Christmas morn survival kit

[cushionpad]

I am trying to be as prepared as I can in order for the present opening to go as smooth as poss with 2ds aged 3and 7 on Christmas morn. So I will have in a small plastic box to hand in the lounge scissors to slide under Sellotape on boxes, assorted screwdrivers to open battery compartments on toys, nice large empty gift bag for all wrapping and packing to go in (looks better than bin bag) A selection of batteries, my glasses for tiny printed instructions. Camera what else......? There's nothing worse than having to chase round looking for stuff at 6 am or earlier probably in our house.

Notebook and pencil so you can write down who gave what, to make the thankyou notes easier?

paper and pen to write down who gifts are from?

Cross post!

Also, gin and tonic.

We send our DCs on a treasure hunt to find their stockings, complete with rhyming couplet clues.
The advantages are that they are totally sold on this as a Christmas morning tradition, I can hide the stockings anywhere in the house thus avoiding Beano reading DS1s Patented Santa Traps and DH and I get and extra 15 minutes snuggling in bed, grinning at the muttered clues and shrieks of discovery.

I like it, time to smile they love treasure hunts gonna steal this.

A sharp knife to cut through the cable tie things that hold stuff in its box - we have to recycle, so I need 3 bags - 1 for paper, one for cardboard and the other for the rest of the rubbish - sellotape, plastic and cable ties. A small box to hold all the instructions/ guarantees that come with the toys. Some small plastic self-seal bags to put small pieces that aren't needed straight away but for which you want to throw the box away. A set of allan keys for anything that needs built up.

Named plastic crates so DDs don't mix up each others goodies.

Marker to label open chocolates before there is a dispute over how many chocolates each has stuffed.
Also to label identical felt pen's etc.

Wire cutters. Get through all types of ties.
Another year you could unpack all toys before wrapping and add batteries and cut ties then repackage for wrapping. I guess we are a little anal about this kind of stuff

Neverknowingly we are that anal too

Although I like to say prepared rather than anal but there are 3 impatient boys to cater for here.