How To Plan a Memorable Family Christmas
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Family Christmas seems to have a magical way of creating a truly wonderful atmosphere. We feel happier, children are more excited and everything just seems to have a little more sparkle. Christmas is a fabulous time to spend with loved ones. Young and old, it’s a moment when everyone congregates to spend some quality time together.
It can take some time and planning to make sure everything goes as it should. Here are some things that will help to create a memorable family Christmas.
The tree
Christmas trees are iconic the world over. With their sparkly lights and beautiful ornaments, they make it feel like Christmas has arrived. Whether artificial or real, choosing a tree is something that the whole family can be involved with. Once you have the tree of choice, the fun can begin. It’s time to decorate!
Christmas tree ornaments come in all shapes and sizes. Something to consider, particularly if you have children, is buying a special ornament every year. Going shopping together and choosing something special will not only look beautiful but will create an everlasting memory.
Choosing a color scheme for your tree that matches your décor is becoming more and more popular these days. Whether you want rose gold and mint or teal and silver, you will find something that suits you.
Lighting
Decorating your garden, house, and tree with hundreds of sparkly lights creates a truly wonderful Christmassy feel. Try and plan how many lights you will need and make sure you have someone to help you if you intend maneuvering ladders and climbing on roofs!
Bundling the kids in the car and driving around your local neighborhood is a lovely tradition. Seeing all the beautifully decorated properties will have their little faces beaming with joy. Many local towns and cities take part in an organized Christmas light switch on. Find out what is happening in your local area and try and visit if you can. It’s a lovely thing to do as a family and a lovely way to support the community.
Gifts
Gifts don’t have to be big or expensive to mean the world to the recipient and sometimes giving a gift can bring just as much pleasure. Seeing the look on someone’s face when they open something you have perhaps made or spent lots of time considering can be just as enjoyable. The more thought put into a gift the more likely it is to be adored. Something like a photo book with lots of family photographs in it will be a sure-fire hit with Moms the world over. Maybe your sister has been eyeing up a handbag and you want to give her a surprise.
Kids love presents, so your nephew will no doubt be over the moon when you get him the latest must-have gadget. Don’t forget the family pets too! Perhaps your dog needs a new collar or your cat a new bell. Bear in mind when purchasing for pets that all countries have different safety regulations so buying from American companies minimizes any risk. Whatever the gift, they will no doubt be very much appreciated by everyone.
Food
Planning what you are going to eat is essential for Christmas. It’s a good idea to order your turkey in advance from the local butcher. If you are buying from a grocery store, you might want to buy ahead and store it in the freezer. Make a list of everything you will need and note down what you intend preparing in advance. Remember to ask the family to help when they can. Even the kids can play a part.
Christmas with kids
If you have kids, Christmas is even more fun. There are lots of things you can do to make it extra special. Visiting Santa before Christmas is a lovely way to spend a family day out. The kids will be so excited to meet him and tell him what they would like him to bring. You can also spend some time getting the kids to write Santa a letter and post it to him. Sometimes they will even receive a reply! The Portable North Pole is a fabulous app you can use in the lead up to Christmas. Enter the kids’ details and a photo and Santa will send them a personal video greeting!
It is a tradition with some families to give the kids a Christmas Eve box. On Christmas Eve they receive a box filled with goodies for them to enjoy until Santa arrives. Some put in pajamas, a DVD, hot chocolate, a coloring book, and some crayons. It can keep the children entertained for hours whilst giving you time to get on with preparations for the next day.
When it’s time for bed, get the kids to sprinkle some ‘reindeer dust’ outside. This will lead the reindeer to your home! Make sure not to use glitter or edible glitter as it is dangerous for wildlife. Once stockings have been hung up, you can read the children a Christmas story before tucking them in and wishing them goodnight. The big day is almost here!
Christmas Day
Santa has been and presents exchanged. The turkey has gone down a treat and it has been a truly wonderful day. After the daytime festivities are over, there are still lots of things you can do as a family to ensure the rest of your day is just as successful. Once everything is cleared away, it’s a great idea for everyone to sit down, relax and enjoy a Family Christmas film together. There are so many wonderful movies to choose from that the whole family will enjoy.
Don’t forget to take as many photos as you can throughout the Christmas period. You can look back on some very special moments in the years to come. Remembering happy times and special people. The most important thing about Christmas is creating wonderful memories with the ones you love.
