That's kinda "it"

5 days and counting.... There are 5 days left until the big day of 2008 (as far as the kids go that is) and it's 80 degrees outside - Shane and Grace are outside washing the van in shorts as I type - crazy. Shane and I got most the the gifts wrapped yesterday and they are now all around the tree making the living room that much merrier. Grace continues to enjoy our Elf Sammy each day - for the most part Elf on the Shelf has been a wonderful new tradition for our family. Alex even likes looking for him when Grace is looking first thing. Christmas this year will be a little different for the kids. Alex is so little he will be fine - heck give him a box, bow and some paper to tear and take back the gifts lol. Grace on the other hand is a different matter. No one likes to think of their child as spoiled but ours is - as are her parents. Do we have the best of the best and 2 of everything - NO! However we are not lacking the the "things" department either. We now save up when we want something which is much better than how we did it a few years ago and just charge whatever the "want" for the moment was. It's been an eye opener and to be honest the only reason I have been able to stay home with the kids is this new way we look at money - that being said - back to Christmas 2008. Some of you know I started Christmas shopping in October - had to make the whole budget thing work in our favor - and it did! We spent a third of the money we would have spent had I started shopping in December - so yay us! We drew names on both sides of the family this year which was WONDERFUL!!! If not that would have been 16 kids not counting ours - Alex made the 10th grandchild in both Shane's and my family. When we got started shopping for our kids we just looked for things they like and bought them if the money was there for them - that's where we are doing things a little different. Our first year together Grace got so many things!! Shane would come home from work with something for her and the same day I'd come home with something too - it was overkill and she loved it - and so did we!! The next year was more of the same - we started with an amount and then spent well over it by the time it was done. So this year we set an amount and we stayed true to the amount - but it be honest they both still have so much stuff - shopping and sales are a passion of mine - love to find a bargain!! So we are pleased that they will have a good Christmas - toy wise - but we worry about what the message we are sending. We worry what if they still are not happy with what they get?? And this is not even to bring into account the fact for the last 2 years we have cleaned out toys that have been played with 1 maybe 2 times from Gracie's room to make room for more stuff!! We would like to teach the kids that less is more, it's the little things in life that matters, things dont make you happy, be grateful for what you have and at Christmas the reason we celebrate is Jesus not Santa. The challege is not the lesson, it's when and how to teach it. Now Alex, ummm yes we, know he's too little but you cant "DO" for him and have Grace understand that. And with Grace she remembers the past few Christmas' where toys were everywhere and all the list was fulfilled and then some - so do we just continue to give and give with the hopes that the words we say will have more impact than the bright pick gem encrusted Hannah Montana mic?? So this year we are starting a new tradition as far as Santa goes. A friend of mine gave us this idea because we were struggling with how to make it work and Carrie's family tradition was awesome. Santa gets to bring the best fun gift to each child and then a group gift for both kids to enjoy. We are not trying to take Santa out - we know the magic he brings to the season and enjoy it! But we also want to focus a little more on the reason behind Christmas. Grace and Alex will get 3 gifts from us this year because on the very first Christmas day when Jesus was born He got 3 gifts. We want our children to enjoy the holiday and create moments with them that will make them smile warm fuzzies for years to come. I can not remember many of the gifts I got from any of my Christmas' but I do have the memories. So as a child I think maybe it will be hard to adjust to this new way and I'm dealing with that - hoping we are not ruining Gracie's idea of what Christmas looks like to her. But as a parent of 2 wonderful loving children, I dont want the focus to be on the things they get - all be it wonderful - it's the people, spirit and memories shared at this time of the year that we need and are trying to focus on. Grace and I have talked about this already - dont want to blindside the poor child on Christmas morning and she's very reasonable. Her view was this... "it's okay if Santa thinks Im a big girl. I can think more about Jesus at Christmas cause it's not like my grandparents, cousins and friends wont get me gifts right?? And then Jesus will be happy and I'll still get gifts."
Kinda the idea we were going for - kinda : )