This year we had our christmas lunch at a restaurant. We hadn’t ever done this before and it was an idea we had, had earlier in the year when we visited a restaurant and noticed they had a menu for christmas day. I generally work christmas day, one of the joys of being in critical care and so our day is always effected by a shift. This year i was working late on in the day and so we decided to go ahead and book for our lunch out.
The morning went by quickly and we all got dressed up to go out which made a really nice change as well. Our goal was to have lunch and then get out and have a walk on the prom which is right next to the restaurant. We had a very breezy and windswept hour after our lunch strolling along the prom and then having a play on the park..which had a couple of families doing the same thing. It certainly set us up for a bracing run back to the car, the kids as high as kites and eager to get back to their new gifts. There was a sunset trying to make its way through the clouds but not quite managing it.
The kids ran and squealed with excitement. The pent up excitement from sitting in a restaurant combined with it being christmas day meant that there was lots of running and rolling around. Funny how you can put a lovely party dress and shirt and tie on kids and they treat it just the same as their normal clothes!! eeek! fortunately there was no grass stains in their brand new threads but my daughter who got the cream, sparkly dress did get a special ‘please don’t roll down the grass banks’ directed purely at her!
For me, after our walk, it was work and a not too bad shift, with no dramas, all be it feeling pretty tired after a very early start in the morning. Christmas day is not a great day to have a sick baby in intensive care and we do try and make it a little bit easier for the parents. But ultimately bad things do happen on christmas day and in all the years i have been doing my job that has only happened once for me. When a truly tragic event happens and you know that it will define how that family view the 25th December for the rest of their lives. But this year, it was all calm. Just how we all like it.
Christmas outfit sponsored by the NHS!
Back at home it was tidying, movies, cheese on toast and then some very tired out kids falling into bed. By the time i got home everyone had gone to bed except the OH who was watching a film. I had a cuppa and sat on the sofa and eventually gave up trying to stay awake!
This is the last country kids of the year. Thanks so much to Fiona who manages to get round all the links and comment and RT, never mind run a business and be a mama to all those kids. You ROCK.
Yep, the finer the dress the more likely it is that it will attract ice cream! (but it all comes out in the wash and a small price to pay for having fun)
What a wonderful idea to have Christmas lunch out and the fun of dressing up. One year I will do that with all my gang too. No washing up and time for a walk as the sun goes down. That would be my perfect Christmas Day, I might by pass on the nursing shift after though! Thanks for linking up and supporting Country Kids all year, little comments like yours here make it all so worthwhile. Happy New Year to you all.
Coombemill recently posted…Country Kids from Coombe Mill
What a fabulous way to round off a lovely meal (and one that involved no washing up!). I love the idea of the kids playing in the park in their party clothes as the sun was setting.
Sara (@mumturnedmom) recently posted…#CountryKids – a chilly stroll
We had our Christmas dinner at a restaurant too this year. Also 1st time ever! It was fab and we’ve re-booked already for next year! So glad your shift wasn’t too bad on Christmas day, must make it much easier leaving the family celebrating Christmas!
We’ve toyed with having Christmas lunch in a restaurant but have never done it yet.
Angela Spicer recently posted…Boxing Day Walk – Country Kids
we’ve never had lunch out at Xmas but sounds like a great idea. looked fun afterwards too – I can remember my then 3 year old staining brand new trousers at a wedding by rolling on grass!
I’ve never had Christmas dinner out but it sounds like an excellent idea and yes I agree Fiona rocks! #CountryKids
Alexandra Mercer recently posted…Winter outdoor fun
What a wonderful idea Sarah – sounds like you all had the best time too. Fabulous photos too as per! I’m glad work was kind, it must have been quite a tiring day. POD was born on Christmas Day so we had her third birthday too! Happy Christmas lovely xx
Charly Dove recently posted…Mucking around
Glad to hear that it was an uneventful christmas day shift for you. Must have been a treat having a great lunch and walk/play out too.
I have great memories of christmas lunches in restaurants during ski holidays – can’t wait to do the same some day with our kids.
That sounds like it was a really good idea to eat out. Your family always look so happy and having so much enjoyment. You do an amazing job and I am so glad it was an uneventful Christmas day shift.
Pinkoddy recently posted…Official Diagnosis – Accepting it is not Autism
Looks like a lovely Christmas despite having to work. Great idea having someone else cook 🙂