Our family tradition is new pajamas for the kids on Christmas Eve. Normally, we go matching because, hello, it makes the Christmas morning pictures cuter! But I’m switching it up this year.
The girls are still getting their PJs, but I’m wrapping them with a few other things to make a Christmas Eve box. In the box I put:
-pajamas
-slippers
-breakfast treats
-a new Santa cup
So not only do the girls have new pajamas to wear, but they’ve got a special, sugar-filled breakfast to look forward to. My parents and brother come over to watch the girls open present on Christmas morning so we’ve got lots of breakfast food happening, but having something fun in their boxed makes it more special. I’m also going to add a children’s book about the Christmas story (the real one) and make sure we get that read before bedtime on Christmas Eve.
I also put together a box for Chris. After the kids go to bed, we spend the rest of the evening wrapping presents and getting them under the tree. Wrapping ahead of time is not our style. Plus, this year both girls are getting new bikes and I imagine someone will be putting those together late into the night. So I wrapped up a box of goodies for Chris too.
A movie to watch while we wrap and build, coffee to help him stay awake or to wake him up way too early Christmas morning, a new mug to enjoy it in, and chocolate donuts for breakfast. Nothing too fancy, but we don’t really get gifts for each other so this will be an unexpected surprise.
What else would you put in the kids’ boxes? We’re not home on Christmas Eve or I’d give them a movie too. Throw in a little popcorn or candy snack with some hot chocolate mix. My girls would probably even get excited for new toothbrushes. Not kidding.
Any ideas? What Christmas Eve traditions does your family have? What do you think about the spouse box? Who wouldn’t love that on Christmas Eve? I would want a back rub in my box. That’s it, really. Oh, and come chocolate-covered raisins. Heaven.
I have given my children a Christmas ornament and new pajamas on Christmas Eve since they were born. I can’t ever imagine not continuing it! now I include spouses and grandbabies of course! it’s a wonderful tradition. enjoy!
I want to do this and include a movie. But with 2 kids, how do you choose whose box gets the movie?? Or do you just wrap the movie and let mom/dad open it?
I normally give the movie to my husband in his box so we can watch it as we stay up late Christmas Eve wrapping presents. But of course you could give one to the kids and wrap it separately and let the parent open it. My parents always gave us a “family gift” that we knew was for everyone to use.
But I really like the idea of giving kids a new movie, something to watch that morning while they play with toys and we clean up messes. 🙂
We have two kids so we’re just doing one large box that they can open together. That way it’ll have all of the stuff for both of them in one place.
Love this! I have been getting the boys pj’s each year but hadn’t thought of putting together a box like this. I just picked them up new slippers on my lunch break today so that’s a start! 🙂