Christmas Survival Box

Every year we travel to about 5 different homes during the holiday season for family Christmas'. Each home we travel to means the boys will be getting gifts to celebrate the season and with most children's gifts we encounter the Fort Knox of zip ties, wire twist ties and other impenetrable plastic pieces. Usually we can distract the kids with some other toy that isn't so difficult to get into but then that toy needs batteries and if someone thought of the batteries, we will be at a location that does not have a screw driver. I can go on, but if you have children you know the hoops you have to go through to get the gifts open. This year I decided that we will be prepared and come with a collection of things to keep our sanity.

You can pack yourself one now and have it ready to toss in the car or in the kitchen for Christmas morning. I was able to collect everything from what I already had in the house and I am sure you have many of the items yourself (if not a trip to the local dollar store will get you most of your supplies for a low cost).

Christmas Survival Box Contents:

• Notebook and Pen   For recording who gave what, makes Thank you's so much easier!
• Batteries of all sizes
• A standard and Phillips head screw driver I have a pretty small one because I have found the screws to be usually small on the kids toys
• Plastic snack size baggies For those really small parts, especially if there are babies at the gathering, those can be played with at home.
• Garbage Bag
• Masking Tape If more than one child is there, it helps to label toys so when it is time to leave you know you have your child's new gifts
• Wire Cutters, Scissors and a Scotch Brand wrapping cutter The tools of the trade for those wire ties and plastic clam shells
• Baby Wipes  I honestly never go anywhere without these so I packed them in here too
• Last buy not least - Advil!! The toys, the in-laws, the sugared up preschoolers - take your pick, you will be glad you packed it. 

This is my survival box, what would you include in yours? Did I leave anything out that would be helpful? Please feel free to comment and let us know. Maybe your idea will help others have a Merry Christmas without the stress.