I've always loved Christmas.

As a kid it was always breakfast with my Auntie who hated everyone else, then lunch at my nan and pops (mum parents) with everyone (15ish adults, 10 kids) and then I went to dads to have dinner with him and his mum. Such a busy busy day but I loved every minute of it.

Now we have the kids, we use to spend it with DH's family but after xmas '08 we will never ever again (one of the most awful days of my life and they unforgivably hurt my children).

Last year mum came to our place and this year we're going to hers (unless I convince her to come here, which is what we're hoping for)

As for traditions, always spend the day before cooking treats for santa with the kids and we always dress up even if we're staying at home.

This year I bought one of my friends 2 children, my mum and her partner, DH, the kids and myself, thats it. Might send something to my eldest Auntie.

My best ever Christmas was '03, I wanted to go home and spend it with my family but we couldn't afford it. So mum and dad paid for DH, DS and I to go home as our present. Mum and her partner couldn't make it back but we spent the day with all of mums side of the family plus my dad and his mum. I've never seen my father happier, we were at my Aunties place in the country and it was a magical beautiful day. Our DS was the only little kid at the time, first grand/great grandchild for both families and he had a wonderful day. 3 months later I lost my dad, I'm truly forever thankful we got to spend Christmas at home with him.

I'm not religious at all but just because I don't believe in a god doesn't mean I can't be thankful for what I have and celebrate life and everything worth living for at Christmas, for me it's about our children and seeing them believe in something and have a truly magical day that helps them to believe anything is possible.