CHRISTMAS EVE- what are your plans and what still needs doing?

[Milpale]

Very quiet here. I'm going to be sorting the fridge and freezer out as best I can, totally disorganised right now! Some last minute cleaning. This afternoon will be a walk around the neighbourhood looking at house lights and decorations. This evening will be easy watch tv with Baileys and a pork pie or two.

Everything is done apart from playing Santa and putting out the presents tonight (when the kids eventually go to sleep!). We're going on a dog walk in a bit up to the pub, watching Christmas movies and doing Christmas crafts. Having a little buffet for tea.

Feeling guilty because I’m rushing around cleaning the house and trying to get jobs done instead of sitting down with little ones but I can’t just leave things because we are going away on Boxing Day for a week with family and I don’t want to be cleaning up and packing on Christmas Day! Wondering how many more times it’s ethical to make them eat fishfingers because I don’t have time to cook anything else.

Littlest has ditched nappies this week so cleaning up a fair few accidents.

DH is working until 1am!

We have at least sat down and watched the Wrong Trousers so that’s something.

Just remembered we are going to a crib service later so that will be festive.

And I still have DH’s presents to wrap.

I’m not well and bleeding heavily and looking after a dog that has had surgery. So I’m in PJ with a hot water bottle curled up with 4 dogs. Eldest DC also in her PJ and in bed. DP has taken hyperactive and excited younger ones to Tesco for spaghetti and a couple of things. Tesco is two minutes away and they have been gone for 3 hours and counting 🤣🤣. Love it. Peace.

DH and I went into town this morning to pick up some last minute shopping.
We still have to collect the turkey from the butcher this afternoon.
I have spent an hour or so on last minute wrapping, all the presents are now under the tree.

This afternoon we’ll make mince pies and gingerbread biscuits and peppermint creams, finish all the cleaning and tidying, collect the turkey, cook our Christmas eve cottage pie, hopefully make it to a Carol service, and watch some Christmas tv.

I did a last hoover round and mop of the kitchen floor earlier. Put festive table cloths on my table.

Wrapped DS presents while he went with DH to drop off meat at SiLs for tomorrow.

Played whack a mole and jenga with DS.

Need to wrap a couple of last presents.

Then it will be more playing with ds, followed by party tea (just me, DH and DS) and then we are watching the polar express.

So a fairly chilled day really which is nice.

Nothing. I literally have nothing to do. I'm not saying anybody I don't have any family or visitors. I have one friend staying with me and he is doing the cooking. I bought an Iceland frozen lamb boneless joint and we will have some roast potatoes which would take five minutes to do tomorrow other than that we are doing some DIY jobs but mostly sitting are on the sofa watching TV. Really boring isn't it? But it's completely stress free.

Been ill for days - but today managed to get out and plant some bulbs. Will collapse for the rest of the day.

Everything is done, other than the fact maybe I should put some white wine in the fridge for myself. DH has gone to collect car from garage, so hopefully will be back by 4pm without bad news. I'll have a shower just before that and he'll follow. Having some luxury ready meals for later, playing games, watching tv and tracking santa (I still do it even though DD is an adult and not at home this year!).

Yule log is cooling on the counter ready to be filled and iced.

I'll make an early dinner (fish pie) and then Christmas Eve box for DD and maybe put a movie on, leave the snacks for Santa and reindeer, and then a nice long bath before an early bedtime so she has plenty of time to get to sleep.

Then we'll prep Christmas dinner once she's in bed before bringing down all the Christmas presents and settling down to a few drinks. May or may not wrap the living room door, depends how extra I'm feeling.

I went into our nearest town this morning as had to exchange one of DH’s presents. Managed a nice peaceful coffee and pastry on my own with my book for a bit too. Then a bit of extra shopping. And an emergency extra turkey joint as our crown looks a bit small.

Been tidying and cleaning and finishing wrapping this afternoon while DH sorted the ham and made lasagna for dinner. I’m about to make the stuffing and do a last minute clean of the kitchen. I should sort out table linens for tomorrow but it’s just the three of us and DH and DS won’t notice or care what’s on the table!

Hoping to finish my book this afternoon and maybe start my Christmas jigsaw. Then lasagna for dinner and hopefully a movie with DS and DH is we can agree on one we will all watch. There will be mulled wine and Bailey’s and chocolate later too.