Christmas Eve was, by far, always my favorite night of the year. As a kid, it was the anticipation of what might lie ahead – the holy grail of Christmas morning. The night before was the fun and excitement of Christmas day, without the slow passing of what you were actually waiting for. Like what a Friday is to a weekend.

Growing up in a big, loud, tradition-loving family, we of course celebrated with a feast of seven courses of delectable fish and endless courses of decibel-busting fun, all happening at once with the biggest day of the year on the horizon.

It wasn’t until later in life that I realized -- it’s actually the night before Christmas Eve that had me waiting impatiently all year. It was the lead-up to the lead-up. The almost there, but not quite yet. The time it takes to make things perfect (and for all things to go wrong) before we actually get to see it come to life.

I credit this night as the reason I’ve spent my life as a perpetual planner preparing for things to go perfectly. And now that I have children of my own, they hardly ever do. Because as a typically “in-a-rush” working mom who knows that kids want to do more than just crack the eggs, I know that also means dealing with the shells in the bowl. 

I want my boys to experience this night – the careful planning, the thoughtful prep – the same way that I did... but maybe without the pressure.

I wanted to create the playbook for everyone to enjoy the excitement of the night-before-the-night-before with their own traditions intact and some new ones to create together. Cook together, read together, write your own story and join me for Twas the Night Before Fishmas.