Far too many presents!

tiamai_d

I make a christmas eve hamper with things like new PJ's and bath robe, flannel, shower gel/bath smellies, tooth brush, a DVD, a mug with hot choc sachets and a few sweets, cuddly toy if they are young enough. They open that after dinner, have a bath and then watch the DVD with their hot choc. Relaxes them enough to sleep....mostly.

I'd then stagger the gifts. Have Santa leave out the big special things, open gifts from family and then keep some for opening between Christmas and New year.

Broomstick

What my own parents used to do (and we are talking about nearly 50 years ago here!) is put some of the relatives' presents in our stockings and say that the person had sent them to FC to deliver them to us. Could you remove some of the prezzies you have bought and substitute relatives ones in the stockings/santa sacks? Then decide the time to give your presents.

My DSs and I have always put all the presents we are giving to others under the tree in the week before Christmas so we know where to find them if people turn up, and they are all gone by the end of the 24th. The presents we distribute at home on Christmas morning either get put under the tree last thing at night on the 24th or first thing in the morning of the 25th so there has never been a huge great build up beforehand.

B x