My mom didn’t need Pinterest or Instagram to pull off the ultimate Christmas. With five kids running around, it was messy and chaotic, but always a blast. On a recent visit with her, I rummaged through old photos to try and figure out how she nailed it year after year:

1. She slept through Christmas?before kids, obviously. Good plan, Mom, store that energy because you’re going to need it. But also, that sofa!

2. She always made us pose in front of the tree on Christmas Eve to catch that pre-Santa excitement (even if it was a blurry shot with my head in the way). This is actually one of her more understated trees, only two boxes of tinsel!

3. She didn’t methodically hand out gifts and carefully save all the wrapping paper. She let us have at it, and then collapsed on the floor for a well deserved nap while we played around her unconscious form for hours (I’m guessing my dad took this photo). I clearly remember having the Big Bird chair from that box for many years until we played too hard and snapped it in half.
4. She paused to take moments during the hustle and bustle. But I know that look: “How am I going to get her into that snowsuit if she refuses to wear clothes"!”

5. She braved the parking lots and lines to take us to see Mall Santa every year. But also, why isn’t Santa looking at the camera" And am I sporting a shiner under my left eye"

 Seriously Santa, this is weird. And that’s an aggressive fur ...