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We have seven children, 13 grandchildren, one on the way and a great grandson between us. Don't know how that happened since we're both only children. Anyway, we are giving each family, children included, a combined gift of "adopting" an endangered animal - a different one for each. It does something good, doesn't break the bank and we like the idea of it. With such a large, extended family spread out from coast-to-coast over five states it minimizes, simplifies and makes affordable the season for us.
We truly love the Christmas season; decorate, feast, exchange a couple of gifts plus have one for the house and remember, appreciate and revel in what it's about and the sense of community where we live and what it does for the less fortunate with a bit of help from us throughout the year.
I enjoy the holidays but it can be overwhelming at times. It would be easy to become jaded, but I get to see it through the eyes of a six and three year old, which makes all the difference. We decorate the house, make crafts with the grandkids, bake cookies and gingerbread houses that I make and the g-kids decorate. The three year-old woke up last week from a very bad dream where someone ate ALL his gingerbread house! We haven't talked about it this year yet and have no idea where that came from.
There is a huge Christmas parade in town on Saturday night, a decorated boat parade on the Intercoastal the next weekend, after that a park where trees are decorated by different civic groups that can be walked through to enjoy the lights at night. We go to them all.
My grandson is in preschool run by a Catholic Church. We aren't Catholic but enjoy the Christmas program, our granddaughter went there too. There is a procession with electric candles held by the children as they walk down an aisle in their nice clothes, followed by angels, shepherds, Kings, Joseph and Mary; all are 5 years old and younger. They do the nativity scene and sing all the songs I remember singing when I was in school for my Christmas programs. Deja vu.
The best gifts we get are the ones from the grandkids. Our DIL takes them to the Salvation Army and/or Goodwill and let's them get presents. The only time she has guided them away from a gift was when they really wanted to get Great-mama (my 85 year old MIL) a pair of ice skates... in FL. It's things like this that make it easy to enjoy the season for me.
For those who do give wrapped gifts, consider getting some at the holiday craft fairs typically held in churches on Saturdays over the next few weeks. A handpainted tray, knitted hats and mittens, handcrafted earrings, a handmade bowl or basket are nice gifts likely to last.
This is wonderful! As a crafter myself, I know the wonderful and unique things that you can find at your local craft shows. Plus you are supporting your local neighbors....talk about "small business"! Very limited edition items and made in the USA. I make handcrafted cards and gifts and my customers love it that I put so much love into my creations and that many of the recipients keep them from year to year and even frame some of them. Just make sure that you attend shows that are strictly crafts made by the exhibitor and not a bunch of "buy/sell" items.
My lovely bride and I quit exchanging gifts 5 or 6 years ago, but we do put up a tree (it's up & decorated now) most years. This is our first year on The Big Island (Hawaii) and we have figured out that we brought too many decorations to use on our smaller home.
We don't by presents for other family members either. Grandkids are college age so the "magic" of Christmas is long gone. Last year we went to a Hard Rock Casino (in Florida) for Christmas. Had a great time, and she won about $400.
"All the cheap stuff" you are right. I was in $ tree and I saw so much of it...all a waste of hard earned money.
Wow, I love $tree!! Reminds me of Woolworths and a small ma & pa grocery. I spent $20 and had the best frozen blueberries and oatmeal and crackers and a poinsettia and oh, and etc, etc!! my gosh......love it!!!!!!!
Our family stopped buying presents years ago. We now bring a cheap, dollar store gag gift and have a competition (with cheap prizes) to see who can bring the most ludicrous, or useless, or funny, or cheapest, gift. (We have 6 categories of prizes, I think.) It's just my siblings, their SOs, adult kids, a couple of little ones, hubby and me. (Well, I do confess I buy the little ones a small toy and a Toys R Us gift card. They are kids, after all.) Everyone gets to pull a gag gift out of a pile and of course, has to read the gift tag out loud and pass the ludicrous gift around.
We open the "gifts" and laugh until we cry. Every year, I laugh until my muscles hurt. Some of the useless crap you can get at a dollar store really makes you wonder why anyone thought to make such a thing.
Husband and I don't buy each other gifts, as we feel we have enough "stuff" as it is. I do decorate my kitchen quite a bit, and put a few yard decorations out. We also support a couple of local charities with which we are very familiar. We have fun buying toys for those kids throughout the year. And then I am happy to see all that stuff leave my basement.
BTW, we celebrate Solstice big-time. That way, we have a holiday just for us that we can enjoy without having to travel. (My decorating centers around Solstice themes.) And since we both hate the long winter nights, Solstice has a lot of meaning for us. Then on Christmas, we help our family celebrate "their" holiday. The goal is keep it simple, keep it fun, and just enjoy each other's company.
If you absolutely can't give up gift giving for Christmas. Send a nice check to your favorite charity, It will be more appreciated than some toy that will be discarded before next season.
DH & I have declared this to be the year we FINALLY quit buying or exchanging Xmas gifts. We will buy ZERO presents, not for each other, not for our sons (although we will give them cash), not for anyone. Instead of taking part in the usual charity "Angel Tree" programs, we will instead just contribute $ to all charities.
We'll still have a simple tree and a wreath on the door. Maybe even hang stockings but just as decor, they'll stay empty. We'll make wassail and an assortment of munchies and offer them to the neighbors who ring our doorbell to present us with cookies or cheese or wine. We'll take in the sights and sounds and smells of the season. We'll attend a Xmas Eve church candlelight program. We'll wake up Xmas morning, turn on the tree lights, and sip our coffee. We'll then dress and head off to Xmas dinner with the usual 25 or 30 relatives and will arrive bearing food but not one wrapped present.
I. Will. Not. Wrap. One. Single. Present.
This just might be the best Christmas since our sons believed in Santa Claus.
YES! My children are still young enough to believe in Santa (that will likely be coming to an end soon) and we are at least 20 yr away from retirement (but boy it sounds like bliss more mornings than not). We have decided to scale WAAYY back on the gift giving this year and have made a decision not to host our yearly holiday party this year. Even the kids are happy to tone it down and take the time to enjoy the sights and sounds of the season. We will make cookies from scratch this year and not buy them in a box because we are so rushed and over scheduled. We will have the time and extra money to go and see The Nutcracker this year because we are skipping the big boozy party. They are pleased and so am I. I'm even considering paying someone else to wrap all of those gifts that the kids will get. No presents for the grown ups! We are slowly scaling back and it feels great!
Last edited by momofvegasgirls; 11-26-2015 at 08:43 AM..
Wow, I love $tree!! Reminds me of Woolworths and a small ma & pa grocery. I spent $20 and had the best frozen blueberries and oatmeal and crackers and a poinsettia and oh, and etc, etc!! my gosh......love it!!!!!!!
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It's things like this that make it easy to enjoy the season for me.
