One thing I'm keeping the same is putting my tree up early - always used to be mid-December but we had it up the last weekend of November this time. And contrary to what everyone says/ I assumed would be the case - I was not sick of it, I really enjoyed it and felt like it was there long enough to make the effort worth it. I was also ready to see it go yesterday when we packed away, but not in a 'urgh I'm sick of everything' kind of way.
I won't buy so much for DD. I say it every year but I am NOT going to start early for her this year. I always do, then I stash stuff away and forget I've got it and so get tempted every time I see something I think she'll like. She had too much this year really, not in terms of spend because I did some second hand and others were just really good deals, but it's probably not great setting the expectation as she gets older and I think was a little overwhelming. (EDIT - it wasn't some obscene pile of presents, but it was too many extra little bits. The main gift was a massive barbie dreamhouse, and because we essentially got that free/ second hand, I think I overcompensated with the extras. She was so happy and excited about the dreamhouse, nothing was really going to live up to that and if anything were just a distraction, so I'll remember that next year).
I did all my food prep Christmas Eve morning, really helped on the day but also meant I didn't get to enjoy the time with DD, by the time I'd done it all, showered and changed it was time for Christingle, home for dinner and then pretty much bedtime for DD. I'm actually going to look into prepping and freezing some stuff in advance which I always think sounds a great idea and then I just don't do it - mostly because I never have freezer space, so to address that this year!
I'd really like to go away for a few days over New Year, but this will very much depend on whether we have my relative from overseas staying or not. She's 90, fit as a fiddle now but don't want to take that for granted, so as long as she's well and able, and wants to come, I will keep hosting her. But if she chooses not to as I know the travel is getting tiring for her, then I will look into going away. (I did actually have half a mind for us to go to the town where she lives and have Christmas in a hotel near her for the next one, but that means leaving in laws on their own and taking DD away from her cousins and our usual traditions and things at home which she loves so much, so probably wouldn't happen. Like the idea though!)
This year instead of the usual baked ham, plus buffet/ picky bits on Christmas Eve I just did a lovely stew which I could stick in in the morning and was just ready waiting for us when we wanted to eat. So much less work, and I'll probably stick with that, but I did miss the ham! I'm contemplating doing the ham, along with a joint of beef, on Christmas Day as per DH's preference - I like the turkey but happy for a change.