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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Good Christmas stuff. lets counter the negativity

13 replies

CrowleyKitten · 27/12/2024 01:00

there is so much negativity on the boards about bad presents, lazy partners, difficult family etc.
so to balance that, lets here what you got and loved, what your favourite moments were, fun and funny things.

Christmas eve, we rewatched the muppets Christmas Carol, that's been our tradition for years. then we spend lunchtime to four ish with the in laws, having nibbles, prosecco, and the sister in laws and their families, and neices and nephews all come over for presents and socialising. hit a blinder with smallest nephew, as one of the presents we got him, SIL said they'd been looking at those and thinking about getting him one (it's a sort of astronaut shaped projector nightlight thing)
there were a lot of delicious nibbles (reduced from waitrose christmas eve. nice one) and everyone had a lovely time.

heading over to my side of the family, dinner was delicious, then we had presents. my mum and stepdad VERY kindly got me a new laptop, as mine has died a death in the last few weeks. and I am very lucky to have a husband who is incredibly thoughtful in his gift giving, and got some lovely things.
mostly things your average mumsnetter wouldn't be into, but a Jurassic Park Christmas jumper, Allosaurus figure for my JP figures collection, and a Good Omens canvas bag are all lovely and thoughtful.
we've spent boxing day relaxing all together, and eating picky bits, and it's been wonderful.

so. for all the posts about christmas being ruined, please share what made you feel cosy, happy and loved.

OP posts:
GrazeConcern · 27/12/2024 05:11

Good idea for a post op, I’m glad you had a great time. We had a nice Christmas too. We keep it dead simple, don’t really do pantos/lights/festive days out. DH loves Christmas so the load is shared very evenly - I often don’t know much of what the dc are getting until we do the wrapping, he does a great job. We’re lucky that we do get christma stp new year off so be doing games, tv, walks seeing family and a puzzle until new year. Most of the year we’re working full time and balancing hobbies and homework of two pre teens, Christmas week is my only genuine ‘break’ of the year.

Goldenmemories · 27/12/2024 06:24

I'm separated pending divorce and still living with my kids' dad but we decided I'll do Christmas this year and he'll have the kids next year. It's not an easy time but I had a great day with my kids and started some fab new traditions. I loved being on my own with them and it felt right. I'm hopeful about the future 😀

shellyleppard · 27/12/2024 06:28

The hospital restaurant did a very good turkey dinner on Christmas day.....saved me cooking when I left my dad in hospital. Also his friend drove me 150 miles home on boxing day. Still some good in the world 🌍 💖

nomoremsniceperson · 27/12/2024 06:40

We watched the movie Elf as well as The Hogfather and Home Alone. Normally we're quite strict with TV but over the Christmas period it's so nice to just watch a ton of cheesy films together as a family, eating leftovers or mince pies and drinking tea. I also love having a Christmas tree, it looks somehow so right in my living room.

MaltipooMama · 27/12/2024 07:43

I loved every single part of it! Christmas Eve we visited both sides of the family, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. In between that I was collecting Christmas food deliveries and cooking the meats whilst my partner kept our little one occupied.

Christmas Day we were all up early, did stockings and had a lovely breakfast. Partner and I did our presents when our son took his nap and I couldn't believe how thoughtful he was, he'd bought me a necklace engraved with ours and our son's names and all our birthstones, plus he'd picked out a pair of trainers that were perfect, he'd blown up and framed a picture of us with our boy and dog and bought me a football shirt for our team with my name on the back as well as a few other things I really needed.

Timings were great, lunch was amazing and we watched the grinch with LO. When he went to bed at 7 we had a buffet and watched the (old) Office special and (new) Gavin and Stacey. Had a lovely few drinks in the evening (non alcoholic for me as I'm pregnant) and went to bed around midnight!

Boxing Day was football all day, we placed a few accumulator bets and played along, plus a Boxing Day brunch of mixed meat mini rolls and then a repeat of Christmas lunch with all the left overs and lots of dessert!

It was amazing, this time next year we will have a two year old and nearly six month old and I already can't bloody wait!!

MargaritaPracticallyCan · 27/12/2024 07:57

I lost my beloved mum 6 months ago, suddenly, expectedly. We're all struggling through as best we can. I was holding my breath for most of the run up, struggling with trying to feel joyful whilst feeling so sad, not sure how Christmas would be, trying to support my lovely 80 yo dad who's doing as well as he can but is deep in grief.
But when it came around, we had a really lovely Christmas Day! The anticipation was much worse than the day itself. We had great food, thoughtful gifts, being together with our DCs home from uni, friends checking in. It was just what we needed.
Feeling grateful for the many happy Christmases we had with mum. I feel a sense of peace at the moment that I haven't felt in months 🩷

CrowleyKitten · 27/12/2024 16:40

nomoremsniceperson · 27/12/2024 06:40

We watched the movie Elf as well as The Hogfather and Home Alone. Normally we're quite strict with TV but over the Christmas period it's so nice to just watch a ton of cheesy films together as a family, eating leftovers or mince pies and drinking tea. I also love having a Christmas tree, it looks somehow so right in my living room.

I LOVE Hogfather. we always watch that one on the Solstice. big Pratchett fan, and Hogfather is such a perfect christmas story

OP posts:
CrowleyKitten · 27/12/2024 16:43

MaltipooMama · 27/12/2024 07:43

I loved every single part of it! Christmas Eve we visited both sides of the family, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. In between that I was collecting Christmas food deliveries and cooking the meats whilst my partner kept our little one occupied.

Christmas Day we were all up early, did stockings and had a lovely breakfast. Partner and I did our presents when our son took his nap and I couldn't believe how thoughtful he was, he'd bought me a necklace engraved with ours and our son's names and all our birthstones, plus he'd picked out a pair of trainers that were perfect, he'd blown up and framed a picture of us with our boy and dog and bought me a football shirt for our team with my name on the back as well as a few other things I really needed.

Timings were great, lunch was amazing and we watched the grinch with LO. When he went to bed at 7 we had a buffet and watched the (old) Office special and (new) Gavin and Stacey. Had a lovely few drinks in the evening (non alcoholic for me as I'm pregnant) and went to bed around midnight!

Boxing Day was football all day, we placed a few accumulator bets and played along, plus a Boxing Day brunch of mixed meat mini rolls and then a repeat of Christmas lunch with all the left overs and lots of dessert!

It was amazing, this time next year we will have a two year old and nearly six month old and I already can't bloody wait!!

The Office Christmas special always really gets me in the feels when Dawn comes back. can't hear that song without thinking about it.

we also LOVE The Royle Family: The New Sofa, and Peep Show: Seasons Beatings in the run up to Christmas

OP posts:
CrowleyKitten · 27/12/2024 16:44

MargaritaPracticallyCan · 27/12/2024 07:57

I lost my beloved mum 6 months ago, suddenly, expectedly. We're all struggling through as best we can. I was holding my breath for most of the run up, struggling with trying to feel joyful whilst feeling so sad, not sure how Christmas would be, trying to support my lovely 80 yo dad who's doing as well as he can but is deep in grief.
But when it came around, we had a really lovely Christmas Day! The anticipation was much worse than the day itself. We had great food, thoughtful gifts, being together with our DCs home from uni, friends checking in. It was just what we needed.
Feeling grateful for the many happy Christmases we had with mum. I feel a sense of peace at the moment that I haven't felt in months 🩷

Must really make you appreciate having those that are still with you to be together so much more xxx I'm glad it was happier than you expected

OP posts:
AtmosAtmos · 27/12/2024 17:16

that’s lovely @MargaritaPracticallyCan
thanks for the thread OP

Had a good day and enjoy the lights, very nice church services. My Christmas starts 25 December.

its absolutely fine if decorations bring down by Boxing Day is family tradition or preference but with a few posters it feels like I’m failing if I’m still enjoying the season. (Of course these posters may have had their tree from November or early December and their Christmas is the lovely things such as visiting Santa in the run up, then the day and it’s done.)

woodenbatandball · 27/12/2024 17:17

Christmas was amazing! With so much shit going on in the world, I really appreciated being with my family! Getting to eat good food, drink nice drink and despite us all having colds we all had a great time! Enjoying a nice bath now and some down time whilst my little one is at their dad's

woodenbatandball · 27/12/2024 17:19

@MargaritaPracticallyCan sorry to hear about the loss of your mum! I am sending you a big virtual hug! I am glad you had a lovely time and as my parents get older I truly try my best to appreciate them (always still some family squabbles) I'm sure your dad loved being with you all xxx

shockeditellyou · 27/12/2024 18:54

I’m in the middle of a fab Christmas too, can’t believe how fortunate I am. My poor MiL was poorly but apart from that it’s been brilliant - lots of amazing food and drink and still loads of hanging out with friends to come.

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