Two years ago
It's hard to believe that Luke was once this size. This was his big present. A truck filled with blocks, custom made by my dad (the truck, not the blocks).
We don't go all out for Christmas. I was raised in a family where we had a small amount of gifts, but all of them so very special. I like it that way, though. I remember those special gifts, instead of just having plastic toy after plastic toy under the tree. Shane and I have made the decision to have Christmas like that for our children. Sure, part of it is financial, but another part of it is that we simply want our children to focus on more than STUFF.
This year, Luke's two gifts are vacuum cleaners. One of them a stick vac, the other a toy vacuum. I cannot WAIT to see his happiness when he comes down the stairs on Christmas morning. All he talks about is how he wants Santa to bring him a vacuum cleaner, and I'm so thankful we're able to make his wish come true.
And this guy...
His first Christmas. We didn't really get him anything, except that I plan to kiss him eight million times. I don't think he'll complain.
Christmas for me means a myriad of things. It's stressful and annoying. It makes a mess, like tinsel.
And yet, like tinsel, it's shiny and beautiful. It's everywhere, in everything, in a good way. It sparkles in the lights. It doesn't last long, and we miss it when it's gone.
However you celebrate Christmas, whether you have just a few presents or piles under the tree and a car with a bow on it in the drive, my wish is that you'll just sit back and let it sparkle for you.
It's hard to believe that Luke was once this size. This was his big present. A truck filled with blocks, custom made by my dad (the truck, not the blocks).
We don't go all out for Christmas. I was raised in a family where we had a small amount of gifts, but all of them so very special. I like it that way, though. I remember those special gifts, instead of just having plastic toy after plastic toy under the tree. Shane and I have made the decision to have Christmas like that for our children. Sure, part of it is financial, but another part of it is that we simply want our children to focus on more than STUFF.
This year, Luke's two gifts are vacuum cleaners. One of them a stick vac, the other a toy vacuum. I cannot WAIT to see his happiness when he comes down the stairs on Christmas morning. All he talks about is how he wants Santa to bring him a vacuum cleaner, and I'm so thankful we're able to make his wish come true.
And this guy...
His first Christmas. We didn't really get him anything, except that I plan to kiss him eight million times. I don't think he'll complain.
Christmas for me means a myriad of things. It's stressful and annoying. It makes a mess, like tinsel.
And yet, like tinsel, it's shiny and beautiful. It's everywhere, in everything, in a good way. It sparkles in the lights. It doesn't last long, and we miss it when it's gone.
However you celebrate Christmas, whether you have just a few presents or piles under the tree and a car with a bow on it in the drive, my wish is that you'll just sit back and let it sparkle for you.
13 comments:
you know, every year, my family says we'll cut back, but then we never do. but this year? we really are. emma's getting very little, and i'm actually really really happy about that.
as long as no one cuts back on my presents.
HA!!
Beautiful post! My family is more like yours, and J's family is more the all-out family... it's so much more stressful for me to try to "keep up" since they do it so big and I don't want us to seem "cheap." And WHO MADE THE RULE that wives are in charge of Christmas, anyway? Presents, cards, everything.
Every year we say we are taking it easy. The one year we got him everything he wanted... you know what? He didn't care.
This year, hopefully we will be taking it easy.
I got my present already and I too plan to kiss her a million times.
we are only getting a few things. The time spent with family and friends is what matter most.
Happy Holidays to you and your boys!
You're right, I love the tinsel analogy. And I like how you do Christmas, I don't think you can do it wrong. :)
That truck! What a precious gift! I'm kind of afraid what toys will come OBaby's way this Christmas via the grandparents. I can only hope it's something that meaningful.
I LOVE That truck!! Luke is so lucky!
You can't go wrong with a few special, sometimes homemade, much wanted gifts. Christmas will always be special for your whole family and your analogy was perfect.
i cannot believe that was was TWO YEARS ago! how is that possible?!
We are somewhere in the middle. Last year we got a wii. It was for all three kids and we got them each a game and that was it. We were accused by a relative of being "hard core" about being cheap. Whatever, they got a wii, and they loved it and we had fun giving it. So there :)
Kids and babies and Christmas go hand in hand. It's really all about them and not the gifts so much.
Enjoy it with your two beautiful boys!
(p.s. mine are getting spoiled a little this year but we've given away A LOT of toys this year in the move, etc...)
Is it wrong of me to be envious of your "don't go all out philosphy"? Because I am.
I always get so stressed out by the shopping and baking and this and that and the other. But every year, I seem to fall into the same trap. When it would be so easy for me to just stop it all.
Next year, we're leaving for Christmas. We're taking the whole family somewhere tropical. I think that's the only way I'll escape the madness.
such wonderful memories you are making for your boys. Can't wait to see his reaction to his not one but two vacuums!
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