How many times have you heard “Home Depot already has Christmas stuff out”! In the past, “the holiday season” was reserved for the days between Thanksgiving and New years. But now, who can say when it truly begins? All I know is that this year, I’m ready.
My son is ten and the Christmas magic has started to wear off. What if this is his last truly magical Christmas?
That’s the question that I’ve been wrestling with. I want to make this Christmas as memorable as possible. Maybe you’re in a similar situation, or you have grandkids, or future family plans. Hopefully there’s a few ideas here that can bring a little extra warmth and wonder to your holidays!
6 Ways To Make Christmas Memorable
Elf on the Shelf
Elf on the Shelf is a fairly new tradition for me—I didn’t grow up with it as part of our Christmas celebration. But when my son’s friends started talking about the mischief their elves got into, we quickly learned all about it and decided to get one of our own!
It’s simple:
For the past 6 years my wife and I have pushed our creativity to the brink trying to one-up the previous nights hiding place. There’s been a few quiet nights ( oops ) but overall this tradition has been fun, and gives us another reason to enjoy the holiday season.
Tips:
Bake Scones
Let’s face it—parenting is all about doing our best! Baking cookies is a wonderful way to spend time together, bringing in fun and even a little learning.Ready to mix things up this holiday season?
(Unintentional Dad joke).
Scones are an equally joyful experience, the benefit is that you can actually enjoy them for breakfast without sending your kid off to school on a level 10 sugar high.
Cookies have 3x the amount of sugar compared to scones!
Paired with a nice cup of herbal tea and you’re winning the morning for both parties involved.
(optional)
Maple Syrup Glaze:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1/2 tablespoon half and half
Mix and Drizzle
Not recommended for kids breakfast :)
Tea With Santa at The Tea House on Los Rios
This is a shameless plug. But It’s honestly an amazing event, and it’s become something we look forward to every year.
The best part? This event combines the best holiday activities!
-
Christmas book reading
-
Cookie decorating
-
Writing a letter to Santa
-
Making holiday crafts
-
Visiting with Santa
-
Spending time with family
-
Taking holiday themed photos
Santa takes time with each child, chatting with them and really making them feel special. There’s activities and delicious food, tea and hot chocolate all.
Tea With Santa has become a must-do for my family because it’s more than just visiting Santa at the mall; it’s our way of slowing down and soaking up the magic of the season together.
If you’re looking for a way to make Christmas extra special for your kids (and yourself), this is it!
*This year’s event is sold out…
If you haven’t already, Please sign up for our email list and you’ll be the first to know about events and seasonal menus.
Christmas Eve Box
Last year, while browsing on Etsy, I came across something that caught my eye – the Christmas Eve Box. Right away, I loved the idea! It’s a decorated box that you gift on Christmas Eve, filled with little treats and fun items to make Christmas morning extra special. It felt like the perfect new tradition, and I couldn’t wait to try it out with my own kids.
One of the best parts? The Christmas Eve Box solves the classic holiday problem of kids wanting to open a present early! This way, they get a taste of the holiday magic without giving away any big surprises and it helps make the wait for Christmas morning feel even more exciting.
This year, I’ve picked out a few things to include in the box. First, cozy Christmas pajamas and a holiday book to enjoy before bed. I’m also adding a journal to capture memories throughout the year, and an ornament with “2024” on it, so we have a keepsake from this Christmas.
As we get closer to Christmas I'll add a few little gifts from the "add it to your christmas list" list. I think this will be a great addition to our family tradition!
Real Tree From Local Farm
Honestly, I think part of this is for me, too. I have such vivid memories of our family outings to find our Christmas tree, a whole day turned into a small adventure. It truly marked the start of the season.
Somewhere along the way, we started using an artificial tree—easy, sure, but missing the adventure and togetherness that come with choosing a fresh one.
My son has never experienced this tradition, and this year, we’re bringing it back! I can’t wait to watch him experience it for the first time, and I know it’ll add something truly special to our holiday, something I hope he’ll remember and one day share, just as I’m sharing it with him.
San Juan Capistrano Tree Lighting
One of our favorite traditions each year is the town tree lighting. Here in San Juan Capistrano, it’s such a special event. Families gather together, and the holidays really feel like they’ve started once the lights turn on.
If you haven’t been to a tree lighting, you should give it a try! Many towns and cities have them, and it’s a wonderful way to feel the holiday spirit. These moments are how traditions are born—small gestures, held close and cherished, lighting up year after year.
