For several years now, we have had a Christmas Eve/Christmas Morning tradition that we all get a kick out of.

The Christmas Eve part

Once the kids are in bed, and forbidden from leaving their rooms, we haul out all the stuff we have been hiding all year. We are one of those strange families that shop for Christmas all year long and avoid the last minute craziness. After all, Christmas is the same day every year.

We do not wrap stuff. Once we haul out all the stuff, we take out what needs to be taken out of boxes, and I put together what needs to be put together.

We then set up a display of all the gifts for each kid. We really get into how to set everything up for the best Christmas morning presentation.

This usually takes about half an hour to 45 minutes on a good night. On a bad night, it can take much longer. One year it took us about an hour and a half to correctly put together a miniature replica of the Genosian Arena from the second Star Wars movie. Give me a bike to put together any day!

The Christmas morning part

Another strict rule is you cannot leave your room to wake us up until 7 AM. Then we make sure it is all set, cameras ready and video rolling, and we invite the kids into the great room.

The cheers and smiles and hugs are worth all the late night set up, ad then some!

Jeff Herring

Jeff is a marriage and family therapist, singles and relationship coach, mentor coach, speaker, syndicated relationship columnist and author.

Jeff has a full time private practice in Tallahassee in which he specializes in couples, teen and parent counseling. He also is a relationship coach specializing in working with couples and singles. Some of his professional activities include:

==> Internationally syndicated relationship columnist through Knight-Ridder/Tribune Media Services, with a weekly readership of over 10 million worldwide

==> Sought after speaker for organizations, associations, churches, and corporations

==>Twice weekly appearances on The Steve and Sara Show on Magic 107.1

==> Author of "Keep the Changes: 52 Tools for Successful Living" a collection of his best columns, as well as several e-books including "How to Create a Passionate and Loving Relationship.........Forever," "How to Beat the BOZOs: Dealing with difficult people without becoming one," and "Tame Your Teen: THE survival guide for parenting your teenager.

==> Founder and CEO of TheArticleGuy.com

==> Founder and CEO of SecretsofGreatRelationships.com

==> Founder and CEO of ParentingYourTeeanger.com

==> Founder and CEO of ToolsforSuccessfulLiving.com

==> President of BuildingYourIdealPractice.com

==> President of ConsciousDatingTallahassee.com