of course totally justified) so was hoping you'd share what little things you loved about Christmas this year.

For me, it was DS's excitement (13 months) to have a set of grandparents over with everyone playing with him and wondering what the fuss was all about but absolutely loving it.

And the games we played once DS was down for the night with lots of jokes and silly happenings.

It was nice to have some proper family time (especially as we live far away from both sets of family and don't get to see them often).

Present opening, I love gift giving, Christmas dinner and then monopoly where we laughed ourselves senseless due to the rather obvious cheating we all engaged in and then swore blind we were not.

Lots of nice things have happened, but I'd say that my favorite thing was standing by the barbecue while my big son cooked our breakfast for us on Christmas morning. He is a dad and a partner, expecting another baby soon, and a hard worker ,so I don't see a lot of him these days. Standing there with him while the others were inside, he and I collaborated on the cooking processes and talked about any thing and everything . It was great to know his thoughts and plans for the future , and how everything is going for him. And we shared a couple of nice Christmassy hugs as well.

He may tower over me these days, but he is very firmly in my heart too. It was good to have some special Christmas times with him .

Sitting around the table with all the family, food, wine and laughter. Bliss.

Watching two young adults in their pyjamas and Christmas jumpers sitting on the sofa and delightedly opening the presents in their stockings.

Having our very frail elderly relative over and making the day special for her, because she had to spend Christmas Day last year on her own.

The huge gasp of shock and air punching from our ds when he opened his present. Hugs from the youngest ds

It hasn't really happened yet.

I love setting the table up. I’m really into making it look like a festive extravaganza.
I just really like looking at it with the plates, napkins, cutlery all in the right places, the candles lit and the decorations making it look beautiful.
I have ‘Christmas table’, ‘Easter’, ‘birthday’ boxes in the attic of plates, candles, decorations, napkins and place mats.
Setting tables is my happiness.

Having my DD and her OH for dinner. We know it’ll be a few years before we spend Christmas Day with them again due to their jobs and having other family to spend the day with so we made the most of it. Everything was just perfect.

Taking my dad back to the care home and hearing him say repeatedly, thank you for taking him out and how much he had enjoyed his day with me and visiting members of the family he hadn't seen for two years.

He's 92.

Seeing a beautiful red kite very close up on my morning dog walk.
Eating lunch and doing a Christmas crossword with my mum.

Watching my kids open the gifts I bought them.

My 15 year old immediately putting on every item of clothing I bought her! (Massive win!)

My 8 year old's excitement at finding the squirty cream she asked for in the fridge with a ribbon on from Santa!

My 13 year old choosing me a gift based on something she heard me saying I liked and remembering.

Doing kahoot quizzes with my kids (instead of the annual and slightly boring trivial pursuit game with my parents!)

Not having to be the hostess!

The excitement on my nephews face when he opened the unbelievably boring voucher gift I got him!

My 13 year old snuggling me and whispering in my ear that she loved her presents, loved Christmas and she loves me.

Walking home in the rain from my sisters house.

My kids are great! (Especially the 13 year old right now !!)

Ds asking deadpan if DH’s flat Yorkshire puddings were Lincolnshire puddings.

Seeing DD's face in the morning when she saw her presents. She's only 2 so too young to understand Santa but old enough to know about presents etc! Also just the excitement she showed all day, she loved having family coming and going and getting a tonne of attention

I love all of these moments! Keep them coming!

The food! The pleasure of cooking it and it being well received. And eating it too. And enough leftovers to do it all again tonight.

I love putting all the gifts out on xmas eve.

My 8yo asked for a surprise from santa. He got an xbox but when he opened the wrapping it was so unexpected that he thought it was xbox lego, not an actual xbox. He is thrilled.

2yo has been a joy and is loving it all.

Both kids even loved the sprouts we had on xmas eve and xmas day

I saw my parents, siblings and nephews yesterday and today and we had a great time both days. No drama but lots of fun.

In the last 2 days I have cooked a leg of lamb, a ham and 3 turkey crowns successfully... but cremated the apple strudle

The childrens faces when the opened their gifts. Spending time with family. Today it’s being chilled and soaking it all in, the atmosphere, warmth, gifts and just general Christmas joy. I love Boxing Day.

Dd's excitement about Santa
Dd coming down the stairs to see Santa's Footsteps.
Her face was a picture when she opened the living room door and announced loudly he's been.
My sister dancing in my living room with dd and my nieces and nephews kids.

Loads too of things
Put out all the food for Xmas dinner.
Doing the Xmas table
Watching the kids open their presents
Watching everyone having a lovely day at my house
Having the next wave of family over today
Just all being together and catching up
Curling up on the sofa now watching tv with a cup of tea Xmas biscuits and my phone.

spotting a heron whilst en route to pick up my auntie was pretty special.

After seeing it recommended on here we bought the beat that game and laughed until we cried playing it all of christmas afternoon

lazy day with DH today

Arriving at our holiday cottage on Christmas Eve and the church bells behind the house ringing out Christmas carols. The first time I’ve felt festive this year.

Taking my terminally ill mum to the panto this afternoon and seeing the pure joy on her face.

Christmas Eve night.

For me it's that time of the evening on Christmas Eve when the shops are shut and you can breath.... you cannot stress or worry about forgotten gifts or missing food items. What's done is done.

We tend to have a decent steak for dinner - hot dogs for the kids - and we hit the festive treats.

I love getting us all in PJ's, opening the Baileys and checking Santa on the tracker. We watch a family film, chase the kids to bed about twenty times and then we arrange everything around the tree. DP and I always see Christmas in, often cuddled up on the sofa with Gremlins or Die Hard (or Trains, Planes)

Love, love, love that evening / night.

I really love Christmas time. As always, it’s been just DH, me and DC. Just spending time together, knowing we live one another, laughing so many times, etc, etc.

Sure, seeing them opening their presents and being genuinely pleased was good too and I got brill presents but for me, it’s the fact that I’m here and get to spend time with the people I love. Feeling very grateful.

@cobblers123

Taking my dad back to the care home and hearing him say repeatedly, thank you for taking him out and how much he had enjoyed his day with me and visiting members of the family he hadn't seen for two years.

He's 92.

@cobblers123 awwww, that sounds wonderful. Let's hope you can get some more family get togethers soon. Wishing you, your family and especially your dad a very merry Christmas!

I am seriously proud of myself for not freaking out at having the same present from DSisIL for the second year in a row!! (After she sends a very detailed list of what she wants, and rarely buys me anything from my list...)

SERIOUSLY proud 😁