how to be organised christmas morning?

[Dosey]

hi ya could anybody advise how to keep me sane and organised on christmas morning. I have a fairly small house a crazy dog, two dds 3 and 4 and a very laid back dp. Every christmas eve I am so organised, sort pressies into appropriate piles, have everything at the ready even pen and paper to write lists of who pressies are from and bin bags at the ready for the wrapper. And of course batteries in the camera and video camera charged. However on the morning it all just turns to chaos. The girls get so giddy, I cant keep up with what they are opening, thre dogs running around with paper and any soft toys the girls have opened. Pressies get mixed up into different piles. Its mad. Dont get me wrong I love it but we need a bit of order in the house!!!! In the past it has led me thanking people for the wrong pressie. Which I was mortified with. How is everybody elses morning????

[Pheebe]

Keep the presents from other people separate and get them out at odd time during the day for the girls to open. That way they can have their present frenzy and you can keep track of who's given them what

[MemooMerrilyOnHigh]

Get a really big treat for the dog, one that will last a few hours, and give it to the dog as soon as you get up. Keeps our dog occupied for ages.

Tell your DP not to be so lazy laidback and help you out a bit more.

[MemooMerrilyOnHigh]

And tbh it sounds like you're doing a fab job anyway!

[TheGoddessBlossom]

perhaps chill a bit and send generic "Thnkyou very much for the lovely present" letters?

[brimfull]

huge glass of bucks fizz as you watch the chaos

sit back and let it roll over you

[Gillybobs]

One day sooner than you think your DDs will be too cool to get excited on xmas morning and you will struggle to get them out of bed to come open pressies so if I were you Id enjoy every minute of the frenzy! Thats what xmas with little ones is all about : )

[Bearcat]

Totally agree with Gillybobs.
Just enjoy it with your excited little ones, in a few years they won't be out of bed til lunchtime and the dog will be too old and knackered to join in.

[TrinityMotherOfRhinos]

serouisly chill out

do generic thankyous to anyone who you arnt' totally sure of the pressie

crack open the buckz fizz


the most important thing is sharp scissors for the shitty buggering package

[sleepingsowell]

I too think your christmas morning sounds lovely I don't expect a detailed thank you from any of my friends with kids as I know just how much there is to do this time of year, so please don't worry too much about that, no one sensible will be judging your family on the thank you letters!
Agree with keeping the dog occupied with something (or in another room just for the duration of the present opening?)
But yes, enjoy the chaos, it wouldn't be young kids without chaos and they will have some lovely warm memories of family christmases

[Dosey]

thank you all for your messages. I do soak it up and really make the most of christmas while I have little ones. I just wondered what others did. DP is on nights on Christmas eve and wont get home until 7.30 on Christmas day morning. I have a stocking filled with pressies for the girls to open upstairs in bed with me so dp can see their faces when they come downstairs. I cant wait!!!

[Guitargirl]

I was going to suggest bags for rubbish, camera charged and pen & paper for thank yous but I see you already do all those things!

It will be the same at our house - DD is 4 and DS 2. Last year we had all the chaos plus DS climbing all over me for a feed. I remember thinking last year, well at least next year I won't be bf - we'll see if it's any less chaotic!

Enjoy!!

[scattyspice]

Sounds like you're doing fine dosey. Mine are 7 and 5 and I have never managed to write down (or remember) who has given who what. .

[scattyspice]

Or take a photo .

[neverenoughMEtime]

We have done the writing down who has given what every year and i find that i miss half of the fun writing it all down! No-one sends us a thankyou letter for their gifts so this year im leaving the pen and paper and just writing everyone a "thankyou for the lovely present" letter.

Yes don't forget sharp scissors for the annoying packaging! I agree with getting a big treat to keep the dog occupied.

I can't wait for christmas :) HAVE FUN! :)

[AngryPixie]

Don't write lists - too time consuming! Mine have to hand me the gift tag from the present they're opening (also slows them down a bit as they have to find it first) then I scrawl on the gift tag what it was and drop it into an envelope. V quick because the tag already says who it was for and who sent it.

[scattyspice]

Oh genius AngryPixie!

[chrimblycompo]

Don't bother with video camera
noone bothers watching it and it's better to see the girls so excited rather than through a lense

[neverenoughMEtime]

We just set up the video camera on the tripod thingy and position it where it will catch us all in the centre of the room so we don't have to hold it and miss any action!

angrypixie what a great idea im going to do that!!

[AngryPixie]

but I can't claim it as my own, a rl friend told me and with 3 children it has made a huge difference to christmas morning, birthdays too!

[BlooKangaWonders]

We've started keeping back anything apart from stockings and presents from us to dc. Relatives presents (anything with a label!) get opened after lunch now. Works well as there's so many small things in the stockings it keeps dc occupied for ages and prolongs the excitement (avoiding the manic feeling of such huge piles of stuff).

[wangle99]

What a fab idea Angry Pixie, shame all our presents have sticky labels on!