‘Tis the season for cozy vibes, endless laughter, and making memories that will last a lifetime! Now that the kids are older and fully in that *Christmas Magic* phase, I’ve started to establish some family traditions that we will carry on for years to come!

Buckle up for a sleigh ride through our festive traditions that keep the magic alive from the days leading up to Christmas and beyond.

December Activities: Christmas Hype

To get into the Christmas spirit, I try to surprise the kids with special activities in December! Here are a few on my list.

Ventures Beyond Home

• Christmas Tree Adventures: Visits to Jordan Lake Christmas Tree Farm and Philipps Farm add a touch of outdoor magic.
• Lights and Snacks: Pack up the car and drive around looking at Christmas lights, with lots of snacks and goodies in tow!

Outdoor Adventures

• Ice Skating, Skiing, and Tubing: Embracing the winter spirit with outdoor activities that add a dash of adventure.
• Community Spirit: Participating in the Holiday Express train at Pullen Park and exploring the Fieldstream Farm.

Seasonal Surprises

• Lindt Advent Calendars: A daily treat from Lindt, a Costco find, adds a daily dose of sweetness.
• Kindness Chain: As a family, we craft a kindness chain, a symbol of the season’s true spirit.

Capturing Moments

• Christmas Cards: A yearly tradition of sending out Christmas cards that highlight the kids’ ages.

December 23: Preparing for the Magic

The festivities kick off on December 23 with an afternoon church service, setting a reflective tone for the days to come. As the day winds down, I start prepping our big Christmas Eve turkey dinner with a couple little helpers!

Christmas Eve: A Night of Anticipation

Early Turkey Dinner

• We do our big turkey dinner early on Christmas Eve (3 PM), so we can have a fuuuull night of Christmas Eve fun and then relax on Christmas!

Evening Activities

• Opening a Special Gift: Leni and Boone each get to open one Christmas gift.
• Movie Time: The entire family cozies up on the couch for a Christmas movie.
• Prepping for Santa: Before bedtime, it’s time to set out cookies and milk for Santa followed by us snuggling in bed reading ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.
• Elf on the Shelf: Shiner, our mischievous elf, bids farewell with a note before heading back to the North Pole.

Christmas Day: Unwrapping Joy

Morning Festivities

• Stockings: If the kids get up before us (which let’s be real, they always do) they are allowed to dive into their stockings first thing.
• Waiting for Coffee: While the stockings are fair game, we wait to open the main gifts until everyone is up and has their coffee in hand.
• Unwrapping Santa’s Gifts: Santa leaves one main gift on the hearth, along with stockings, while the rest of the gifts under the tree are from family and friends.
• Opening Gifts: We all open gifts one at a time – the tradition is for everyone to watch, savoring each moment of surprise and gratitude.
• Festive Breakfast: A cinnamon bun casserole and a hearty breakfast set the stage for a day of relaxation.

I hope y’all found some Christmas magic in this post and I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

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