Since this is really the first year I am trying to scale down on Christmas presents for the kids I am worried I don't have enough.
How many presents does Santa usually bring to your houses?
Between the presents from Santa, presents from us, and stocking stuffers I have 10 things for Aidan and 12 things for Emma.
And the crazy thing is I think that isn't enough! I am going to try my hardest not to buy anything else for Emma. I think she is all set and whatever else she could have wanted can wait until April when she turns 9. Aidan is lucky with a January birthday he doesn't have to wait as long.
How the heck do I change my thinking and realize that it is enough? Plus there will be presents from my sister under the tree so it's not like the family room is going to be bare. And on Christmas Eve we get together with my husband's family and the kids get about 4-5 presents each from them.
Enough, enough, enough!
How many presents does Santa bring to your house?
December 8th, 2008 at 11:21 am
December 8th, 2008 at 11:25 am
December 8th, 2008 at 11:40 am
$100 price limit per child from Santa. One gift from immediate the family (usually around $15). I am boycotting the amount of plastic and unnecessary items coming into the house by (1) suggesting family gifts like games and DVDs instead of individual, (2) suggesting gift cards for the local movie theatre and bowling alley. It also helped that my father who has boat loads of money to toss around has decided he is too old to shop (he's 62) and has put me in charge of his gift giving.
I, too, am a byproduct of too many toys that weren't used or appreciated. My favorite gifts from Christmasses past: a locket I got in 5th grade and a Raggedy Ann candle I got when I was in about 2nd grade.
December 8th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
My suggestion is get an extra stocking the size that you hang; then you can fill it with what you have and if it looks empty to you buy a little more, if it is overflowing you know without a doubt there is no need for more. Or if you have already hung the stocking one night when the kids are out for the night take the stocking down and do the fill test.
December 8th, 2008 at 01:32 pm
I don't know what we're going to do for a bigger gift this year. She already has all of what she needs and most of what she wants.
December 8th, 2008 at 02:04 pm
December 8th, 2008 at 02:29 pm
I give Ale 2 toys (used to be 1 from me, 1 from my parents when they were alive), 1 book, 1 pair of pajamas, and the clothes she'll wear for Xmas (I don't go for the "party" dresses, but give her something she can use everyday)... between that and what she gets from other people, she's overloaded with stuff!
December 8th, 2008 at 02:55 pm
The rest of the gifts consist of mainly clothes (bought on sale and from places like Forever 21, Kohls and Old Navy) and some jewelry. They are getting underwear, socks, slippers, pajamas, bras, camis,books, scarf and gloves, and a few shirts/sweaters each. E. is also getting a cloth bulletin board for her room and a pair of AE clogs to even it out with sis. They also get candy. It is a lot but the majority of it is items they will get use out of and actually need desperately like the undergarments/socks/camis. We usually give them more "stuff" but we have scaled back a lot this year. It is nice that they finally want clothes because honestly, it is something they need!
December 8th, 2008 at 05:30 pm
December 9th, 2008 at 10:33 am
thgen the kids pool money to get each other and mommy and daddy something. Total of three things.
We take our time, we have breakfast in between, we play with the gifts, the kids love Christmas.