Preparing For Christmas
Friday, November 14, 2008
This post is brought to you by MomDot and sponsored by Hippos Toes, Appledonia and My Bag.I start thinking about Christmas in May. Making my lists and checking it twice. We create a budget and stick with it for relatives. We probably overdo it for Lochlan and Keegan - just a little.
With the family growing, we had to start removing adults from the list. But honestly, the magic of Christmas is in the eyes of a child opening a gift from Santa. Not from a 22 year old boy unwrapping a gift card to Best Buy. So we shop for kids only for any friend or family member that has children too.
I actually have a lot of my Christmas shopping done! But I still have a lot left too. Eek. I hope to finish all family members this month - except for Kevin, Keegan and Lochlan. I plan to finish shopping for them next month.
And next year we are joining a Christmas Club which is offered by the bank. The bank takes a certain amount of money from your account each month and puts it aside in a Christmas Fund for you! So when it is time to go shopping, you have a good amount to work with!
And those gorgeous kiddos you see up there - that's my niece and nephew. Gorgeous, eh?
14/11/08 9:10 AM
We always go a little overboard on the kids too. We figure they're only little once.
14/11/08 9:17 AM
Very cute niece & nephew!
14/11/08 9:19 AM
I remember Christmas Club! My mom used to do that for everyone so we all had our Christmas money when it was time!
14/11/08 9:40 AM
I absolutely agree on Christmas being for the kids. I got a chuckle out of the 22 yr. old opening a gift card (usually what we get for my 28 yr. old nephew!)!
14/11/08 9:47 AM
Your niece and nephew are adorable!
14/11/08 9:48 AM
Dude, my dad and G'ma still expect gifts for Xmas. It's crazy. This year it is strictly all about the kids.
14/11/08 9:50 AM
May?! Holy cow you rock!
14/11/08 9:59 AM
Spoiling the kids is the funnest part anyways!
14/11/08 10:01 AM
That must be where I get lucky. My kids are the only ones in the famly right now, so I don't have to buy for anyone elses! You're the best! Here's My Day 3! Come sign Mr. Linky!
14/11/08 10:06 AM
We've had to do that too as there are more and more people to buy for, if nothing else, we just make sure the children get gifts because the adults really don't mind if they don't get something. The fun of presents is more important to the kids.
14/11/08 10:36 AM
Thanks for playing in the Blog Party!
Bridgette
MomDot
14/11/08 10:40 AM
I really wish I could get on the ball with the Christmas Club thing, I'll have to check my bank out this year.
14/11/08 10:53 AM
I am ready to only buy for the kids but others aren't ready to let go yet. Good luck finishing up shopping.
14/11/08 11:04 AM
I agree about the gifts being for the little kids. The Christmas Club is a great idea. I'll have to look into that.
14/11/08 11:12 AM
wow... May!!
I think this is fantastic!!!
All of you are giving me hope I can get my butt in gear next year
14/11/08 11:27 AM
We have thought about the Christmas Club thing too. Maybe next year will be our year to try it out as well!
14/11/08 11:46 AM
Oh I should totally sign up for the Christmas club.. I'll have to check with my bank to see if they do that. Thanks for the idea!
14/11/08 12:28 PM
I think most of us go a little overboard no matter what we tell others. Those are cute cute kids.
14/11/08 1:01 PM
The Christmas Club sounds like a great idea! What cuties!
14/11/08 1:36 PM
That is so true about Christmas being for the kids...great idea! What cute kids!
14/11/08 2:36 PM
We are eliminating a lot of the adults this year. That way we can focus on Daniel. Which they will get some thingbut it will not be a big store bought present like normal
14/11/08 3:17 PM
I so need to start a Christmas account. I think it would really help to stay in budget. Your niece and nephew are so adorable!
14/11/08 3:41 PM
I like the account idea.
Yep, the kids are gorgeous!
14/11/08 5:25 PM
Our family normally just draws names for that reason. We would all rather just spoil the kids.
14/11/08 6:46 PM
My mom used to do the Christmas Club thing when I was little. Every week she put back $20 and then Christmas was worry free for her. I keep thinking I should do that, but alas never have.
15/11/08 6:36 PM
We used to do the Christmas exchange thing but we've cut it out completely and now each family just brings one gag gift and we exchange those.
15/11/08 9:27 PM
Agreed...most definitly all about the children!!
17/11/08 2:24 PM
That's a great idea on the Christmas Club. I think I need to start that by myself next year...none of my banks offer it, so I'll just set up auto transfer or something
17/11/08 6:00 PM
They are dressed really cute, and i think we over do it on our kids