Virgin River star Alexandra Breckenridge is passing down one of her favorite childhood holiday traditions to her own children — and it’s one many families will recognize.
“My mom always let me open one gift on Christmas Eve,” she told PEOPLE. “I try to keep that going. Of course, I used to convince her to let me open all my presents… and now my kids try the same thing!”
Breckenridge says her children’s “just one more?” routine feels all too familiar, but she and her husband, Casey Hooper, pick out a couple of gifts to open early to keep the magic alive.
The actress has long been open about how motherhood reshaped her life. After welcoming her son in 2016 and daughter in 2017, she described an overwhelming, transformative love. “When I first held my baby, the world melted away,” she said in earlier interviews.
Breckenridge also revealed she learned she was expecting her daughter, Billie, on her birthday — calling it “the best birthday present ever.”
As her career continues to flourish, including the ongoing success of Netflix’s Virgin River, Breckenridge says family-centered traditions remain at the heart of her holiday season — proving that even with fame, some Christmas rituals are simply too special to outgrow.
