Have just seen a lovely idea on another thread for Christmas eve hampers for the dc.

[comewhinewithme]

Link here I think it is a really good idea especially when things are getting a bit manic overexciting on Christmas eve.

Now I don't like Christmas...why am I here I wonder? But I do like Christmas Eve. We used to have a real fire, and it was lovely getting the dcs in their pjs and doing the old mince pie thing. We go out for a nice meal about 6pm to our fave restaurant now, and I do like the feeling of Xmas Eve, especially when the shops have shut.
But I struggle with the holiday itself.
It pains me to say, but I like the idea of new pjs on the eve.......

I always give my children a new book on Christmas Eve, with Christmas theme, to open at bedtime. It does build up the present opening and they appreciate the book far more than they would amongst toys on Christmas morning.

My Mum used to do this for us as children and I thought it would be nice to become a family tradition.

I like the hamper idea in theory but can see how it could escalate.

My parents still buy us all (me and my two sisters)new christmas pjs. I'm the youngest and I'm 28 and they have no intention of stopping this family tradition!

What a fab idea! My mum started the xmas pyjamas tradition in our house about 10 years ago; up until DS was born she still bought me pyjamas too!
Me, DP and DS now all have xmas pyjamas (looking for matching this year, is that a bit sad?
But this idea is great! DS might be a bit young but I suppose he could have a new bottle for his evening milk. When he's older I'll definitely do it - love the quiz idea Apples, I might try it in a few years.
It needn't be expensive Perdu - just a few bits from the pound shop, or transferred from the stockings so you don't need to buy more.

I am def going to add this into my christmas eve plan,which is

We are going to watch the Christmas torchlit parade in the next village to us(real reindeer pulling santa's sleigh,whilst everyone sings carols)then get the steam train to our village and have hot chocolate in the station hotel then more carols in the village garden.......walk home,find xmas eve hamper on doorstep.....make gingerbread house,bath,NEW pj's,watch 'The muppetts xmas carol',whilst drinking more hot chocolate and eating popcorn, xmas themed story then bed,aaah
Did I mention DD will only be 5 months old at christmas,well it will be a trial run for when she's old enough to get as excited as I am.

Ooooo, FINDING the hamper on doorstep. Excellent idea! I'm really into this, can you tell?!

great post at 21.51

Your Christmas Eve sounds sooooooooo perfect McDie79.

I too love Christmas Eve more than Christmas Day - its the anticipation I think.

I have bought my boys Pyjamas for Xmas and I love the idea of giving them to them on Christmas Eve - and the Christmas DVD and the hot chocolate. Love it all!!!

I am glad a lot of you like the idea Christmas is all about happy memories and making your own traditions for your family.

Sticks tongue out at grinches .

Ooo, I love this idea! My DTs will be 3.6 this Christmas, and so will spend Christmas Eve being sick with excitment. I love the idea of Christmas PJs and a Christmas DVD (will prob be The Polar Express, which we bought last year, then forgot we'd bought it, and discovered it in March when tidying up) Might even slip a drop (or two) of Baileys into my hot chocolate...

Could someome please tell me how to make sparkly reindeeer bate please.

I think it is great to make a present out of the things I was going to get anyway such as the new pyjamas and a christmas book. DH wants a christmas film to watch so that would work too.

I make reindeer dust too so could add that, no extra expense and a lovely idea.

Lovemyshoes

Birdfood
Hundreds and thousands
mix it up

put it in a jar or a sparkly organza bag.

Ta-dah .

Sprinkle outside on Christmas eve.

A tot of baileys in your hot choc, mmmm, DC need never know

or oats with a bit of flour and glitter

In my hot choc Paisley???
I'll stick to the Baileys thanks

don't use glitter in the reindeer food stuff. Not good for birds (and it stays there forever!)

hundreds and thousands sound like a better idea than glitter - which would still be there in the morning, surely, causing DC to wonder why the reindeer didn't like it?

Reindeer get a carrot to share between them round here and should count themselves lucky (I forgot to get carrots last year, though, so they got an apple (all I could find!)).

I put it in a bowl and tipped it away in the night
it was nice as it sparkled in the moonlight.
And in the morning DD found a sleighbell on the grass by where the food was (fancy that! )

I have always bought new pjs, christmas dvd and nice christmasy book for dcs on christmas eve, it helps create a nice calm christmasy atmosphere, i might jazz it up a bit this year by puttong it in a hamper and leaving it for us to find when we get back from christmas eve christingle.

I always do the pj thing and am givng them a lush bath bomb in their bath that night as well

The linked thread didnt have expensive things, or even things peoplewouldnt getanyway (I know I get Christmas PJ's so don'y buy them in autumn) so I cannot see the issue myself.

W go out with family Christmaseve (we dontsee them again until the 27th) so like making it special, and the boys really love it. Neither of uswork thatday (mow, first year without dh working through Christmas and NY) so heck, why not make that special too?

Oh edible glitter forrainbow food

I always usesome on the cake (with rough royal icing it givesa great snowy effecteasily) so just save a bit for oputdoor glittery things.

But then I love Christmas

McDie79 - how wonderful and magical does your xmas eve sound? Steam trains and hot chocolate, wow its sounds like a fairytale book - lucky you!!

I love the hamper idea, my DS is 3 but not really getting santa and christmas yet so may hold for a while, but very nice.