Adding Calm to Christmas Morning

Christmas is the most magical morning of the year, so I am preparing a little extra this year to make it festive and enjoyable. Here are a few of my favorite hacks:

1. The "Dad" caddy: Okay this one isn't just for Dads, but in my family Cody has always been the one to collect Christmas morning trash, come to the rescue when a toddler can't get a gift open, or to dig through our box of random batteries when a new toy requires one. We now prep for Christmas morning with a little caddy of a few trash bags, scissors, a box cutter, a screwdriver, and some AA and AAA batteries. It might sound silly or over the top, but when you have six excited toddlers opening gifts, it certainly saves a few trips into the kitchen.

2. Toy pre-assembly: I learned this hack from my sister Becka, who is known for giving toddlers their gifts pre-assembled. It's a super thoughtful touch that lets the adults enjoy Christmas morning, rather than dig through the toolkit. If you're giving a gift that comes disassembled (think a kid's scooter, play kitchen, etc), consider making the morning more magical by having it all set up.

3. The reason for the season: Christmas is such a special time for many of us, a chance to celebrate the birth of Jesus and to reconnect with the purpose at the heart of the season. So while Christmas morning has so much excitement around gifts, we’re reminding ourselves (and our kids) of the deeper meaning behind it all. Christmas means different things to different people, but at its heart, it’s a season of love and togetherness.

4. Traditions beyond gifts: As I reflect on childhood Christmases, the strongest memories are the excitement and anticipation of spending Christmas with my extended family, and all the traditions (and yummy foods) that go along with it. Now as adults one of our new traditions is to enjoy a Christmas morning brunch (still orchestrated by my mom), which features her now-famous cinnamon buns.