As a mom, holidays tend to get a little on the crazy side. Between preparing for the holidays, and managing the kids daily activities, the days leading up to it often become exhausting. Simplify the holiday season with these easy hacks.

 Need to decorate? Get the kids involved. Make sure they have age appropriate tasks. After choosing a tree, let the kids decorate it. Use plastic ornaments to ensure nothing gets broken. Let them put up stockings, and even wrap presents for one another. Give old decor a pick me up by using red, gold, or green spray paint, or let the kids make their own decor.

The holidays shouldn't always become expensive. Use leftover wrapping paper to create inexpensive decorations around the house. Use DIY stocking stuffers, rather than buying new items. Christmas card photos shouldn't necessarily be professional, either. Get a great family photo, and use an online service to create and print your cards. Let the kids make ornaments for family members gifts, or bake cookies as presents.

When it comes to cooking, try preparing meals you can make ahead of time. Some recipes freeze and thaw well, and only require you to put them in the oven to eat when you are ready. You should also prepare as much as possible the night before a gathering, so the day of the holiday is not as stressful.

Lastly, when the holidays are over, get organized! Label everything and store in plastic totes. Make sure breakable items such as ornaments are safely placed in bubble wrap or other appropriate packaging. Egg cartons make great storage for round pieces. Moms can even reuse diaper or shipping boxes for easy and cheap storage.

The holidays shouldn't get out of hand and too hectic. Prepare ahead of time, and relax! Your kids will have a blast