What are you planning to do on Christmas Eve? I'm just a little nosey

[starbear]

As we are such a small family it doesn't seem as buzzy as it was when I was a kid with brothers, sister gran and aunt etc..
It will be just the three of us tomorrow. Seems a bit flat. The only plan we have is to go to church at 4pm for the Children's Service. The house is clean, the shopping has been done. (Not keen on shopping anymore) Just wondered how to get a little sparkle in the day? What are you all up to?

We have the fantastic advantage of being a German/British family and the Germans celebrate on Xmas Eve. It makes it much more interesting.

We will have a quiet morning. I might pop over to France to see if I can get a reasonably priced turkey, the ones here in Switzerland were over £70.

In the afternoon our neighbours are coming over for coffee and to give the DC their presents. Late afternoon DH will go out for a walk with the DC and the dog while I prepare the Bescherung, the present opening. Just the German relatives presents to be opened about 6pm. Then a light meal (bread, ham and cheese with wine) while the DC play before bed. Then get the stockings etc ready for the 25th.

For my sins (as DH is working) I am going to the supermarket and maybe a quick sprint round town for a gift for DH with the 3 DCs in the morning (and pick up DS3s just in case ABs as I think he needs them). I have manically cleaned today, so there's only the dirty laundry to hide (no way I can get it done) and the bathroom and kitchen to tweak. Visit to cemetery with the boys decorated plant pots for the GGPs graves. Then present wrapping with the boys for GPs and DH. Something easy for tea. Visit GPs (cos that's what we do nearly every night, not just xmas) then try and get the boys to bed after the reindeer food I lovingly made for the PTFA.
followed by wrapping (that I should be doing now but can't be bothered as too tired from cleaning). If DH si home in time I will go to Holy Communion, if not i will watch on BBC 1 with a nice glass or two of something.#
Not very exciting.
Happy christmas everyone

Going to the zoo first thing to run the energy out of the boys and see the animals when they're fresh and cutest! Did the Santa/skating thing the other day and was considering going into the snowglobe when one of the poor kids from the family before mine puked in there. EW.

DH can sort out his stuff at home...

Painting the rest of the loft conversion that we have just had done that dp promised would be ready by Christmas

I got some funny looks from people as I staggered home laden with matt emulsion as opposed to Christmas presents.

(To be fair to dp he has had a Bad Day with pain today and was unable to help.)

DS and I will be covered in paint,yet again

Later on after the dcs in bed I have about a weeks worth of ironing to get done,as it has accumulated whilst DIY in progress.

Most of house got a good clean today while dd was at nursery so I didn't have to keep an eye on her every second.

Hopefully can relax a bit on Christmas Day,well apart from doing the Christmas Dinner

Nothing thrilling that's for sure!

Cleaning probably, house looks like someone turned it inside out.
Bath dd so her dad will think I keep her clean
Hide upstairs from said father under cover of wrapping presents.
Track santa on the internet.
Leave out the mince pies and carrott etc.
Drag bin liners full of presents out at midnight and throw arrange artistically under half dead tree.
Sleep.

Think that about covers it!

Morning I will be baking and doing final prep for christmas with dd, she loves that side of Christmas.

Church.
Take homemade pressies to neighbours.
Some friends and maybe a neighbour or two for mincepies and mulled wine.
Dd to bed and I normally go to midnight mass with family while dp babysits, no family here and I will really miss doing that.

bake and wrap presents

Going to take flowers to Nan's grave tomorrow morning, as Christmas Eve was always spent with her. I am then going to my parents for dinner, will possibly take the boys to a christingle service later, and then my DP is coming to stay the night. It will be the first time he has stayed with the children here...not sure he knows what he is letting himself in for as they will be mega hyper!!

I'm working 7-4, then home, shower, christingle with dd's, dinner, bath, feed reindeer, leave mince pie, dd's bed, mummy to sort pressies, then flake out. dh will be home at somepoint after dd's in bed.

Housework in the morning.
Pick up turkey from butchers.
Clean out the stinky guinea pigs! [fsmile}
If nice day might go for walk on beach
Christingle Service late pm
Will try and be organised and prepare vegetables for Christmas day
Chill out in evening with large alcoholic drink and watch tv
(This is going to be the first year in 9 years that we won't be wrapping at midnight on Christmas Eve since we've had chilren, seem to be much more organised this time round)

ah of course geisha, how could I forget, food and drink out for Santa and the reindeer!!

It's just me & DS tomorrow. We will eat a nice breakfast, make a snowman army (out of toilet paper tubes), make 'reindeer food', bake cookies for FC, go downtown for a little concert.

not much planned. might bake a v v lastminute replacement xmas cake as i messed up the first one and have enough ingredients to do a little one in a loaf tin. have promised to bring pudding things as going to in laws on xmas day. oh - need to buy or make yule log too. so, some last minute stuff. oh and buy mince pies for FC. have carrot for rudolph.

fresh air for the dcs, park, bike ride maybe.

won't be seeing any family or doing the church thing but will feel like a special day anyway and will go quickly. i will have to hastily wrap presents for the stockings tomorrow night after they are in bed - bit disorganised this year! stress!

forgot to say, it will seem like a special day as it's v rare that it's just me and the dcs all day these days since i've gone back to work, so hoping to make the most of that feeling and cuddle up on the sofa watching xmassy telly / dvd too - but this must seem like old news if you are a SAHM and at home with the dcs every day.

love melpomene's crafty suggestions and will prob nick (no pun intended) some of them!

Laundry and cooking in the morning, in between playing with the kittens. Ceremonial bathing of children before Kristingle service in the evening then round to a neighbour's for mulled wine and mince pies. Home to do Santa prep, read The Night before Christmas and the last few Letters from Father Christmas then bed for children and creeping around with presents for us.

waffles for breakfast

last minute shopping with 3 dcs in tow, I love the atmosphere on Christmas Eve.

Xmas baking - mince pies and truffles with dcs help

Making more bloody lovely cards

Big roast beef dinner and too much to drink with recently single brother and other family

Home to track Santa and do mince pie/sherry on doorstep then we will read a few Xmassy books (Night before Xmas etc)

Try to get over-excited dcs to sleep without shouting. (Ds 8, still awake now at nearly midnight.)

wrap last few presents and stuff stockings.

We have my parents, DB, DSIL and the children round in the evening for food, a sit by my real fire and, this year, a go on the Wii. I'm only doing jacket potatoes, sausages and chilli so nothing fancy because no one wants a lot but it always goes down well.

Then DH is off to ring the bells at the local CofE church at 10.30pm and when he gets back, he has DD and I'll go to midnight mass.

Trying to decide if it's worth leaving refreshments for FC this year as DD is only 11 months. I can't be arsed but DH thinks we should start as we mean to go on...

we went to choldrens church service today

tomorrow last minute shopping
drinks at neighbours party
then I unfortunately have to work xmas eve night .after I have tucked ds up in bed

Sorry just need to do a cheeky hijack. Message for Bunny3 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/671785-BUNNY3

Well, I'm working 8am-2pm, but then when I get home it will be cookie baking, last of the wrapping, Christmas films, (muppets and shrek the halls for all the family and love actually or bad santa for me and dh - love those films!), getting all the presents under the tree when dd is asleep. Stockings to be arranged at bottom of the bed. Cookies and milk out for santa and a carrot for the reindeer. A nice glass of red, then bed

I have to do loads of housework in the morning, then at 1ish (especially 'ish' - they are always late ) friends are coming over for pizza and cake and games nd gossip

Late DH and I will try not to get too pissed up while wrapping the last of the presents!

I'm looking forward to it all

This can be my to do list, as am panicking now! Thought I was in control

In no particular order:
Florist
Visit print shop to get kids home made calenders laminated (why oh why have i not done it yet)
Pick up mum
Cemetery
Presents to friends house
take away for tea
xmas stories
xmas film
xmas activity books (bought for dc, really for me)
clean out fish- DH's domain
clean remaining two rooms
bake gingerbread
poss prepare veg
wrap DH presents- have already done dc for once
iron clothes for church to avoid mad scramble in the morning
shower and wash hair- see previous
baths for kids and open new PJs
ring NORAD and speak to elf (idea courtesy of doodle)

need a festive eek emoticon! will do.

DSD is staying tonight and tomorrow so we're having an early Christmas party for her. In the morning she'll open her presents (few token ones for DD too so she's not left out.) Then DP has to brave the shops (Ha!) while I do some housework and bake biscuits. Then prepare a buffet, eat and play with toys. DP will take DSD back to her mum's in the evening, then we'll wrap DD's and our presents, finish the housework and chill the fark out!

been to visit my great aunt with my mum and dd2 - so four generations for morning tea.

Making some ginger nut tartlets, salami tarlets and meringue kisses

off to my aunts for christmas eve dinner - dds will run around the yard, eat lots of food, be spoilt rotten and finally go to sleep about 1am when we get home.

as it is christmas eve afternoon here already - oops forgot - brave the shops for prawns and bits to add to christmas night dinner.