Not much going on around here. Peach has done about 800 laps around the kitchen and family room on this, with the bell ringing every lap (I guess it's not sooo quiet). It's really a great toy for her age. She's told me at least a dozen times that she loves it. The baby has had a dozen or so baths and is snuggled in a towel drying. The boys are busy play Guitar Hero, or some other game, and they are, for the most part, all getting long. With interspersed cousin visits, big meals and loads of laundry (for me) the Christmas break is moving along happily.
This year the children each received three gifts. We've tried a variety of gift-giving methods over the years, ranging from celebrating the twelve days of Christmas (with a gift each day) to opening a barrage of presents on Christmas morning, but I must say, the three gifts has been my favorite. We told the children that they don't deserve more gifts than the baby Jesus. They made lists and the three gifts were (except for Peach) chosen from the list. And they are happy. When the children woke up Christmas morning, we had a bit of breakfast, readied for Mass, left for Mass, and when we came home, we opened gifts. This the second year we've followed that schedule and I'm very proud that the children do it willingly. No whining that they want presents -- they know that we should put the Lord first.
So, we're enjoying a healthy break from school and work, and I hope that you are too. The peace of the Word made Flesh is among us.
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Thank you for sharing your Christmas morning "schedule." We are still trying to figure out what we would like to do in the future. (We went to Christmas Eve Mass.) May I ask if Santa visited your house? If so, how did that fit into your schedule? Does Santa wrap his presents at your house?
ReplyDeleteStina,
ReplyDeleteSanta does visit, but since I have such a large range of ages (5 to 18) only the littlest still believes.
Santa has only ever brought one gift to our house. We started that when my oldest was fairly young and he wondered why the toy drives -- doesn't Santa bring poor children toys? So, Sanata has only brought one gift for along time.
I do wrap Santa gifts, and I used take elaborate measures to make sure the paper was different and the handwriting on the tag was different, but now they are all wrapped the same and no one says a thing!
Good luck to you finding the right "way." Like I said, I have an 18 yo now and it took quite a few years to figure it all out for us.
We also wait to open presents until after Christmas morning Mass. My nerves can't handle the crowds at the vigil Masses and the older people who come to the morning Mass love seeing our kids dressed up in their Christmas finest. In our house, St. Nicholas is in charge of the stockings. The children are allowed to ask for one special thing (small enough to fit in the stocking) from St. Nick and when they wake up on Christmas morning they are allowed to peak in there before we leave. Everything under the tree is from us or relatives.
ReplyDeleteWe have done the three gifts before as well and I like it. One year we said, "Something useful, something religious and something fun." This year it was one special thing from Mom and Dad and one surprise thing that they weren't expecting. We also picked out a book for each of them but those we will save for the Epiphany.