Christmas plans for 2023

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Lori K

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Nov 13, 2018
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Illinois
I haven't given much thought to our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day plans yet. Just getting family pinned down on Thanksgiving was tough enough. Typically, I spend Christmas Even with dear friends and their family and other of their family friends. He's a home-taught chef and absolutely loves cooking for a crowd. Christmas Day, my DD and DSIL usually come by me in the afternoon for our gift exchange and dinner. But, last Christmas, they wanted to host, so my DM (who came in for the holiday) came and we had dinner there. Not sure of just who is going where this year. Time will tell ....
 

sweetpumkinpye

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Apr 23, 2008
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Having christmas dinner next to a beautiful lake sounds amazing.....I love the left overs on boxing day thats what we do.
We have not tried this before, it was DBs request. It is Summer here so I am hoping for a gorgeous day outside.
 

missjane

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Oct 13, 2007
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We've made no plans, yet. DDIL's brother married last year and he works off. His wife has children from her first marriage. One is married, so there are all sorts of family situations we'll have to plan around for her family. DSonIL's family lives about 4 hours away and has extended family who come for Christmas. Although getting to celebrate on the 24th or 25th is nice, I let them all set their plans in place and then decide on a date. Sometimes, I get them on Christmas Eve or Christmas day - sometimes not! It's about the time together, anyway. DGS#1 "sort of" has a girlfriend. (Kids are so different nowadays about the dating stuff! lol) I'm sure we'll have to give some consideration about that, too. lol!

Whenever it is, we do gumbo with finger foods. Last year, we got together at DD30's house. It was their first year in their new house, so that was fun.

You all have lovely celebrations in place!
 

sweetpumkinpye

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I let them all set their plans in place and then decide on a date.
We do the same here.
We will have an extended family bbq on November 12th, early enough that nobody has any other plans.

Then I wait until the kids decide what they are doing. Don't know if we will see DS as he is living interstate. DD and DSIL will let us know what they have available. I have some ideas on what to feed people if we decide to get together here. Last year we went to the kids house for drinks and nibbles.
 

jampss

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Oct 24, 2007
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Funny how plans change around ... my dad and step ma were heading to SC for four days and would stop in here going and coming Christmas week. Now, my brother took a new job and will be moving over Christmas break so they changed up and will be helping him move. So, we will have to see the grandparents around NYE week.
 

Whusky

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Jun 7, 2022
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So far:
DH and I going to the lights switch on in November. Kids refuse to go to it, so now it's our date

Last year we did "Reindeer games" every weekend. We'd play one silly game e.g. hook the candy cane, Pringle Tube Roll etc to win prizes. On the other weekend day we'll watch a Xmas film and have a special dinner.

We'll be taking the dogs to the private dog field on the 23rd. For the last five years, we've always done it on Xmas eve... Then spent the rest of the day cleaning the car and washing the dogs. Changing it this year! I also cook Quesaritos on the 23rd which is a tradition lol.

On Christmas Eve we'll be picking up Xmas dinner which is (don't judge me!) TACO BELL! Usually I do a treasure hunt for the Xmas eve box, but not sure whether to do it this year or not.

Christmas day will be us four humans&2dogs, eating too much food and staying in PJ's all day. Or at least I will be!


That's all I've got so far. I feel like changing things up a bit this year. I posted a thread a few months back asking for traditions/ideas, so I'll have to find it and incorporate some where possible. I also like the idea of doing something for myself this year too. Perhaps a late night study session at the city library when it's late night shopping. I can study then have a browse around the shops and see the twinkly lights etc. I'm such a boring person :oops:
 

frostythesnowman

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May 4, 2013
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So far:
DH and I going to the lights switch on in November. Kids refuse to go to it, so now it's our date

Last year we did "Reindeer games" every weekend. We'd play one silly game e.g. hook the candy cane, Pringle Tube Roll etc to win prizes. On the other weekend day we'll watch a Xmas film and have a special dinner.

We'll be taking the dogs to the private dog field on the 23rd. For the last five years, we've always done it on Xmas eve... Then spent the rest of the day cleaning the car and washing the dogs. Changing it this year! I also cook Quesaritos on the 23rd which is a tradition lol.

On Christmas Eve we'll be picking up Xmas dinner which is (don't judge me!) TACO BELL! Usually I do a treasure hunt for the Xmas eve box, but not sure whether to do it this year or not.

Christmas day will be us four humans&2dogs, eating too much food and staying in PJ's all day. Or at least I will be!


That's all I've got so far. I feel like changing things up a bit this year. I posted a thread a few months back asking for traditions/ideas, so I'll have to find it and incorporate some where possible. I also like the idea of doing something for myself this year too. Perhaps a late night study session at the city library when it's late night shopping. I can study then have a browse around the shops and see the twinkly lights etc. I'm such a boring person :oops:
WOW TACO BELL @Whusky ...Only teasing lol....Treasure hunt sounds fun my friend :)
 

frostythesnowman

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Lol it's ok, we get takeout because we both refuse to spend all day in the kitchen on Xmas day. I downed tools a few years back and it was the best thing I ever did. What are your plans??
Well i love cooking lol...We spend christmas eve in the kitchen preparing dinner for family coming over on christmas day....Our numbers have dropped in the past few years as we used to cook for roughly 16 family members but now its down to roughly 10....We chill out in the afternoon and watch christmas movies with nibbles and a finger buffet for dinner with a few glasses of bubbly lol
 
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Miss JoDee

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Apr 22, 2011
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Our Christmas is happening on November 30th. We have 2 families out of state and 2 are doing Christmas in Mexico in December with the other side of the family.

We do a name draw to fill someone's stocking as our gift exchange. Most family members are on a limited budget and this works best for all. The 4 children get gifts from aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

We plan games and activities and since we have GF issues our menu is not traditional. We have done nachos bar and baked potato bar. This year will be a pizza bar with everyone bringing their pizza. We mostly enjoy each other's company as we are not all together often.

The month of December will be a daily advent countdown with Random Acts of Kindness to do. Christmas Eve, we will be going to Candlelight Service at church and we usually come home to watch a classic Christmas movie. We also plan to attend a Christmas production at our alma mater Moody Bible Institute.

That will be our Christmas.

I have a friend who's birthday is Christmas Day and mine is the 27th and we will make plans to celebrate our birthdays together.
 

Whusky

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Jun 7, 2022
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UK
Our Christmas is happening on November 30th. We have 2 families out of state and 2 are doing Christmas in Mexico in December with the other side of the family.

We do a name draw to fill someone's stocking as our gift exchange. Most family members are on a limited budget and this works best for all. The 4 children get gifts from aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

We plan games and activities and since we have GF issues our menu is not traditional. We have done nachos bar and baked potato bar. This year will be a pizza bar with everyone bringing their pizza. We mostly enjoy each other's company as we are not all together often.

The month of December will be a daily advent countdown with Random Acts of Kindness to do. Christmas Eve, we will be going to Candlelight Service at church and we usually come home to watch a classic Christmas movie. We also plan to attend a Christmas production at our alma mater Moody Bible Institute.

That will be our Christmas.

I have a friend who's birthday is Christmas Day and mine is the 27th and we will make plans to celebrate our birthdays together.
Pizza bar! I could get behind this 100%
 

frostythesnowman

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May 4, 2013
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We sent out 14 invites for Christmas dinner a few weeks ago and have had replies from everyone saying they are coming so it gives us time now to prepare for the big day....Looking forward to having family and friends again this year for christmas dinner.
 

Whusky

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Jun 7, 2022
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UK
We sent out 14 invites for Christmas dinner a few weeks ago and have had replies from everyone saying they are coming so it gives us time now to prepare for the big day....Looking forward to having family and friends again this year for christmas dinner.
14 invites?! So how many people will you be cooking for in total? Sometimes I do like the idea of a big gathering of friends and family for Xmas
 

jampss

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We will be going to SC place with the grandparents this year for the Christmas week. We have gone every other year since 2018. DS enjoys it as there are fun little activities on resort to participate in and he really tries to get out the room to get to things ... his OCD has gotten in the way and he makes about 50% of the activities, but well, as DD31 says ... "at least he doing some of it!" :) We take food to make in the room, grandma brings cookie making supplies, the outdoor hot tub in the cold weather is fun and exhilarating, and it's on the beach so we enjoy walking on it.