What are your christmas plans this year?

[Tinker74]

Its a quiet one for us this year...Could even be just the 4 of us most of the day. Not that Iam complaining it will be quite nice..I might not even have to get out of my pj's all day...is that strange.. ??

We will be up early..open all the presents that santa has left to the christmas music playing...cooked breakfast followed by me starting on the turkey and all the trimmings in the kitchen.

Lunch around 2pm..maybe a walk..some TV and sweets and chocolate...play with the kids...just chilling really.

We may ...visit my parents about 6pm or they might come to us with my sis in the morning...not sure yet. Either way its going to be a quiet relaxing day full of food...presents and wine..

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

WDW!!!

 

[dogodisney]

WDW!!!

Us too!!!!! I think I'll join in on your dance.

 

[tchrrx]

I have no idea. We usually spend Christmas Eve at grandma and grandpa's house, Christmas night and morning at our house, and then Christmas Day at in-laws. This year, however, no plans are being made. My grandpa has pancreatic cancer. We were originally told 3-6 months. That was 6 months ago. Now, we've moved Thanksgiving to my mom's (right down the road from g-parents. It's normally at my house, but I'm 2 hours away). I have no idea how we'll do Christmas. We really can't plan ahead at this point.

 

[Magic Mom]

DH is depolyed and he won't take leave over Christmas because he wants to let some of his soldiers take leave. I'm sad, but I understand. DS is coming home from college around Dec 13th!!!DD and I are SO excited to see him. And my mom is coming for an extended visit too. We plan to take in some Christmas shows. DS says he calls dibs on cooking Christmas dinner. DH will try to log on with the video cam so he can be "with" us when we open presents. And we have a few parties to go to. Except for Dh being gone, it sounds perfect.

 

[englishteacha]

Dh and I spend Christmas day here, just the two of us and the cat. We will go spend an hour or so at his sister's to see the nephews, but otherwise it's just us. Christmas celebrations start early in my family, so we'll have seen all my relatives before Christmas day.

I'm looking forward to cinnamon rolls, presents, and probably turkey or roast chicken for dinner. Maybe ham. Dunno yet. I have time!

 

[lovesmurfs]

We're in WDW until the 24th (plane arrives home at 7:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve). Christmas will be spent recovering from the trip!

Christmas is going to be smaller this year -- because of the trip, and because the kids both want to go to summer camp for 4 weeks each this year -- they're aware that it's going to be simpler.

 

[Planogirl]

I think that we'll likely just be home this year. Economics and other concerns will make our Christmas smaller than normal I think.

That's OK though because I'm mulling over adopting a few cats in lieu of gifts this year. I think that would be nice.

 

[EthansMom]

We make a point of being home on Christmas Day. Ideally, that means staying in jammies all day long and relaxing. But, MIL does sometimes invite herself over in the afternoon.

After too much family drama the last several years, we are trying to have less interaction with some extended family members over the holidays. We usually get along well enough for non-holiday events but there are one or two family members who get way too stressed out over the holidays and take it out on everyone else, sucking joy out of our lives. So, hopefully, we'll be spending less time with the joy-suckers, this year.

 

[LindaR]

Its just DD20 and me! I am a single mom. She will be home on college break. What we usually do (for several years) starts on Christmas Eve. We go out after dark and drive around looking at people's houses/decorations and the luminarias. Then we come home and she gets to open one present and I get to open one. On Christmas morning we get up, open presents, eat breakfast and then settle in for a marathon! One year we watched (I don't remember how many seasons) of ER, or NCIS, or tons of old movies. We graze all day and stay in our sweats!

Her father does not "bother" with her so she does not "have" to go anywhere. We do this for 2-3 days! We LOVE it!!!!! It is so relaxing. We laugh and talk and watch tv.

Just the two of us.....very special and much loved routine!!!

 

[MIGrandma]

Your Christmas plans, Tinker, sound lovely! I would have loved that kind of Christmas when our kids were little, instead of hurrying to get Santa presents opened so we can get ready and start making the family rounds all day. Don't get me wrong, I love getting together with family for the holidays but it can sometimes really just be so hectic and chaotic.

Now that the kids are grown and on their own, they come here to our house for Christmas Day. They know that I would be understanding if they chose to stay at home and have their own family Christmas and then just come over in the evening, or the next day, whatever...but they choose to come here on Christmas. I feel very lucky that they want to come here.

Since my Dad is no longer with us, my Mom spends the night here with us on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning I do last minute stuff in the kitchen (I do most of it the day before, or earlier if I can) and the kids/grandkids usually arrive around noon. We eat at 1:00, clean up, and open gifts. We open them one at a time, so everyone can see what everyone gets, and it's more relaxed that way instead of everyone opening at once. We also do a "white elephant" grab bag type gift exchange so we do that, everyone loves it and it is so much fun to see what you get, and then people trade with each other too. Everyone leaves by 5:00 or so. There are only 11 of us, so it's not a huge gathering or anything like that. Just nice and comfortable. Love it.

After everyone leaves DH and I put the furniture back the way it goes (we always move it so we have more of an open space for the kids to open gifts), I pick up any leftover trash and get things back in order. Then we make up plates of leftovers, and sit down to watch "Christmas Vacation".

 

[ilovepcot]

For many years now it's always been EPCOT for Christmas, but this year we're headed to our place in NC for a week. Sure wish it would snow!

 

[kilee]

We have Christmas dinner at my sisters w/ her family and my parents the Saturday before Christmas. This is usually a day long gathering. We also exchange gifts w/ them there. The kids play w/ their new toys and the adults usually play a new board game someone brings.

For Christmas Eve, I have to work until 1pm-- so usually it's naps in the afternoon. We then head to my aunt/uncles where my "immediate" family on my dad's side has a holiday party. We've been doing this for as long as I can remember. We have 62 people in our immediate family and all of them show up.

For Christmas morning, we get up open presents and then dh always makes us a big breakfast. My son usually heads off to his dads family gathering around noon-1pm and my husband and I usually go to his family gathering. That used to be held at his grandfathers house, but he passed away earlier this year.

We may skip his family gathering this year as I'm told my MIL will be "having Christmas" this year. So this could be an interesting year. She doesn't clean.....at all. She'll tell you dinners at 2pm, you'll get there at 2pm and she'll still be in bed and not even be thinking of getting up yet. If there is snow on the ground....forget it....they don't shovel or plow. Did I mention she doesn't clean ....and she has 6 adult dogs and a current liter of 8 puppies that will still be there and about 7 weeks old. I'm not 100% sure we're going........oh and my step-BIL will be living there then newly released from prison for a horrible crime he admitted to but then claims he lied when he admitted to it.......add it altogether and I'm thinking a nice quiet day w/ dh and I watching movies and making dinner together sounds better.

 

[Glynis]

We start the morning of the 24th. DH and I take the kids to brunch, since we do a meal on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day, DH takes us out for brunch so I don't have to cook "all day." We usually end up at IHOP, since the kids love the pancakes. After that, DH takes the kids sledding up in the mountains, while I finish up any wrapping that needs to be done.

When the kids come home, we make cookies for Santa, and then deliver goodies to our neighbors. While the kids are making plates of goodies, I start "dinner." I make lots of different appetizer foods since my kids never get to go to the "adult" parties where appetizers are served. They love it, and eat everything off toothpicks. After dinner, we clean up, then the kids each open up a present: Christmas jammies and an ornament.

They put on the jammies, we take a picture in front of the tree, and then we all settle in to watch a movie. The last couple of years it has been "The Nativity Story." Then the kids all go to sleep in oldest DD's room.

The next morning, I get up early to put breakfast into the oven, start the fire, light the tree and get the music playing. I pop toast and pour orange juice and take it to the kids. They have to eat that much before digging into the Christmas candy. Then we tear into the stockings (with DH filming). Once stockings are empty, we take a break for breakfast. After breakfast, we sit in front of the tree and open presents. It's done slowly and leisurely, with a lot of laughing and fun!

We usually eat dinner around 5:00, so I've got plenty of time to cook after presents are done, and the kids are occupied with their toys, etc. We all stay in our jammies all day, and just enjoy being together.

Things this year may be different, since my dad is spending Christmas with my sister who lives close to us. We'll probably end up at their house for Christmas eve, and part of the day Christmas day. Still won't get out of my jammies, though. Neither will anyone else! We love our Christmas jammies!

 

[momof1princess]

let's see...our plans aren't set yet, but this is how it usually goes: my MIL usually makes Christmas Eve supper, so we eat with them-her brother normally joins us. my mom spends Christmas Eve with us, we get up early the next morning whenever DD wakes up, turn on "A Christmas Story" and open gifts (the in-laws usually walk over for this, if they're up). then we get ready and go to my aunt's for dinner. my grandmother is usually there. we only get gifts for the kids, so after dinner, the kids open gifts. then we play a rousing game of dominoes until about 3pm or so and head home so DD can play with her new "stuff". we have leftovers from dinner for supper.
not sure how it will go this year, b/c my brother, SIL and youngest nephew will be here, which is a big change for us-they usually come for Thanksgiving and skip Christmas, but decided to reverse it this year. i'll be thrilled to see them though.

 

[Jsme]

We use to spend Christmas Eve at DH's grandparents but they are in their later 80's and are no longer in good health. I truly miss going although I never felt 100% comfortable. Long story but DH is thought to be the black sheep of the family. I adore his grandparents.

We bought DS a laptop and DD is getting a netbook. We are going to give them their gifts early this year due to DS's being part of his birthday present. So, only a stocking this year for them. My poor tree is going to look pitiful. I might have to wrap empty boxes!!

For several years we have hosted Christmas lunch in our house. We started this because we did not have enough hours in the day to visit our parents. Both DH's and mine parents are divorced, so that leaves us with 4 sets to visit. Way too much on Christmas morning especially when mine live an hour away. It is fun having lunch at my house. Only thing everyone comes early and leaves late. I really would love to have the morning and the late afternoon on with just DH, DD and DS. However, I know one day I will not have my parents to spend Christmas with.

 

[GeorgeG]

I usually like to spend the day at Epcot, but this year we're going to be in New York spending most of the time with my wife's family and the day after Christmas with my kids and grandchildren. I guess people don't get it that people who live in Florida only go to New York in the summertime and the rest of the year people who live in New York go to Florida. I think I'm going to need some warm boots...

 

[luvmy2sams]

We'll be among the crazies at the Magic Kingdom.

 

[jsmith]

the Husband unit is deployed and im in an appartment between houses-so i will head out to Denver-meet the boys there-oldest is flying in from Michigan-and we will head to Wyoming-spend the 23rd with my bother and his crew and then drive to where my mom and the in laws live-christmas even we all hang at the inlaws-then to three times to church-an early Mass cause the boys and i are Catholic-then to the inlaws where Grandpa sings in the cantata-then end at midnight in the church i grew up in where my mom sings. Home to my moms for late night eggnog. Sleep in on christmas morning ( kids outgrew santa long ago) up for gifts-dinner at my moms for everyone-then back to my inlaws for gifts with them and desert. Up on the 26th and back to colorado since #2 son and i both have to work on the 28th.
Ugh im exhausted just typing it.

 

[aristocatz]

DF & I are hosting for our second year in a row & I'm so excited! I love hosting Christmas at our house We get a huge tree, DF's family comes over, some on Christmas Eve and stays over, DF's niece will be 2 years old so she'll actually understand the fun a bit more this year, we watch a marathon of 80's & 90's Christmas cartoon specials, as well as the Christmas Classic movies (Grinch, Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street), have a feast, and the next day I make Pooh's Breakfast Lasagne