The big day is very nearly upon us. The 25th December is for families and friends, oh and of course getting comatose on pigs in blankets! Christmas is always a strange one for me, some years I can’t wait for Father Christmas to arrive and some years I could quite easily hop on a plane and head off somewhere exotic with no tinsel in sight. Well, this year I fall in to the former category. Both sides of our family have very strong family bonds & it’s so nice to dedicate a full day to indulging and with those we love.
I hear everyone saying that they have a present to open on Christmas Eve (pyjamas) so they can wear them on the Christmas morning. Well this year I’ve started this tradition (shhh Mr C doesn’t know) and we’re going to open them early on so we can lounge around all day watching films, namely Elf, and stuffing our faces with delicious treats. Whilst it’s not something we have done every year, I’m determined to make this an annual thing because let’s face it, it’s pretty cute.
The next morning, when the big man has been we eat bacon sandwiches and gulp hot, warm tea whilst trying to open our presents. I say “trying” because usually our dog, Skye likes to help rip open the presents for us. She just loves wrapping paper. It’s become quite the joke now, with different family members and I wrapping up dog toys & treats for her to open. After all, she is part of the family, why should she not get in on the festive spirit?
Bacon sandwiches, round 2, when we finally head to my Nana & Grandads house to meet my Mum, Dad & Sister. You can never have too much food on Christmas Day, am I right? We exchange presents and generally just have a real giggle with one another. I can’t wait to give my gifts over to them this year, it makes me so happy to see my family happy. They really do deserve the world. I just wish I could give it them.
After Skye has unwrapped a few more presents for us we head over to James’ Grandma’s house for some clay pigeon shooting on the farm. I am determined this year to have a go! We cheer and we whoop every time someone manages to get a target. I just know I’ll be terrible at it. We have so much fun getting together with all the cousins because we are all similar ages and it makes for lots of fun.
Once we have frozen ourselves outside we head indoors to crack open the prosecco and the boys start on the Stella Artois’ to start getting us even more in to the festive mood. Canapés are at the ready which include the family-famous sticky sausages and also smoked salmon on wholemeal bread with a drizzle of lemon and chutney. Nom nom. Whilst we sit sipping our drinks discussing what we got for Christmas that morning, sharing silly stories and generally catching up on life we slowly start to get a little merry from the free-flowing champers and lager. Especially, seeing as we received a cute little hamper from Stella Artois to celebrate Christmas Day too!
Eventually 4pm rolls round and we sit down for the main feast, most years the family rear our own turkey’s but we’ve decided to go for lamb as not as many are joining us this year and it was an easy, yet loved option. Covered in gravy, the special bacon and sweetcorn stuffing my mother in law makes and of course topped with pigs in blankets, it really is time to overdose on Christmas dinner! That’s before we start enjoying puddings, ranging from lemon cheesecake to chocolate roulade and more. I’m smacking my lips just thinking about it all.
We make our way over to the sofas for a little snooze, because after all that food how could you not need a nap? Once we head home, we get in to our jammies and watch all the crap Christmas TV, not really knowing what is going on as we are in a food coma.
I think we may be heading to the races on Boxing Day with some friends and family too, so we need to look sharp for the next morning!
How do you spend Christmas – I’d love to know some of your traditions in the comments below?
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*this post was in association with Stella Artois. No payment was made. All magical, Christmassy goodness was all my own. Please drink responsibly.
