The holidays are a family affair for Jessica Capshaw!
The actress — whose mother, Kate Capshaw, married Steven Spielberg in 1991 — spoke exclusively with PEOPLE while attending the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball in New York City on Friday, Dec. 13. During the conversation, Jessica, 48, shared that Christmas happens “all sorts of ways” in her “very large family.”
“So, oftentimes, we get pulled into that [big family celebration], and happily so,” the mom of four says, adding, “So we’ve got a big family, but we’ve got a big family within a big family.”
When asked if her stepdad Spielberg, 77, ever makes an appearance as Santa Claus this time of year, the Grey’s Anatomy actress revealed that “Christmas jammies” are more his style.
“I’ve seen some Santa jammies. I have photo documentation. There’s definitely Santa jammies. Santa’s suit? I have not seen,” she says, before joking that the Jurassic Park director might “be inspired” to wear one after reading this interview.
Capshaw — who shares kids Luke, 17, Eve, 14, Poppy, 12, and Josephine, 8, with her husband Christopher Gavigan — also noted that even though the holiday season is underway, it doesn’t necessarily mean “time off” when you’re a parent.
“It was funny. We realized when we went on our first holiday vacation [with kids] — we were like, ‘Oh, vacations really aren’t vacations. They’re family trips.’ They’re trips with your family. Vacation and holiday became something totally different.”
However, the Practice star also says she “couldn’t be more excited” for the upcoming time with her family.
“I’ve been working a lot lately,” she shares, adding, “So in my mind, I’ve pinned tonight — which is Friday night — to be here with some of my girls and have a really great time and then enjoy the weekend. Then Monday is the Monday before Christmas.”
Discussing raising teens, Capshaw shared that her daughters are finally old enough to watch her in Grey’s Anatomy.
“I remember thinking my children will never watch it because they were so tiny, and now they have friends who are watching it, and they’re watching it, and it’s become this multigenerational thing where it’s wild,” she tells PEOPLE.
The actress also admits that she “kind of panicked” when her daughters started watching because she realized “it’s an adult show.”
“The thing is, they roll with it,” she said, adding, “But I’m always, like, ‘My door is open for questions.’ “