Don't wait until next year!!

We bought our kids way too much this year, and I know it.

I get really excited when I can buy something for my children that I know they will love. And they have interests that I like to feed. Nonetheless, how much can they appreciate it when there is just so much?

As a teenager, it was just me and my dad. Our tradition was to go out and spend a day together. Yes, he would get me a pair of shoes or pajamas if I needed them. But the main idea of it was stopping in the middle of the holiday bustle just to spend time with each other. We would have breakfast, lunch and dinner out, maybe catch a movie. There was a mall about forty-five minutes from our house that we would drive to that one time a year (WalMart was the big deal when it was erected in our very small town).

Just a couple of days ago, my dad and I continued our tradition. Albeit with a five-month old in tow, we took time to linger a while, grabbed a cup of coffee, talked about how we could save the world.

The old-time memories and the ones we're still making are precious to me. I treasure those times with my dad and know that we have something far more valuable than anything I could buy in a store.

So, I'm choosing to do something a little extreme. We got the kids at least twelve gifts each, add in a few that are for all of them. Before bed, after the busyness of our day, I am going to weed some out...or maybe a lot. Why? Because I want them to appreciate what they get. You can tell me all of the "Christmas is magical and it's no big deal and blah, blah, blah," but it still feels like too much. I can think of about five gifts just off the top of my head that are going in to the attic and will be pulled out for a future birthday or a gift for someone else.

I received a Christmas card a couple of days ago and instead of thinking what a nice gesture it was for them to think of us, I thought, "Oh crap! I didn't send them a card; I need to get that in the mail!" Again, the Spirit of Christmas is trying to escape my grasp.

As I was feeling completely overwhelmed yesterday, I thought to myself, "Well, there's always next year to cut back and try to get it right." But why not this year? Why not start a new tradition of a humble Christmas with a few gifts and loads of love?

The kids were just tearing through the house and talking about all of the presents they were going to get from Nana and Grandma and Santa and on and on! I instituted a quiet time. Cindy-lou Who and Super boy are coloring in separate rooms with no talking, Dynamite and Ralphie are asleep along with Dh. The tree is twinkling, the music and tv are off. I've got a hot cup of coffee and am left to reflect on what it's really all about.