Making Christmas Intentional: Our 25 Days of Joy

 

Happy got candy

It was a tie!

Winner

Oh man! 

Find the GingerMan scavenger hunt.

Christmas has always held a special place in my heart—the twinkling lights, the cozy decorating, the festive parties, and most importantly, the meaning behind it all. But when motherhood entered my life, everything changed. My excitement for the season didn't just grow—it transformed into something deeper, something almost sacred.

Suddenly, I wasn't just celebrating Christmas for myself anymore. I was stewarding these precious moments for my children, knowing that the traditions we create now will shape their memories forever. I wanted them to experience the magic I felt as a child, but I also wanted something more. I wanted them to understand the why behind it all—the love, the generosity, the wonder of Jesus' birth. I didn't just want to celebrate Christmas; I wanted to make it intentional.

In the early years, I sprinkled in activities here and there—driving through neighborhoods to see lights, caroling with friends, hosting gingerbread house competitions, and shopping for special ornaments. Each moment was fun and memorable, but it wasn't structured. I'd find myself scrambling to fit things in, wishing I'd planned better, hoping I wasn't missing opportunities to make the season memorable.

Then, when my first kiddo turned four, something shifted. I realized these years are fleeting—childhood passes in the blink of an eye. So I decided to make it official: The 25 Days of Christmas.

Now, with two kiddos, this tradition has become the heartbeat of our December. The anticipation starts in November, with little voices asking, "Is it almost time for our Christmas days?" The giggles, the wide-eyed wonder, the togetherness—it fills my mama heart to overflowing. Every bit of effort is worth it when I see their faces light up. And here's what I've learned: it's not about perfection. It's about showing up, being present, and creating space for connection amid the chaos.

Why We Do This

Beartown village 

December can feel overwhelming. Between holiday parties, work obligations, endless checklists, cooking, baking, and gift-giving, it's easy to get swept up in the chaos and lose sight of what matters most. I've been there—rushing from one thing to the next, collapsing into bed exhausted, wondering if I'm actually enjoying the season or just surviving it.

But here's what I've come to realize: our children won't remember if the house was perfectly decorated or if every cookie was Instagram-worthy. They won't remember how many presents were under the tree or whether we checked off every item on our to-do list. What they will remember is how we made them feel. They'll remember the laughter around the dinner table, the warmth of snuggling together during a movie, the joy of giving to others, and the peace of celebrating Jesus' birth as a family.

This tradition has become my anchor in the busyness—a gentle reminder to slow down and savor these irreplaceable moments. When I feel the stress creeping in, when the perfectionism starts to take over, I come back to this: What do I want my children to remember about Christmas? What do I want them to carry in their hearts?

This isn't meant to feel like another obligation or a source of stress. It's a framework that helps us intentionally connect and cherish these fleeting moments with our children. Some days, our "activity" is as simple as reading a story together before bed. Other days, it's a whole outing. Both are equally valuable because both create connections.

If I'm being sincere, there have been nights when I've done this exhausted—physically drained, mentally tired, running on fumes. There have been moments when I've had to dig deep and push through when all I really wanted was to collapse on the couch. I am far from perfect. But here's the beautiful thing: my kiddos don't see that. They don't know the tiredness behind my eyes or the mental load I'm carrying. What they see is their mommy showing up, having fun with them, making them feel loved and cherished. And that's what makes it all worth it.

The truth is, childhood is breathtakingly short. These are the years when they believe in magic, when their eyes light up at the sight of Christmas lights, when they want nothing more than to spend time with us. There will come a day—sooner than I like to imagine—when they won't be this little anymore. They'll have their own lives, their own traditions, their own families. And on those days, I want to look back without regret, knowing I was present, knowing I chose connection over perfection, knowing I poured love into every moment I could.

My hope is that these are memories they'll carry in their hearts forever—memories of a mama who showed up, who made the season special, who taught them that Christmas is about so much more than material things. And maybe, just maybe, they'll pass these traditions on to their own children one day, creating a legacy of love, intentionality, and faith that ripples through generations.

This is my gift to them. Not wrapped in paper, but wrapped in time, attention, and unconditional love.

This Year's 25 Days of Christmas

Here's a peek at what we experienced this December:

1. Advent calendar – reading a Christmas book together every night
2. Light Up Nativity & hot cocoa at FFC
3. Downtown Christmas lights tour 
4. Christmas movie marathons in our pajamas
5. Snow day at FFC
6. Find the gingerbread man game
7. Candy cane scavenger hunt
8. Merry on Main (downtown)
9. Christmas village (they put together my abuelita collection and lit it up; this year, they filled the town with bears, and it was called Beartown) 
10. Decorating the yard together
11. Outreach Christmas party (church)
12. Family Christmas games night/ Christmas picnic
13. Volunteering with Toys for Tots (been doing this for 10 years)
14. Annual ornament shopping tradition
15. Donating toys to families in need
16. Around the world – learning St. Nick traditions from different cultures
17. Decorating the tree as a family (each kid decorates their own tree)
18. Holly Jolly Christmas party (church)
19. School Christmas party
20. Epic snowball fight
21. Christmas scavenger hunt ( my fave) 
22. Learning the meaning of mistletoe
23. Christmas Eve service ✝️
24. Christmas Eve party with extended family
25. Celebrating the birth of Jesus ✝️

A Few of Our Favorites

While every activity on our list holds a special place in our hearts, some have become absolute non-negotiables for my kiddos.

The Epic Snowball Fight is hands down their favorite. Every single year, they wait for this day with an almost palpable anticipation. It doesn't matter what else is happening—as long as we get to have our snowball fight, they're happy. The chance to compete against Mom and Dad? That's pure gold to them.

We set the scene with "Frosty the Snowman" playing in the background while the movie plays on our TV. Then the battle begins. My hubby and I are absolutely exhausted afterward—drenched, out of breath, maybe questioning our life choices just a little bit. But the kids? They're jumping with joy, already bragging about how they beat the parents, reliving every throw, every dodge, every victorious moment.

I must say, I love it—but not nearly as much as my kiddos do. Their pure, unfiltered joy makes every bit of exhaustion worth it.

And yes, we live in Texas, so this is an indoor activity! You can catch a glimpse of the chaos and laughter on my TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tamtactic/video/7588067790746160415.

Making It Work for Your Family

One of the most important things I've learned is to choose activities your kids will actually love. As a mom, you know your children best—what lights them up, what they're interested in, what they'll talk about for weeks afterward.

For example, we don't do arts and crafts. It's just not their thing, and that's okay! But they absolutely love baking, so we bake cookies together instead. Don't feel pressured to include activities that don't fit your family just because they seem like "must-dos" for Christmas. This is about your family's joy, not checking boxes.

Budget is also a key consideration for us. This tradition isn't about going crazy with expenses or trying to outdo last year. Many of our activities cost little to nothing. My church has been terrific—they provide many free activities throughout the month, which have helped us tremendously. Between church events, community light displays, and simple at-home activities, you can create magic without breaking the bank.

My kids are very vocal about what they love. While I choose and plan the month's activities, I make it loud and clear which ones they want to keep year after year. That snowball fight I mentioned? Non-negotiable in their eyes! Listen to your kids—they'll tell you what matters most to them.

Flexibility is everything. I tried initially to do one activity each day, but life happens. Sometimes plans change or don't work out, so we end up doing more than one activity when we can fit them in. This year was especially chaotic with work demands and parents' health issues. Timing wasn't on our side, but we managed to get our work done because it wasn't about rigidly sticking to a schedule. It was about finding moments and saying, "Hey, today we have time—let's do four of them and have fun!"

Keep yourself flexible and remember: this is not about perfection. What matters is that we were together, doing things as a family, making memories, however it worked for us that day.

And let's be real: if your kiddos are small, beware of tantrums and attitudes. My oldest sometimes doesn't feel like being cheery or excited, but at the end of it all, he's beaming. There are tantrums, small fights, and moments of pure chaos. One year, one of my activities was Christmas family photos, and they were NOT happy. Nothing went as planned. I even ended up screaming, "Enough! We are doing this! I want smiles, and get your hearts right because Mommy wants this!" Not my finest moment, I'll admit.

But you know what? At the end, we did it. We went out for pizza afterward and laughed at ourselves. Those imperfect photos are now some of my favorites because they're real.

Not all activities will be perfect or magical, but they will be memories nonetheless. So enjoy it—even when things don't go as planned. We learn to embrace the changes, the adjustments, and the craziness, and still laugh through it all.

Give yourself grace. Know that they are kids. Even we as adults have our moments—they're just moments. But you are creating a lifetime print in their hearts. So breathe, Mom and Dad. Everyone is doing their best, and that is all that matters.

Tips for Starting Your Own Tradition

If you're thinking about creating your own version of this tradition, here's my advice:

Start small. You don't need 25 activities to make December magical. Even five intentional moments can transform your season. Choose what suits your family's rhythm and energy.

Mix simple and special. Not every day needs to be an elaborate outing. A cozy movie night with popcorn and hot chocolate counts just as much as a trip to see the Christmas lights. Some of our kids' favorite memories are the simplest ones.

Focus on connection, not perfection. There will be days when plans fall through, or something doesn't go as expected. That's okay. The memories your children will treasure aren't about flawless execution—they're about the love, laughter, and presence you brought to each moment.

Tap into free community resources. Many churches offer wonderful Christmas activities—nativity performances, concerts, festivals, and family events that are open to the community. Also, check your local city's website or community calendar for free activities throughout December. You'd be surprised by how many light displays, tree lightings, holiday markets, and family-friendly events are free. These can easily fill your calendar with meaningful experiences without straining your budget.

Make it your own. Our list reflects our family's values and interests. Yours might include ice skating, cookie exchanges, writing letters to Santa, or completely different traditions. There's no right or wrong way to do this.

The Gift That Keeps Giving

Christmas isn't just about the gifts under the tree—it's about the love, laughter, and joy we share with the people who matter most. For us, these 25 days turn December into a season of genuine togetherness and intentional living, and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

If this inspires you to start your own tradition, I'd love to hear about it. Here's to making this season—and every season—a little more magical and a lot more meaningful.

Merry Christmas, and may your days be filled with joy! 🎄