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Christmas

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Original poster

Where / Who are you having dinner with this year?

53 replies

christmas2022 · 29/07/2022 07:28

Where are you having dinner?

Who are you eating with?

How and when do you decide?

We are eating with DH side this year as we hosted my side last year. I'm hoping they will offer to host as I don't really fancy hosting again but will do if the offer doesn't come. May have to bring it up but not sure if too soon to plan yet in real life.

We just tend to alternate between each side of the family and if we fancy a quiet one we just say it will be just us this year and still see them in the day but eat alone.

OP posts:
PatientlyWaiting21 · 31/07/2022 15:33

Everyone comes to ours, I’d hate to pick a side, so we have all 12-14 together 😄

RhinestoneCowgirl · 31/07/2022 15:38

My house (DH and 2 teen DC), plus my parents and brother will be joining us, staying in a nearby hotel. Really looking forward to it, last hosted them in 2019. It was our turn to have MIL last year, which just isn't as relaxing for various reasons.

Craftybodger · 31/07/2022 15:39

Tamas will be at home, as usual. Family may join us, but have chosen not to for the passed 2 years.

MajorCarolDanvers · 31/07/2022 15:42

Where are you having dinner?

We always eat at our house (we have the biggest house) - how many join us is the varies each year.

Who are you eating with?

DH and our 2 kids.
Always have my parents
Sometimes MIL, DSis (and her partner and 2 kids) so between 6 and 11 people.
This year my guess is 10

How and when do you decide?

All welcome as long as they confirm by the time I have placed my Tesco order.

HeyMicky · 31/07/2022 15:56

PILs have rented a cottage and invited us for Xmas...and not the other DC 🫢 DM lives abroad so we only have to juggle one set of parents; Christmas dinner location varies across DH's family depending on who has their step children, who has enough chairs, who has a new puppy or new baby etc

We're in charge of catering this year and no one wants turkey or Christmas pudding, thank goodness, so it will be a low key morning, blustery walks and a lot of pigs in blankets

Rupertgrintismyguiltypleasure · 31/07/2022 22:44

the same people and at home like we do every year... unless someone goes somewhere else.

DreamloverTealover · 01/08/2022 07:07

PatientlyWaiting21 · 31/07/2022 15:33

Everyone comes to ours, I’d hate to pick a side, so we have all 12-14 together 😄

@PatientlyWaiting21 this is what I end up doing most years 😂

dizzygirl1 · 01/08/2022 07:18

Me and 2 teen DC but I'm not sure when! This is the 3rd Christmas post separation so in theory should be with their dad Christmas eve (we've had 1 together, 1 split the day in half) but I'm not sure their dad is that fussed about Christmas eve. I'll let DC decide what they want to do.
I love Turkey, mines never dry! But with only the 3 of us and 1 veggie.... I've no idea what we'll be eating....last year they decided picky bits then on the day before Christmas eve decided a roast !

Starlight86 · 02/08/2022 12:04

We used to alternate every year, it was draining.

Then we decided having 3DCs we would have Christmas dinner at ours and everyone was welcome.

Ended up with 21 of us last year, from both sides of the families, it was hard work but i absolutely loved it and it and now it appears it will be Christmas dinner at ours every year and i couldn't be happier.

ThisIsNotThePostYourLookingFor · 06/08/2022 23:29

We used to have big family christmases around 13-15 people but last year was just us 5 as we had covid and it was fantastic. The most chilled relaxed day so we’re sticking to that for this year again.

Allthestarsabovemyhead · 06/08/2022 23:47

Probably going to my aunts house as usual. Saves us from cooking. I also work during the Christmas holiday so I don’t need to worry.

Throwawaytoday · 06/08/2022 23:51

We have a cycle in place:

DPs one year, DPILs the next. They always come to us (we have less space but a young DD so it's easier for everyone to have her at home).

The cycle only works when my brother and his girlfriend, and my sister in law and her husband, also see their respective parents/partner's parents in the lay-years... I live in fear of someone messing up the cycle 😁😁

Original poster
christmas2022 · 07/08/2022 07:36

ThisIsNotThePostYourLookingFor · 06/08/2022 23:29

We used to have big family christmases around 13-15 people but last year was just us 5 as we had covid and it was fantastic. The most chilled relaxed day so we’re sticking to that for this year again.

It can be surprising just how nice a more intimate Christmas can be. I'm always torn between that and the whole time for the wider family thing.

OP posts:
puppylambkins · 07/08/2022 10:16

Just me n DDog since partner passed away we go to my elderly dads and spend it with him and his dog. Very relaxed, eat what we want and when we want. Maybe a bit too relaxed and quiet, but it is what it is!

Denny53 · 07/08/2022 10:25

After last Christmas being a washout due to most of the family testing positive for Covid and the year before being the year Christmas was cancelled, the whole family have rented a large country house in Wales. We have each been putting money away monthly since January so we will have a hefty sum for groceries and meals out. We share all the Xmas dinner preparation and cooking., we go to the beach and long walks. Have family quizzes with prizes for the winners. We done this several times before and enjoyed it so much even our eldest grandchildren in their 20’s wouldn’t dream of spending Xmas elsewhere!

FizzyStream · 07/08/2022 11:21

We alternate between having PIL and my mum and stepdad. (My dad and stepmum live 200 miles away so we see them the weekend before).

Last year we had my mum and stepdad so it's PIL turn which is good because DMIL is suffering from breast cancer for the third time and has refused any more treatment so realistically it may be her last. She doesn't think she'll make it to Christmas herself but she seems quite healthy and is not losing weight so fingers crossed.

We always have it at ours because ours is the bigger house and we have two primary aged kids who enjoy having their things around them. I don't mind cooking.

BlackLambAndGreyFalcon · 07/08/2022 11:27

Skiing in Austria with DH and DD as usual (covid excepting). Can't wait!

doginthesunshine · 07/08/2022 12:25

We alternate families on Xmas day and then try and do a big family get together on Boxing Day - I either host a feast on Xmas day or the 27th. This year I'm having a c section on 23rd December so my parents and PIL and SIL will be popping over with food for a couple of hours (or what we can handle!). Really looking forward to a fuzzy Christmas with a newborn, food I haven't cooked, and lots of crap tv!

2anddone · 07/08/2022 12:44

Florida just me and 2 teen dc. Our first Christmas ever just the 3 of us without my parents or their dad being there (separated 9 years but still came for Christmas Day until the covid cancelled Christmas of 2020) we can't bloody wait GrinGrin

doodlywoodlydingdong · 07/08/2022 13:13

I imagine I'll be hosting Xmas dinner for my children this year. The two oldest have moved out but their houses aren't big enough for us all to get together so I imagine it will be at mine. My daughter is due her second baby in November so she won't want to be cooking. Then we have a huge party Boxing Day but I'm thinking that may have to be cashed back a bit. Normally starts at 2 and people drop in and out all day to 11ish but we go through a huge volume of food. I'm thinking maybe condense it and down grade the food. I doubt I'll be ordering as much from M and S or Waitrose this year.

Original poster
christmas2022 · 07/08/2022 13:53

Denny53 · 07/08/2022 10:25

After last Christmas being a washout due to most of the family testing positive for Covid and the year before being the year Christmas was cancelled, the whole family have rented a large country house in Wales. We have each been putting money away monthly since January so we will have a hefty sum for groceries and meals out. We share all the Xmas dinner preparation and cooking., we go to the beach and long walks. Have family quizzes with prizes for the winners. We done this several times before and enjoyed it so much even our eldest grandchildren in their 20’s wouldn’t dream of spending Xmas elsewhere!

This sounds amazing

OP posts:
gogohmm · 07/08/2022 16:08

Absolutely no idea. 4 adult children between us, older parents, single siblings and a house too small to put everyone up... a compromise is in order

gogohmm · 07/08/2022 16:09

If I could I would go off to the canaries with dp but the kids wouldn't forgive me

Theimpossiblegirl · 07/08/2022 16:15

Just us Christmas Day.
I do a big meal the weekend before for my side and then his side between Christmas and New Year.
Lots of celebrations and it's more enjoyable for everyone.

BellaLab · 07/08/2022 16:29

It’s just DH and I, last year was the first year in 27 years we were alone on Christmas Eve/Day/Boxing Day and it was bliss! Our favourite champagne, a fresh seafood platter for dinner on Christmas Day and lots of cheese and biscuits afterwards. We walked, we read, watched tv and had long lazy baths. It will be exactly the same this year ☺️

The DC/DGC descend on us on 30th December until 5th January which we love and we’ve planned a lot of activities for the wee ones this year so mums and dads can put their feet up.