With so many things to do around Williamsburg, you will have no problem making a fabulous list. 

• The boat parade in Yorktown, is what lights dream about! Chilly so bundle up and grab a warm drink and enjoy the twinkle together. 

• The lighting of the cressets in Colonial Williamsburg is a cozy reminder of less tech filled times. Grab a hot chocolate at Kilwin's and walk around taking in all the holiday décor. 

• Enjoy a good window shop in New Town and see the big man himself! Enjoy a leisurely stroll around the shops and grab a festive treat. 

Foster a spirit of giving during the holiday season. Have the kids pitch in to find toys that have been outgrown or don't match their interests anymore. You can regift these to family and friends or donate to a worthy cause like the local Restore or DAV that is always open for these donations to fund their mission and find new homes for loved toys. 

Have extra plush? Some pet shelters need these this time of year, so see if one near you could use some cuddly friends for the pets in their care. 

Plan nights for dinner together lit by Christmas lights or followed by a holiday treat. Enjoy the quiet moments of regular life with the festiveness of the season surrounding you. 

Grab dinner from one of the many local places to take a weight off of you and focus on the conversation, laughter, and enjoyment of one another. Throw in a festive drink like bottled soda or sparkling cider to add to the magic of the meal. 

Time is one of the greatest gifts we can give one another and it brings us the most happiness to relax and simply enjoy eachother's company. 

Stop doing all your unwrapping on Christmas! Draw out the enjoyment! We love to assign Christmas Eve to our out of town gifts. We have moved around a ton and have friends and family all over the country. To give their gifts time to be enjoyed and give us a non rushed celebration, we open each family's gifts, take pictures and videos and share them with our family and friends. 

Enjoy your gift opening time, schedule time for play and exploration of your new things and also time to leisurely collect wrapping materials for the trash or to stash away for next year. 

Wonder how to use that new back massager or face mask you just received? Take time to find a video tutorial and share it with the family so they can enjoy your gift with you. 

Flying wrapping paper and strewn ribbon definitely have their moments, but sharing the joy is where the joy of the holiday is found.

Set aside time just for stockings - keep the anticipation. Sometimes we do stockings in the evening after returning from a family dinner, and sometimes we do it the morning after Christmas. The holidays have so much buildup and can seem rushed and over too quick - you can change that! Intentionally plan for continued enjoyment, surprise, and joy. 

Grab a tray of hot cider and enjoy the unveiling of everyone's small treasures.