Last Minute Christmas Ideas to Make the Holiday Bright

It's almost Christmas. The tree is done, the gifts wrapped and plans have been made. Things may seem finished, but there are still ways to add more merry to your holiday and celebrate the season with some simple pleasures that everyone will remember.

1. Put your Christmas cards on the mantle or the wall. So many times we read a Christmas card once and then set it aside. Use Christmas cards to decorate your home and let family members see them on display.

2. Drive around and see the lights. Many people go to a great deal of trouble to put up lovely displays of lights. Load the family up and take a drive. It costs nothing but a little gas and is a cozy way to spend time together.

3. Watch a Christmas movie together. Try it's a wonderful life, Rudolph the Red nosed reindeer or any other movie that means Christmas to you.

4. Decorate Christmas cookies. Sure it's time consuming and a huge mess but nothing says Christmas like red and green sprinkles. Use ready made cookie dough and break out all those adorable holiday cookie cutters. Make everyone help.

5. Go Christmas caroling. Hardly anyone goes Christmas Caroling anymore. Amuse your neighbors and have fun. It's not American Idol. Just raise your voices and do your best. Invite the neighbors to join you.

6. Make a snowman. If you can muster up the snow, make a snow man (or woman) or a whole snow family to decorate your yard. Christmas is one time that snow is not entirely unwelcome.

7. Look at old pictures of Christmas past. Go as far back as your are able to and show the family pictures of Christmas when you were a child. Take the time to tell the stories that go with the pictures.

8. Make Christmas treats for the birds. Cover pine cones with peanut butter and bird seed and hang them from the trees or bushes where you can watch the birds enjoy them.

9. Watch Christmas episodes of your favorite TV Shows. The Simpsons have 20 Christmas episodes you could watch for as long as you can stand it.

10. Set up a back drop and take pictures of your pets in reindeer antlers. Or just take their picture with a Christmas backdrop. Put the antlers on the kids. Have fun with a silly family photo session

Now that the work is done, enjoy the holiday with these simple ideas. The smallest holiday activities can mean the most.