Home for the holidays! Cheryl Hickey counts down to Christmas in her first family photo shoot

From the moment you step inside Cheryl Hickey’s house in midtown Toronto and are greeted by a child-sized bearded elf doll, it’s obvious that the ET Canada star knows how to deck the halls. A self-avowed Christmas obsessive, Cheryl reaps the same joyful cheer decorating her home for the holidays as her kids do on Christmas morning.

“Every year, my husband [Kevin Foley] is like, ‘Really, Cheryl? This is a bit much.’ But this is our thing now,” says the mother of two with a smile. In the 10 years they’ve been married, Kevin has learned to love his wife’s festive ways – though they still don’t quite see eye to eye on how long the holiday season should last!

“I leave the tree up until February sometimes,” Cheryl admits, laughing. “But I was like this before we got married. I told him, ‘I’m not changing just because I married you. You get all of me!’”

Click through to see all the photos from Cheryl's festive photo shoot with HELLO! Canada...

Photo: © Constant Van Ruymbeke

Having grown up in Owen Sound, Ontario, before heading to Toronto to pursue her dream of working in entertainment media (she and Kevin, an Emmy-nominated commercial and film director, met on a blind date set up by a mutual friend), Cheryl remembers cozy Christmases spent amid decorations hung with care by the whole family. It’s a trad- ition she’s determined to carry on with her own family.

“When I was a little girl, I remember the fireplace going, music going, and of us all decorating the tree, and it was always a big deal,” she says. “Now, with the kids, I kind of let them decorate it the way they want it. It’s not perfect, but it’s perfectly us.”

Photo: © Constant Van Ruymbeke

Her children Jaxson, 9, and Nyla, 5, certainly seem to have caught their mom’s yuletide bug, eagerly anticipating the time of year when they can create their own ornaments and keep tabs on the Elf on the Shelf (who mysteriously moves around the house). “I can identify with anybody who just loves the holidays ’cause I go all-out for all of them!” Cheryl says with a twinkle in her eye.

Photo: © Constant Van Ruymbeke

While her family is well-versed in decorating, there is one particular tradition that takes the cake during the festive season. "Definitely putting up the tree. It’s full of so many memories. The kids and I spend a few days making our own ornaments and baking them in the oven. They’re not edible and they don’t look store-bought but they hold so much meaning to me."

Photo: © Constant Van Ruymbeke

The gorgeous TV personality is always red carpet-ready when it comes to her hosting duties with ET Canada. But for Cheryl, it isn't all glitz and glamour. "Right after I had Jaxson [in 2009], I was covering a GRAMMYs Live red carpet and took a break to feed him – and he had my bronzer all over his face," she shared. The mom of two dazzled in a figure-hugging gown by Naked Bodyz.

Photo: © Constant Van Ruymbeke

In the Hickey household, Christmas celebrations last longer than just December! "I equate Christmas with family and chaos, and that makes me happy. There’s a lot of festivities from now until the holidays. I love the Christmas tree so much that I usually leave it up with all the trimmings on until the end of January or early February," she said. "I’ll take off all the Christmas decorations and leave the tree up and just have the white lights, because in the winter it can get so dreary, it just keeps that festive feel going. Kevin and I disagree about it every year."

Photo: © Constant Van Ruymbeke

The blond bombshell has met quite a few famous faces, but which one was a favourite? Canadian icon, Celine Dion, of course! "Soon after I had Jaxson, I went to Vegas and interviewed Celine Dion backstage. Getting to sit down and talk with her about motherhood was really memorable and great."

Photo: © Constant Van Ruymbeke

Gift giving is a joy for pretty much any holiday fanatic, so naturally Cheryl is a fan. "Jaxson was pretty pumped with his Nintendo Switch last year – that was a very big deal. Nyla got a Barbie dream house that she was very excited about. I think one of the other best, great gifts that I gave was when Kevin and I first got together," she explained of some of the best gifts she's given. "He's a writer, producer and director, and I got him a computer, because I just wanted him to write more. He’s just so fantastic at it. And I was excited for what he could create out of that. Yeah, that was a score."

Photo: © Constant Van Ruymbeke

Family is everything to Cheryl, and Christmas morning is one of those special times where memories are created and cherished forever. "Christmas Eve is amazing. The kids write their wish list, they arrange their snack for Santa, and then Kevin and I stay up late getting everything ready. On Christmas morning I always press Record on my phone so I can get an audio recording of the kids getting excited that Santa came. I’ve done that every year," she explained. "And it’s so great just to listen back and hear the excitement, because seeing a kid excited at the holidays, no matter what you celebrate, it’s just the most magical thing. It’s really, really special. It’s a time to be present, with everyone you love."

Photo: © Constant Van Ruymbeke

But what's Christmas day like for Cheryl and her family? "It really is quite loose. The kids wake up, usually around 6 a.m. and it just starts. They open their presents and then we take a little bit of a break and call the grandparents. Then my husband makes a big Christmas morning breakfast," she shared. "We stay in our pyjamas for as long as we can, as we just watch movies, and the kids play with their toys. The next day we usually head to Florida to go see Kevin’s parents. I don’t mind being away during the insanity of Boxing Day!"

Photo: © Constant Van Ruymbeke

Holiday baking wouldn't be the same without some Christmas tunes in the background, and Cheryl's clan has some favourites. "Oh, Mariah Carey’s 'All I Want for Christmas.' Kevin is so over it because he’s heard it a lot already. Also I love Michael Bublé and Jann Arden’s Christmas albums. Those are great. The Glee Christmas album is also very fun," she said.

Photo: © Constant Van Ruymbeke

Cheryl and Kevin said "I do" in 2008, so they just rang in their first decade as a married couple! "Kevin was actually away for work, so we had a little celebration beforehand. On the day of our anniversary, he FaceTimed and told my daughter to go into her closet and get a special present he’d hidden in there for me. She brought it out and it was a beautiful ring, an anniversary band. It was a wonderful surprise," she shared.

Speaking of being away from home, Cheryl was lucky enough to fly across the pond to be in England for the Cambridge and Sussex weddings! "It was just incredible. You walked around and you felt a buzz in the air. Being there for those historic moments was amazing. And I think the new life that they have given the Royal Family is great. It’s a special time," she gushed.

Photo: © Constant Van Ruymbeke

Though Cheryl and Kevin are both busy bees, a strong relationship is their priority - and she has some tips! "Having a good schedule is everything. Good communication is really important, and putting the kids first. We always make sure that if one of us is on the road, the other person is at home," she shared. "It’s really important for us to be there for the kids; it’s such a short time, really, that they will need us like this, so we want to be present. We both had parents who were incredibly present in our lives so we really work hard to have that for our kids."

Photo: © Constant Van Ruymbeke

What's next for the family? Perhaps a new canine addition... "We’re thinking of getting another Murphy, because when we’re all at work, we want her to have a buddy!"

Photo: © Constant Van Ruymbeke