‘Twas the night before Christmas and… the house was in complete chaos.

Mom was scrambling to make cookies for Santa.  Dad was ripping the house apart looking for the video camera charger.  Kids were grouchy from staying up late and way too many sweets.  This used to be our Christmas Eve tradition, until I finally got a clue and started planning for the night before Christmas well in advance.

Today, we have a much more relaxed and enjoyable Christmas Eve as a result of these beloved traditions and minimal tasks which have been addressed before the big night.

Traditions:

• Family reading of Clement C. Moore’s, “The Night Before Christmas.”
• Attend the candlelight service at our church.
• Let the kids open one gift each.
• Put out cookies and milk for Santa. Cookies are made days in advance, since Santa is not picky.
• hrow reindeer food on the front lawn. This is made by mixing 1/2 cup of uncooked quick oats and 2 tbsp of a variety of Christmas-colored sprinkles in a small Ziploc baggie. It can be packaged weeks in advance.
• Drive through neighborhoods looking at Christmas lights.
• Play a board game on the floor of the family room.
• Watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” in black and white.
• Let the kids fall asleep in sleep bags under the Christmas tree.
• Carol with friends and family to neighbors.
• Take dinners to families in need.
• Take warm blankets to elderly friends.
• Make Wassail.

Tasks:

• Make Huevos Rancheros for Christmas morning’s breakfast.
• Prep food for Christmas Day’s lunch.
• Set out a variety of snack foods in bowls that are covered with plastic wrap. Put necessary serving pieces with each bowl.
• Set out the plates and serving pieces for refrigerated snack foods. Include sticky notes labeled with what snack will be in each plate.
• Set the alarm to put out unwrapped gifts.
• Final send off for the elves who are returning to the North Pole.
• Charge video camera, camera, phones.
• Charge kid’s new, unwrapped toys.
• Everyone lays out their clothes for the next day.
• Buy extra ice, plastic cups and water bottles.
• Have extra wrapping paper and supplies on hand for incoming family with unwrapped gifts.
• Put several trash bags and a couple of pairs of scissors in the room where presents will be opened.
• Kids get showers.
• Pets get bathed and groomed prior to house guests arriving.
• Discuss the “Ground Rules for a Joyous Christmas Day” with the kids.

Ready the house:

• prep the guest room – using “The Ultimate Checklist to Warmly Welcome Holiday Guests,”
• wash dishes and empty the dishwasher,
• empty all trash cans,
• set out plates, silverware, napkins, and cups on the counter for breakfast,
• set the dining table for the Christmas Day lunch,
• quickly clean the main rooms,
• put drink coasters out on the coffee table and end tables,
• put warm blankets in the family room for guests who might get cold, and
• get out dominoes, a deck of cards, Scrabble, and other fun family games.
• Set the alarm early enough to:
  • wake up, shower, get ready,
  • start breakfast,
  • turn on the lights on the Christmas tree,
  • start a fire in the fireplace,
  • make coffee,
  • turn on Christmas music,
  • take the dog out,
  • start the turkey,
  • put the newspaper on the kitchen table,
  • reset the thermostat to a more comfortable setting since the family will be waking at an earlier hour, and
  • be ready to take pictures of the kid’s reactions to their presents from Santa.

These are the traditions and tasks that help make our Christmas Eve a very special experience for our family year after year. I hope that gives some ideas that will help yours run a little more smoothly, as well. Here’s to another Inspired Minute!

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