This is our little Christmas last year. We really need a bigger tree, it reminds me of the one from Charley Brown. It is better than the one we had a few years ago. Wal-Mart had some really pretty trees for a good price, so we grabbed one the beginning of December. I was so sick and tired of vacuuming the needs and watering the thing that on December 17th I drug it complete with Christmas lights all the way down the driveway and threw it on the curb half decorated.
That little incident has now gone down in Ivanovsky lore as the day Mom flipped, became the grinch, and drug the decorated tree out to the trash screaming Ba-Humbaugh!
I replaced it with that little set of three trees you can get at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby for like $40. I had them on the front porch and just put them in the living room, everyone hated me but I had enough of the mess. We now have a fake tree.
With no fireplace we leave the stockings on the living room couch. Other’s with no mantle where do you leave your stockings?
I start Christmas shopping on December 26th. Thats when I get all my wrapping paper, ribbon and tape for the next year. If there are Children reading this STOP now…. O.K. now that they are gone! I buy matching paper for all the presents from us. Then I get really fancy bows and paper from Santa. I never use bows, so the kids are convinced these presents didn’t come from me, they know I am too cheap 🙂We do presents a little like we talk to the kids about what Christmas means. The biggest (and usually most expensive) present comes from Santa. Then the kids get three presents from Mom and Dad, like the three that Jesus got from the Wise Men. In my opinion they don’t need more than this. They give each other presents and get presents from Grandparents. I try and keep it simple, they need to give as much as they get.
They also get good stuff in their stockings, but you can see these aren’t that big, usually a movie and for the girls a little jewelry and fun little things. A friend gave me a book one year called “Unplugging the Christmas Machine” I really enjoyed it. If I can find a copy I will give one away here on a few weeks.
I keep looking for deals throughout the year. But I am really picky. It has to be a great item or I will wait. Kids are also very finicky, I have bought a Christmas present in August for a child only to give it to another kid when December finally came! I don’t really have a budget for Christmas, I also don’t kill myself trying to make sure I spend the same exact amount on each child. SOme years are better for some kids and it goes there way the next year. There is no reason to spend the same amount on my 2 year old as I would my 12 year old. The 2 year old needs about $30 of toys and a nice box! The 12 year old on the other hand is going to need to get a job to get all the nice things he is asking for!
What is your Christmas strategy? How do you shop? When do you start?
Part comedian, part Dad, part athlete. He will boss around your children while they play ball.
Just as angelic as she looks, this girl could easily raise a Village by herself, and all the children would grow up to be President.
Self proclaimed, she would be a webkinz dog. Because, "they're cute, and puppies are too. And they're sweet and they always get along with other puppies."
This mini-Martha Stewart can handle ANY craft you send her way. She isn't all bows and rainbows, she's got karate kid moves!
Not "Pick-Me-Up" like caffeine, she wants you to pick her up! AND NOW!
Anything that can be destroyed WILL be destroyed!
Practically Perfect in Every Way for now! Nicknamed "The Panda" she is rolly polly and lives by the motto, "the little one, is KING!"
The resident Labradoodle, Miller got his name because Mom won and got to name the baby! Need something chewed up? He'll take care of it. Especially if it's expensive..