We are currently having a whole family reunion with my adult children in Florida, where my newlywed son and his wife live and help with her parents' church. It's such a gift to gather in one place again, having all seven children under one roof with their loved ones is a treasure i don't take for granted.
Because I knew we'd be visiting, I brought gifts out with me so I wouldn't have to ship anything. I also tucked Christmas presents in the suitcase for our son, his wife, and their baby who live in Pennsylvania.
When I get home, I'll finish my shopping for my local children. It takes a lot of organization to pull off Christmas for a large family, but much more important than the gifts is the time together like the shared meals, the games around the table, and the memories that keep us connected across the miles.
To spark joy during our family gatherings, we keep our activities simple, meaningful, and connection-focused. Here are a few of our favorite traditions:
🎄 1. Walk or Drive to Look at Christmas Lights
Whether we bundle up with hot cocoa or roll the windows down in the Florida warmth, exploring Christmas lights brings out the childlike wonder in everyone. It's a free, magical tradition we return to year after year.
💬 2. Something You Love, Something You Wish
This is one of our most treasured family traditions. We go around the table and share either something we love about each person or something we wish for them in the coming year. These are simple offerings of love and affirmation—blessings spoken aloud that build connection and remind each person how deeply they are valued. It often brings both laughter and tender tears.
🎨 3. Craft Together
Creating something with our hands always brings a special kind of peace and joy.
Some easy favorites include:
- Painting small watercolor pictures to place in ornament frames
- Cutting out paper bag wreaths
- Shaping air-dry clay wreaths and tucking in nature treasures
It doesn't have to be elaborate, just gathering around the table with simple supplies invites conversation, creativity, and memories that last long after the holidays.
🎲 4. Play Bunco
Bunco is simple enough for young kids and relaxed enough for adults to enjoy while chatting. All you need is dice, a score sheet, and a willingness for some loud, lighthearted fun. It's fast-paced and perfect for large groups.
📚 5. Read Poetry
Enjoying Christmas poetry together is a great way to slow down and savor beautiful ideas. With our new poetry book, A Year of Virtue, you can enjoy heartwarming poetry for every season that highlights virtue. We will be enjoying these poems weekly in the Restoration Home Community in 2026, and many of them have been precious memories from our Peaceful Press curriculum.
🎉 6. Play Fishbowl
Fishbowl is one of our go-to party games because everyone can play, and it gets funnier with every round. Here's how to play if you want to try it at your next gathering:
What You Need
Slips of paper
Pens
A bowl
A timer
At least 4 players, divided into two teams
Setup
Have each family member write a few nouns on individual slips of paper—people, places, objects, silly ideas—and toss them into the bowl.
Round 1: Say Anything (Except the Word!)
The clue-giver draws a slip and tries to get their team to guess the word using verbal clues, without saying the word or any part of it.
When the team guesses correctly, keep going until the timer ends.
Round 2: Charades
All slips go back into the bowl.
Now the player acts out the word silently.
Because the same words are used, this round gets delightfully silly.
Round 3: One Word
All slips go back in once more.
The clue-giver may say only one word, and the team gets one guess.
Use everything you learned in the earlier rounds!
Scoring
Teams keep the slips they correctly guessed. After all three rounds, count them up, most slips wins!
The older my kids get, the more I treasure these pockets of shared time—group games, late-night talks, crafts spread across the table, and traditions that anchor us no matter where we gather. Christmas may take planning, but the memories are worth every bit of effort.
If you are struggling to create happy memories this Christmas, check out the Holiday Book Flood. It's okay to start at the beginning and enjoy the twelve days after Christmas, or just pick and choose the activities that sound fun to you.