The 4 Gifts Idea (Read)...

1. Something we want

2. Something we need

3. Something to wear

4.  Something to read

 Thank you to Sunny with a Chance of Sprinkles and Vintage Sunshine for hosting this series and making me rethink the way we do Christmas!

Back for the final week in the 4 Gifts Series with our "something to read" list:

Of all the lists, this one is the easiest...maybe too easy because my kids love books and I love buying books for them.  I definitely couldn't stick to the 1-3 limit on this category. 

 If you are looking to not spend a fortune on books, check out the Scholastic Book Orders your child(ren) bring home from school.  The books are great prices and every time your order online, you get a $5 off your next order coupon!  You might want to ask the teacher to get the order to you and not hand it to your child to bring home (that happened to me recently...oh well they got some early Christmas presents.)  Another place I have found some really cheap, cute books is Ollie's Discount Store.  Not sure if you have one in your area but you can get hardback books for as cheap as $1.99!

For Harper and Palmer (daughters ages 6 & 4):

 These are the books that they picked out but they will be getting books I have ordered from Scholastic too.

Archer (son age 13 months): 

 Archer will also be getting some books from the Scholastic book order.

 

Me:

 I know I'm so behind on the Hunger Games books but I want to read them before I see the movie.

What is something you have been wanting to read that you could ask for, for Christmas?  I would love some more suggestions on books for me. I love to read, it's finding time to do it that's the hard part!

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The 4 Gifts Idea (Wear)...

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

1. Something we want

2. Something we need

3. Something to wear

4.  Something to read

Back for Week 3 in the 4 Gifts Series with our "something to wear" list:

Harper & Palmer (daughters, ages 6 & 4): 
I racked my brain and asked the girls some things they might want for Christmas that they could wear.  The only things we could come up with were slippers and Christmas pjs.  They have more clothes than should be legal and shoes too.  And they have enough coats, hair accessories, jewelery, dress up outfits and pockets books for a class full of girls. They have grandmas that spoil them rotten as well as friends and cousins that pass down their clothes. So two things in this category is all they are getting.

#1:  Slippers and they want doggie ones 

#2: Christmas pjs (these will be opened on Christmas Eve so they can wear them)

Archer (son, age 1):

#1:  Some soft shoes.  He is very slowly trying to walk and wants to do it when we are out and about but when I put hard soled shoes on him, he acts like they are too heavy and pulls them off.  He has a couple of pairs of Robeez but has almost outgrown them so some little shoes like these would be perfect for a new walker!

#2:  Fleece sleep sack.  With winter coming, his cotton sleep sacks aren't going to be sufficient enough to keep the little guy warm so a couple of fleece sacks should get us through those cold nights.

#3:  Christmas pjs so he can have his festive jammies on to open up presents in Christmas morning.

Me:

#1:  I love all the trendy, cute scarves everyone is wearing and I'm sad to say that I'm not the proud owner of any.  So I would love a scarf or two to keep me warm and looking cute this holiday season. :)

#2:  I also am loving all the knee length boots I see everyone wearing and I want some too.  I will take a pair in black and a pair in brown...thanks!

#3:  Clothes-some essential pieces that I can make several outfits out of.  I can not tell you the last time I went clothes shopping. I am still wearing the same stuff I have worn for years and it's worn out and well I'm just ready for a change. 

What are some things you can wear that you want for Christmas??

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The 4 Gifts Idea (Need)...

We are so blessed because it was hard to think of what things we really needed.  But after some thought this is what we came up with...

Harper and Palmer (daughters-ages 6 & 4)

#1-A new humidifier. They usually get a cold or two during the winter months and we always keep a humidifier in their room when that happens.  Unfortunately, the one we were using was recently dropped and broken into many pieces.

#2-I don't get the girls hair cut often but by Christmas time they will definitely be in need of a trim and shape up.  There is a place that caters to children's haircuts called Snip-Its. The girls love to go there but seeing as it's a little more than I want to pay for a haircut, it's not often they get to go. They would love to get a gift card to this place.

#3-Some workbooks for enrichment. They love doing these and we are in need of some new ones!

Archer (son-age 12 months)

#1-My son has been using his sister's old pink blanket on his bed. I think it's about time to get him a more boyish one.

#2-Diapers-can't have enough of those!

#3-Wipes (I love making homemade wipes but sometimes it's just easier to grab a pack and go.)


Me Ok so I decided to include myself in this one :)

 #1-I know this sounds cliche but I NEED to spend time with my family.  Last year was just plain crazy...we moved on Thanksgiving day (with a 1 month old) and Christmas was lonely. I was having a super difficult time with my newborn but didn't want my daughters to miss out on Christmas with family, so my husband and girls drove 3.5 hrs away to spend Christmas Eve with his family. So, yes this year, I need my family! And as I was looking for a family picture, I also realized we need somemore of those...this one is the only one I could find of all 5 of us!

#2-I always need a calendar for Christmas and I love this Mom's Calendar.  I write down everything, am a list maker, and just love to be organized so this is something I definitely need.

#3-Now that I have gotten into freezer cooking and making healthier recipes for my family, I have all kinds of recipes in about three different places...not ok with me. Like I said, I need to be organzied so a place to store all my recipes would be great! 

 What do you need for Christmas?  Was is as hard for you as it was for me to think of things you actually need instead of just want?

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The 4 Gifts Idea

When I first saw this idea, I thought to myself how simple yet genius! My kids always end up with waaay to many toys, most which hardly get played with after they are opened. So last weekend, I told my kids that Santa sent mommies and daddies an email and said this was his guidelines for Christmas gifts this year.  I told them the four categories.  My six year old's first comment was, "but what about toys?' I told her that would be under the "Things you want" category.  She and her sister were just fine once I explained that to them.  

So I asked the girls what it was they wanted for Christmas.  They thought for a while and then said, "I don't know." OK clear sign they have way too many toys!! I told them what my brothers and I did a few times when we were growing up...instead of asking Santa for a few smaller things, we would all ask for one big thing that we could share.  I could see the wheels turning in their little heads.  They were trying to think of something big that they and their one year old brother could all enjoy.  Then it hit them....a playhouse!  So we got on the interest and searched for something they would all like.  This was their favorite one (well favorite close to our price change. haha)...

All the playhouses we looked at were in the $300-$375 but I'd love to get it cheaper so I'm going to keep my eyes out for any internet deals, Black Friday deals, check out places like Costco (where I've seen similar playhouses for cheaper) and also keep my eyes on ebay and craigslist.  If you know of another place that might have a good deal on an outdoor playhouse, please let me know! 

Another thing we are doing, along with the 4 Gifts idea is having the children pick out at least five toys, they already have that they have outgrown or lost interest in and we are going to donate them.  This idea led to a great conversation starter with my four and six year old.  We talked about being blessed and grateful for what we had. Both of them told me what kinds of things they were thankful for (a nice house, food to eat, clothes to wear, toys to play with, family.  After they did that, I asked them how they would feel if one of those things was taken away.  Their faces immediately changed.  I then explained how there are some kids out there who are not as lucky as they are- who don't have nice clothes to wear, a house to live in, food always available, a family, etc.  My six year old said that made her sad.  We then talked about ways we can help out those in need.  That's when I told them the idea that they would go through their toys and pick out at least five things (that are still in good shape) and we would leave them in a bag for Santa to take with him when he came on Christmas Eve.  They were so excited, they ran into the playroom and started going through all their toys. 

Thank you to Pinterest for this idea and photo!

I am so glad I came across these two ideas (I love the internet!) and we have now started two new traditions in our house!  I challenge you to stick to your list this year instead of going crazy and overbuying (like I always have) and to donate some of those toys that are just sitting around, not getting attention.  Remember the true meaning of Christmas and let's instill that in our children!

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