Holiday houseguests often arrive tired from travel, which makes the first evening a good time for something warm and low pressure.
Keep the first night simple
Cocoa, a short lights drive, or a Christmas story can be enough.
Choose an activity that includes everyone
Avoid something that requires special skill or a lot of setup after a travel day.
Save bigger projects for day two
If baking is part of the visit, plan it when everyone is rested.
Create a shared house tradition
The Tomte Cake can become the activity everyone looks forward to during the visit, especially when cousins or grandparents only see one another a few times a year.