Gift Wrapping Traditions

  I've been reading all of my friend's blogs this holiday and it has occurred to me that not everyone follows the same traditions for gift wrapping and opening their holiday presents...imagine that?

So I thought I'd share what my family does for our holiday tradition.

This year, I selected black and gold as my "paper theme."  Now that only means that the gifts I wrap for my family will be in this paper combo.  I have gold plaid and gold polka dots and I mix the ribbons with gold and red and anything that will match the paper.  When my entire family rolls into the door this weekend, that's all going to pot because they will bring more presents and they will be wrapped in their own paper (and that's ok because that's part of the fun).   For now, I have the gold and black theme under my tree. 

 

 
On Christmas eve, we each get to open one gift.  Just one.  Even the adults.  That's because this tradition started when my sister and me were kids and we've carried it on into our adulthood as if we were still kids.  And everyone knows that even though we say "just one" that really means you can convince the family to let you open two.  At least.  But these eve gifts are usually things like slippers, or pjs or things that you can wear for Christmas morning.  So don't get too incredibly excited about it because you're not going to totally open your more prize possession on Xmas eve because then how fun would it be on Xmas morning.   Ok, yes, I still sound twelve and I don't care. 

The Santa presents get set out after the kids go to bed.  Ours are wrapped!  But recently we started the tradition of putting each child's loot into a pile so they wake up in the morning and can run to their stash. 

We try to make it so that each person opens one thing at a time, but I mean we have kids that are four, four and six...it gets tough for little ones to watch mama open another pair of socks when there is a tower of presents with their names on it! 

Growing up, my immediate family would go to a Christmas movie in the afternoon to get out of the house and break the day up (you know, because we were "bored" already with all of the new games and toys).  When Kurby (my sister) and I had real little ones, we stopped that tradition (because honestly, who brings a 3 month old to a movie theater....uh, actually, there are some).  But now, the kids are older and so sometimes if there is a good kids flick, we have been known to resume that tradition.   Plus, it gives the entire family a break from having to talk to each other for a few hours. 

We're hosting everyone at our house this year on both sides of the family.  They start to trickle in on Saturday, Sunday, Monday (until they read this post and are too offended by something I've said to show up....that's the point...whittle the numbers!)

How do YOU do your gift wrapping?  Do you wrap your Santa gifts? 
Do you watch each person open one gift at a time or does everyone tear into them at once?
Do you take a break for breakfast in between?

Happy Holidays to all!

xoxo
Heather

Other links to Vivid Hue Christmas:
Holiday Trees
Sunroom at Christmas
Meaningful tree in Living Room

Gift Wrapping Traditions
Christmas Antlers
Holiday Card Tree and Sunroom Photos
Christmas Table Decorations