Christmas Gifts

I get asked quite often what we do for Christmas gifts, so I thought I'd share...

For our kids, we give them each three gifts plus their stocking. Someone told me they did this a long time ago to represent the gold, frankincense and myrrh given to Jesus. We liked the idea especially the aspect of putting a limit on how much the kids get. No offense to anyone intended, but I think it's ridiculous the number of people who run around getting themselves into debt in order to get their children everything they've even mentioned they might want. I understand the pull to want to give our kids everything they want, but even if I had the money to do it, I just don't think it's good for them. My opinion in case you wanted it :-)

Here's what we did this year:
---For my 6 year old girl: a big huge stuffed animal (the only thing she asked for.. I found one for $20.. it's bigger than her!!), a tote full of arts and crafts supplies, and a caboodle full of play make-up.
---For my 4 year old girl: Snow White the movie, a dress up outfit, and a set of Snow white and the 7 dwarfs figurines
---For my 9 year old boy: A new game for his gameboy, a sword (he has SO many, but loves them!), and an xbox game he and his dad can play together (really cheap off amazon b/c we have an old xbox and they don't sell games for it in the store anymore)
---For my 2 year old boy: His bday is in Dec and he's getting a rocking horse for his bday present. His Christmas presents are a remote control fire truck (a used hand me down... he won't know!), a Mr. Potato Head, and a set of balls (he loves balls!)
---For my 5 month old: For the sake of his siblings we're wrapping up some baby toys we've had in storage.

Their stockings usually have one food item, one practical thing like socks, and then a toy or two. This year the older ones are getting some of those silly bandz that are so crazy popular right now.

I say that we don't spend much, but it's all relative... I mean, I was talking to a mom who was excited because she limited herself to $150 per kid... so, compared to her I don't spend much. But if I look at it from a worldview perspective, the fact that I spent $40 on my 6 year old means that I've spent several month's salary for some people in other countries.

I don't think it's wrong to spend more than I do, especially if you have more to spend without going into debt, but I do think self control is important in all of this :-)

As for other people, we do $15 per niece/nephew. And for the most part the other adults we would give gifts to, we have portraits made and give those out.

For the people at Brian's work and the SS teachers at church, we bake cookies.

For the teachers at the school, we do a gift card.

We generally don't exchange gifts with each other (hubby and I).

So, there it is... that's what we do :-)

I pray anyone reading this has a blessed Christmas!!