We were blessed by a check from my parents that allowed us to do Christmas at all this year. Without it, we would have skipped gifts completely. Paying the mortgage and eating are more important!
Last year the kids didn't get up until 10:00am. This year, we woke them up at 8:00am. We had Toffee Apple French Toast Casserole and sausage for breakfast, did our last Advent Calendar devotion and began opening presents shortly after 9:00. Chase was the only one who made a list this year, so most of the kids gifts were a surprise to them. What fun!
Before Greg got laid off, I had actually purchased a studypod for the each of the three older kids after reading about them on Lisa's blog. Lisa is a reviewer for a homeschool magazine. I bought 3 different colors: black, blue, and pink. I forgot to watch the colors when I wrapped them, so Landon ended up with the pink one. Thankfully, he's good natured and laughed about it. After Chase opened hers, they traded.
Landon was shocked to receive a cell phone. We got him a Tracphone, and one of his other gifts was some minutes for the phone. After that, he's on his own!
Instead of the kids purchasing a $5 gift for each of their siblings, we drew names this year, and they purchased a $15 gift for the person whose name they drew. This made it easier to find a gift.
Gerren had Landon's name and gave him a $15 iTunes gift card. He weighted the box down with cans of cranberry sauce so Landon couldn't figure out what it was.
The three older kids received a iPod/radio alarm clock from Grandma Epie and Papa JoJo and $20 from Gran. Landon spent his $20 on a new airsoft mask.
Gerren received some ear buds (the specific type he requested but they don't stay in or on his ears, so they'll be returned).
He also got an Axe gift set. He loves Axe but was using it a little too liberally. He had to prove to me that he could be more conservative before I would buy more. He's done a good job of it, so he earned some more!
Carys drew Gerren's name, so she got him a $15 iTunes card which he always appreciates.
Gerren was shocked to receive an airsoft gun. He's been asking for one for a LONG time, but we said he had to show some more self-control before we'd buy one or even allow him to buy one. So, he hasn't been asking for awhile now. He had NO idea we were getting one for him.
Gerren also got a black studypod, an iPod alarm clock from Grandma Epie and Papa JoJo, and $20 from Gran which he said he's going to use to pay off his debt to us. :)
Chase didn't have many surprises under the tree since she actually did make a list for me. Landon drew her name and bought her the Tinkerbell Lost Treasure DVD that she wanted.
When she opened the Bendaroos she asked for, she got this funny look on her face.
I said, "That's exactly what you asked for!"
She replied, "It is. It's just... you spent way too much. I've been a bad girl. I've been reading Allison's diary, and a got a D on a spelling test, and I forged your signature..." which is from a Target commercial. We all cracked up!
She traded the blue studypod she unwrapped for Landon's pink one. :) She also received this hummingbird locket necklace she wanted. She plans to put a picture of her best buddy Sarah in it.
She also received the iPod alarm clock from Grandma Epie and Papa JoJo and $20 from Gran. She already spent part of it for a Tinkerbell doll at the Disney Store.
Carys really enjoyed this gift which is a set of Melissa and Doug wooden magnetic "paper" dolls. I bought these on a whim because they were on sale for a great price at Amazon.com. I'm so glad I did as she has played with them a lot.
I found this $50 camera at Overstock.com for $30. She calls it a toy camera, but it actually takes pictures (no flash) and has a USB cord to load them on the computer. So, far we've just deleted them, but she loves taking pictures.
Carys got her own small set of Polly Pockets. Chase appreciated this because Carys keeps losing the tiny parts (like shoes) to her Pollys.
I snuck in an educational gift for her as well with a Colors, Shapes, and Counting DVD. Chase drew Carys's name and gave her this Webkins. Carys has named her Sarah (which seems to be her favorite name right now).
Since Carys doesn't really "get" money, I took the $20 from Gran and bought her this Crayola Magic Light Brush paint set. After she painted my carpet in the school room twice during Personal Finance class this fall, I thought this would be a good gift. (She broke into the child proof lock on the cabinet to get to the paint, by the way!)
She loves this gift as well, but she's used up all the purple paint already because she wanted to paint everything purple.
Grandma Epie and Papa JoJo gave Carys this water table which has also been a source of fun. We put it on the back porch where she can play with it on warmer days.
Finally, only one present was left under the tree to the Meahl Family from Grandma Epie and Papa JoJo. Gerren opened it and the shouting commenced.
They couldn't believe it! It was a Wii.
I have always been pretty anti-video games. But I like the fact that with most of the Wii games, you have to be up and active. So, I relented. The kids have had a blast playing it ever since. Poor Gerren had to leave on 12/26 for Winter Encampment where he is on staff as a Flight Sargeant.
Greg and I really didn't do presents this year. Well, that's not completely true. I bought him John Grisham's new book which was on sale at Walmart on Black Friday for $9.
He bought me a desk chair for my desk in the kitchen which I did not ask for and do not want. It's a regular office-looking desk chair and wouldn't match well in the kitchen. So, it's going back. He did buy me a new kitchen scale that I wanted, sort of. I found the one I wanted on Amazon.com which weighs items up to 11 pounds. He doesn't do any Christmas shopping until the last minute and can't buy anything online consequently. So, he bought what he thought was the same scale at Target. But it only goes up to 5 lbs, so it's going back as well. Let's just say that gift giving is my love language and it is NOT Greg's love language.
We headed to Greg's brother's house to pick up his mom. She joined us for lunch where we had Peppered Rib Eyes, Caesar salad, twice-baked potatoes, rolls, and Candy Bar Cheesecake. Yum!
After dinner, we all went to see The Princess and the Frog. I was disappointed at the scary voodoo scenes, but otherwise it was a pretty good movie. Carys liked it, and wasn't really scared by it.
We did stockings later in the evening. Greg put licorice in my stocking, which he knows I loved. Unfortunately, I like cherry or black licorice. He doesn't pay attention, I guess, and bought me strawberry licorice. Yuck! I gave it to the kids. The kids got candy, $10 iTunes gift cards (except Carys), razors and shaving cream (the boys), pencils, notebooks, hair glitter (the girls), etc. in their stockings.
It was a great day, and everyone felt very blessed.
3 comments:
FUN! I'm glad you're enjoying the Wii. I was pretty much against purchasing ours since we have an x-box and I'm not into video games and don't like the kids spending much time on them. That being said, even *I* like the Wii (LOL) so much that I asked for Wii Fit for my b-day.
I must have missed the post about the Studypod. I'll have to go see what that's all about.
That is funny about the love languages thing. I am not a gift person. I appreciate the things my dh bought me, he usually does a good job guessing. I bought him underwear (he said he needed)--in the wrong size! Oops! Maybe they'll fit in 20 years, haha.
Loved reading about your day. We got a Wii also, and I'm having fun with it too. It's nice to have that morning break and play tennis, baseball, boxing with the kids. For the first week after Christmas, I was sore! Like Cindy, I really want the Wii Fit Plus too but am having a hard time swallowing the $100 price tag...
Some of the exercise programs are definitely on my wish list. I'm thinking maybe I'd have more fun with the Disney Dance Dance Revolution than anything! :)
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