Here we go again...Countdown to Christmas 2026 (Thread 1)

[NoWordForFluffy]

365

Evening!

I'm a bit tipsy and very tired, but it's been a good day.

Round 2 tomorrow with the roast dinner!

I love the calm Christmas podcast and how it talks about how to keep Christmas. I’m going to re listen to it soon. I hope my kids will remember Christmas. Ds12 cried when he unwrapped his Christmas present this year, he was so overwhelmed and delighted. That made the price worth it. We’ve also had lots of lovely walks and family games. I used to love it when they were little and would fall asleep in the car on the way back from Christmas trips out. So magical to be carrying in snuggly little ones.

. So magical to be carrying in snuggly little ones

But there is something to be said for not being woken up at 5am by them excitedly unwrapping their stocking gifts , thinking they're being quiet ......

We put a camp bed for DD in DS room on Christmas Eve , she loved the cosiness of being in her big brothers room.
We put a fibre optic tree on a timer "when the tree is lit it means Father Christmas has visited" . DS peered into the hall then whispered "He's Been! He's Been! " then they opened the stocking gifts , compared what they had and ate chocolate .
It was a long day !

Mine have never got up at 5am, as I’m a dragon and they know it has to be after 7am. Stockings are hung downstairs for this very reason 🤣🤣

@70isaLimitNotaTarget Oh I bet your DS is just at that age now as a young adult where he’s nonchalant about it all - but guaranteed he remembers the Christmas magic (That you made!) And will impart it on his own children, should he decide to start a family.

Oh i’ve been to Leeds Christmas market many years ago - It was lovely!

My eldest DD (16) And I, started a tradition when she was 14, we go to London in November. We stay in Covent Garden and she chooses some Christmas presents, and we have a very festive time… Well, I do, she throws a few eye rolls around, moans about carrying bags, moans that i’ve made a pit stop at the pub etc… But hopefully in years to come she’ll appreciate the effort 🤣

We saw the Snowman at the Peacock Theatre in 2025, and even though she was 15, her face said it all. She looked filled with wonder. It’s on my list to take DS one year - he’s primary school age.

345

Morning

Going to check out all those Christmas suggestions as I'm definitely booking something for post boxing day as it was nice to have something to do in 'Twixtmas'.

Mine were always told they could only get up if their sunshine clock started with a 6. That was after one year they were up at 5 something. I was sad when they had to be woken up BUT the last 2 years I've been sneaking downstairs, checking the lights, sacks, stocking etc, making a coffee and hopping back into bed and reading the early Christmas morning Mumsnet threads for an hour before I wake the kids which has become a really lovely peaceful start to the day. My own little new tradition.

I am very lucky in that DS never got up before 6 on Christmas Day. However I was one of those kids who was up at 5 or earlier!! My poor DM and DF!

DS was always so excited on Christmas Eve that he slept in on Christmas day. On the other hand I am still awake at 5 and fizzing until he wakes up

Our two have never been early wakers at Christmas either, thank god! Their cousins, however, were bloody awful as littlies. I'm
not sure if they've grown out of it yet (they're in NZ). I assume so!

We're still figuring out what works with LO as we've only done 2 Christmases as parents but last year he started to understand magic and Father Christmas so I'm guessing this year is when it will all sink in properly (he'll be 4).

The first year we did stocking in our room but last year we changed to put it on the bottom of his bed (left on the landing for Santa to fill though). Made no difference, it was brought straight into us so it could be opened on our bed
No extra early waking here yet but I think that may be coming in the next year or so.

I remember my childhood Christmases as busy, fun and 100% magic so just want to create that feeling I guess.
Plus I found myself doing battle against the endless 'stuff' that I know isn't needed but I felt like I should be doing (light trails, lots of different Santa visits, crafts, the elf, 1st December boxes, Christmas Eve boxes, concerts, panto etc).

I'm on the train on the way to the office (delays because it's icy 🙄). I am freezing and feel rubbish thanks to LO sharing germs with me. Counting down the hours until I can go home!

@Magnoliasunrise What a lovely little tradition that is!

Well, I don’t know what’s going on with my kids but I always have to wake them on Christmas morning and the youngest is only 2 😂 (Going on 22 to be fair) I’m always knackered- obviously December is manic, and then I go to Christmas Eve midnight mass, don’t get in until 12:45am and I just can’t sleep. I always sit downstairs looking at the gifts and how beautiful the tree looks and how magical it all feels.

My kids are 16, 6 and 2 - big gap, I know! So we’re at all different stages with everything.

I work for myself and the youngest just started nursery last week and she loves it. I can’t help but get excited when I think of all of the extra time i’ll have to prep this Christmas with her being in nursery and me setting my own work hours- i’ll get to shop and prep in peace!

This Christmas morning, I woke at 6:45am - had a fancy coffee, opened the ferrero rochers, put the Christmas music channels on, had a shower, did my hair and make up (As we eat out and leave the house at 12:30pm) And then woke the kids at 7:50am.

I loved that time to myself on Christmas morning.

@VillageFete I have never eaten out on Christmas Day. Do you do it every year?

@ChopstickNovice I was thinking the same!

@ChopstickNovice @FurForksSake It’s been a game changer for me… I’m the hosting house and it all just got too much once my youngest came along.

Because some family come to us for lunch, I felt as though I was stuck in the kitchen all morning, prepping/cooking, and not having much fun! Plus of course seeing my kids playing with their toys etc…

I still host a Christmas dinner, but I do it mid December and that works much better for me.

We go to our local pub on Christmas day. Super family friendly, the food’s great,as is the atmosphere, and it’s a 10 min stroll from our house. I’m home, on the couch with a glass of champagne by 3pm!

It’ll be a long time before I host Christmas day again!

That sounds excellent.

We saw the Snowman at the Peacock Theatre in 2025, and even though she was 15, her face said it all. She looked filled with wonder. It’s on my list to take DS one year - he’s primary school age

I took DS when he was just 5yo (he's 26yo now )
He loved it , I bought him a tiny mixer can of lemonade ( so that he didn't have to go to the loo halfway through it !) as a treat .
Then we went to Hamleys and Garfunkles .

He did shout That's a Man! That's a Man dressed up when the Snowman came on stage and even now when he sees anything The Snowman related he quotes this in a LittleBoy Voice

This really made me giggle 😂

Take him again this year for old time’s sake 😂

Laughed out loud.

344

Afternoon!

Loving The Snowman chat.

Afternoon! I think seeing the snowman live sounds great and have stashed it away as a potential Christmas thing for LO this year.

Not much happening here. I still feel under the weather and exhausted thanks to LO. Today’s focus is to make a big dent in the work to-do list, do some washing and maybe some ironing later. Plus an early night. Exciting stuff

Afternoon! My MIL is potentially terminally ill. All very sudden and we have no idea what this year or this Christmas will look like. I’m glad I made her the usual Christmas cake, she passed on that a friend had some and told her it was the best Christmas cake she’d ever eaten. So if (hopefully unlikely) she doesn’t see another Christmas, we did her well.

So this Christmas may well all be about making memories and celebrating family. I’m going to suggest everyone comes to us for Christmas Day. I’ve never done it before, but I think I want to do that. There will probably be 11 of us. I can do that easily.

@FurForksSake Oh i’m really sorry to hear that. So much uncertainty for you. Really hoping you get some positive news about your MIL’s condition asap.

I’m watching a documentary about a Christmas decorating company tonight. It’s on catch up on C4. I’m not ready to let go yet 🙈

Ooh I might try and find that, I’ve still not watched the ghost story for Christmas, the new Christmas train on c4, all creatures great and small and something else.

343
Palindrome

Friday Pain au Chocolat then back home via Aldi to do some SJs ( Shitty Jobs ) the natural evolution of the Christmas Clean-a-Long ( which starts around October )

I have done last week:
Bathroom
Cleaned dishwasher
Defrosted and cleaned the fridge
Lots of recycling including some electricals and clothes

On this weeks list :
Hall carpet shampoo

Aldi to stock up on dishwasher tablets and laundry (not a SJ but I only do every 2-3 months )

Morning…

I’ve been in work since 6:45am, home now. Lots of admin to do from home but I really need to clean my house whilst the kids are in nursery and school.

Just booked an Easter event. It’s set on a Lake and looks very Spring like and fun, like stepping into Alice and/in? Wonderland. I do love Easter.

Tonight’s plan involve a glass of wine and another Christmas catch up programme.