The Merry Madness of Christmas: Embracing the Joyful Chaos and Giving Back

 

December is the happiest month of the year—or for some, the busiest month of the year. My house smells like cookies and cinnamon rolls, Christmas music plays constantly (Michael Bublé's Christmas album or Pentatonix are favorites), and dancing through the house is a must. Getting decorations out to fill the house with beautiful ornaments, nutcrackers coming out to say hello and make everything feel magical, the kiddos screaming "Yay, it's Christmas!" and asking when we can start our activities—it's pure joy. The kitchen overflows with so many foods: cookies, international dishes to share and enjoy, and treats at every turn.

This is December in our home—a season that feels like pure magic. The air is crisp, the nights glow with twinkling lights, and our house transforms into a cozy haven of holiday cheer. Christmas isn't just a day—it's an experience, a whirlwind of laughter, music, and yes, a little bit of chaos. And honestly? That's what makes it unforgettable.

Giving Back: The Heart of Our Christmas

For our family, December means more than decorating and caroling—it's a time to give back. One of our most cherished traditions is supporting Toys for Tots, making sure every child feels the joy of Christmas morning. There's something profoundly moving about picking out toys, imagining the smiles they'll bring, and knowing we're part of something bigger than ourselves. It's a reminder that the true spirit of Christmas isn't found under our own tree—it's in the kindness we share with others.

The Heartbeat of the Season: Activities That Bring Us Together

Once the giving begins, so does the fun! Our home bursts into life with Christmas activities that make the season sparkle. From decorating the tree to baking cookies, every moment is filled with laughter and love.

Decking the Halls: The living room becomes a winter wonderland in progress. Ornaments scatter like confetti. Our nutcrackers stand guard, transforming the space into something truly magical. The kiddos play with their ornaments—thank God they're not glass!—turning decorating into an adventure where every ornament has a story and every branch needs just the right touch.

Holiday Music: The soundtrack of Christmas fills every corner—Michael Bublé Christmas is a must. At the same time, we decorate and sing along, then Pentatonix harmonizes, and spontaneous dance parties break out in the middle of cooking. It's impossible not to move when the music takes over.

Kitchen Adventures: Our kitchen becomes command central for holiday treats—and let's be honest, it's dessert galore! Drinks flow endlessly: soda with no limits, ice cream courtesy of Abuelo, spoiling the grandkids (shamelessly do so). International dishes simmer on the stove, cookie sheets rotate endlessly through the oven, and there's always something delicious calling our names. Some days the kitchen is full of home-cooked food, other days take-out calls our name because volunteering is not for the weak, but everyone understands and adapts to the changes. The variety reflects our love of sharing flavors and traditions from around the world, even when we order rather than cook!

Games and Giggles: Board games, video games, computer games, dancing, wrestling, or pure chaos with the kiddos—everyone enjoys the break in their own way. But each day we do a Christmas activity: from decorating the house and yard to going downtown to see the lights, to driving around the neighborhood to see lights, to baking cookies, to enjoying fun Christmas parties at church, to attending the Christmas parade, to learning about Christmas around the world. Whether it's holiday trivia or silly family challenges, these moments remind us that joy isn't in perfection but in presence. It's in the giggles that erupt when someone forgets the rules, the friendly competition during game night, or the cheers when your youngest makes remarks or farts in front of everyone. Christmas is full of fun, and we're here for all of it.

Our Special Family Traditions

While we embrace all the classic Christmas activities, we have two traditions that are uniquely ours—two that make my heart absolutely full.

The Christmas Scavenger Hunt: We do 25 days of Christmas activities, and one of my favorites is the one. We hide clues all around the house, and each clue leads them to a prize. By the end, they have 12 gifts, and the last one is always the big one. I love seeing them running around the house, squealing as they search for the next clue, their excitement building with each discovery. Seeing them being kids—pure, joyful, living in the moment—is such a joy to my heart. It makes all the hard work worthwhile. The tiredness melts away, and my heart warms just from watching them.

Happy Birthday to Jesus: This tradition reminds us why we do all of this in the first place—because He is the reason for the season. Every year is different: sometimes it's a cake, sometimes cupcakes, sometimes a cookie. We place a candle on it, gather by our manger, and read the book "Happy Birthday Jesus." Then we sing to Him. It's sweet and simple, yet so meaningful. In the midst of all the chaos and excitement, this moment grounds us and brings us back to what Christmas is truly about.

The Beautiful Chaos We Love

And let's not forget the beautiful craziness in between—the tangled lights, the last-minute gift wrapping, the cocoa spills, and the endless "Where did I put the tape?" moments. Running errands, forgetting to pick up the cupcakes, helping at the kids' school, and not forgetting birthdays in between. Running for last-minute gifts, late nights right before Christmas Eve, wrapping gifts—or like this momma, not wrapping at all and just putting all gifts into a big bicycle bag and calling it a day. Whether forgetting things, volunteering to the max, exhausted, tired, and loving it—your in-between is the chaotic craziness of Christmas month. The smell of cinnamon fills the air even as we rush to finish one more batch of cookies. The kids' excitement was building with each activity, each decoration, each Christmas carol. These aren't flaws; they're the heartbeat of the season. They're proof that Christmas is alive, vibrant, and full of love.

After the Chaos: Christmas Peace

My family celebrates on Christmas Eve—a cherished cultural tradition—and the kiddos open gifts at midnight. Of course, they're counting down the minutes! Once everyone opens their gifts, the kiddos play with them for an hour or so. We expect it to be a long night, but on Christmas Day, everyone wakes up late and enjoys a leisurely day, eating leftovers, watching their favorite Christmas movies, and simply unwinding. After all the hustle and bustle of December, Christmas Day itself becomes our moment of peace—no schedules, no rushing, just family together enjoying the fruits of all our preparation.

Embrace Your Merry Madness

So this year, embrace the merry madness. Give generously, laugh loudly, dance through your house to your favorite Christmas songs, and savor every imperfection, extraordinary moment. Because in the end, Christmas isn't about flawless décor or perfectly baked cookies—it's about the memories we create together and the love we share with others.

Whether this is your happiest or busiest season, embrace the chaos and try to enjoy the moments that matter. It's okay to say no. It's OK to say "I can't" or "Sorry, that's not feasible for me at this time." Prioritizing yourself and setting boundaries are very important during a busy season. Family is vital, so make sure to protect your time and do things with them. If safety is an issue, place boundaries—it's okay to say no.

There are beautiful moments meant to be captured and cherished amid the chaos. Cherish the ones who matter to you and lean into God for peace, direction, and joy through it all. Sing those carols—they do wonders for your heart. And remember, sometimes buying isn't the most important thing. The presence you give, the time you spend, the love you share—that's what they'll remember.

What's your favorite part of the holiday chaos? The decorating, the baking, the spontaneous dance parties, the giving—or all of it? Share your traditions below—I'd love to hear how you celebrate!