Santa did it!

Mother Nature didn't agree with Santa this year, which made for a very interesting Christmas morning.  While the rest of the country was getting snow - we got a very cold rain.  That's right, we live too far north for warmth, but too far south for snow.  So we got rained on, all day, Christmas day.

Luckily that was about the worst of it.

Except Santa brought his big gift, which involved the twins going on a treasure hunt to find it, which involved going outside, in the rain.

They didn't care.  And in the end they rode their new present for about 5 minutes in the rain.  Yesterday I was able to watch them actally enjoy it for a few minutes before I crashed on the couch again.  What is it about Christmas that wears us out?  After all the prep - we are pooped afterwards.

So today I'm back at work and the kids and hubby are lounging around, or else doing this.

Mom VS Santa

Last week I gave a hint that my favorite gift may be coming from Santa this year. 

It's official.  Santa wrote me a nice long note and told me what super duper big gift he was giving my boys.  Without Santa, my boys wouldn't have recieved such a gift because lets face it - it's way out of our price range.  And for those guessing a Wii (Desert Rose), it's not one of those, this actually costs more. 

I say it's for my boys, but really it is for the twins.  Although Dear Hubby will get just as much joy out of it.  Little Man will be very jealous, until he is older and can steal it from them.

I listened to all the comments on my favorite gift post and I asked Santa to make a treasure hunt to it.  I think it will be so much fun!  He is going to do 10 clues, and they will each be able to take turns figuring out where to go next. 

He has also promised that he will leave them a note with the first clue that says they have to follow Mommy and Daddy's rules on their new gift.  See Mommy likes rules, especially when it comes to toys for boys.

It all sounds so wonderful doesn't it?  It is great, and I am very excited for them.  This is my only problem.  Santa is bringing the big gift, but in order to use the big gift, you need a smaller gift.  This is a part of Mommy's rules.  So, while all my shopping was done last week, today I got to go out in the lovely traffic and go shopping again.  On my lunch break.  To multiple stores.  To find one of these. 

And by the way Santa, this thing cost $100.00 but they aren't getting your gift without it!

Now, the question is when to give them this - before or after the treasure hunt - or should I pretend it is from Santa?

In all my 30 years of Christmas...

Thirty years of Christmas presents is a lot of gifts, if you include my birthday and any other random gift I've gotten, well that is a WHOLE LOTTA GIFTS!
And Mama Kat wants me to describe a funny or favorite gift that you’ve gotten or have given.

So I was thinking - I talked about the pink jambox the other day in my questions post.

Did I tell you about the year (yes it was the 80's) that I got the black and white polka dot hammer pants I was dying for?  That was the one and only time my mother actually got me exactly what I wanted clothes wise.  And I was thrilled - they went great with my pink sweater.  I even have a picture of me modeling them that Christmas morning.

There was also the year that I got a bicycle!  I had to follow clues and hunt for it.  I was so excited - even if it was green. 

But my favorite, I think it is coming this year!  I am so excited about the gift for the boys.  It is a super duper suprise and it won't fit under the tree.  Hopefully it will all pan out according to plan, and if it does - the look on their faces will be great!!!  I can make them go on a treasure hunt around the house like I did, or maybe I'll just leave directions to go look on the back porch.

What should I do?

Christmas is sights, especially the sights of Christmas reflected in the eyes of a child.--William Saroyan

Christmas Questions you say?

Laugh until you Cry tagged me in a little Christmas Meme which is from the Top Christmas Blog.  So if you want to know all about Christmas at my house, read on my friends, read on.

1. Have you started your christmas shopping yet?
Well I bought a little bit, and won a couple of things.  So started yes, but anywhere near finished? NO!  Which is really bad for me.  I usually start mapping out a plan and shopping in October, but this year, well October just slipped right on by - and for that matter so did November.

2. Tell me about one of your special traditions.

If you read my post a couple of weeks ago - you know I am in need of some traditions. I've adopted one Helen gave me that the boys will open one present Christmas Eve (that I've always let them do) and it will be new PJ's.  I like the idea that I can at least make sure they have matching pjs on for all the pictures that are taken Christmas morning.  The only one we have is our annual trip to Mcadenville the city of Christmas lights.  The boys love it - we went last Sunday and even little man kept saying "lights, lights, lights"

3.When do you put up your tree?
The weekend after Thanksgiving.  I prefer one holiday at a time, but as much Christmas as I am able to squeeze in.

4. Are you a black friday shopper?
I wasn't.  Last year was the first time I ventured out and that was because a friend dragged my butt out of bed.  This year, dear hubby had to work, so I didn't make it.  But I feel like I missed some really good deals and a great time.

5. Do you travel at Christmas or stay home?
We don't travel far away - but we do go to the in-laws just down the road for brunch and dinner. 

6. What is one of your funniest Christmas memories?
My favorite -he he he- is from when my brother and I were little.  He really wanted a jambox for Christmas and our very cool aunt got him one with a cassette player and all - it was so great - and I was very jealous.  Until he opened the box and saw it was pink.  That gift went to me - with the promise that he would have another one, wonder if he ever got one???

7. What is your favorite Christmas movie?
There are so many great ones.  I am a big fan of Polar Express - have loved the book since I was a  little girl.  I also have to watch the Grinch every year and Charlie Brown.

8. Do you do your own Christmas baking? What is your favorite treat?
Yes I do my own baking!  I love to cook, good ol' southern food and desserts.  Last year the twins and I made batches and batches of cookies and peppermint brittle for them to package up and give to people as gifts.  My favorite thing to make is fudge, or cheesecake.  I make a mean cheesecake.

9. Fake or Real tree?
I like a real one - sprayed with anti-burn stuff.  But we bought a fake one the first year we were together and it has been that way ever since.  I just can't see spending the money on a real one when I have a fake one (make that 2, someone gave us their old one) right here.

10.  What day does the actual panic set in to get it all done?
Panic - I've never felt any panic before.  Usually I have it all done in a timely fashion and try to enjoy every bit of it.  This year though - there might be a little panic if I don't get some shopping done soon.

11. Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?
Nope - I had that experience once in college when I came home and my step-mother hadn't wrapped anything yet.  And I may be caught wrapping gifts for my mother in law who saves them all for me to do, but all of my stuff is wrapped.  I enjoy wrapping and will take my time in the evenings doing it all.

12. What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas?
I'm probably the most excited person Christmas morning, I've always been the first one up and have even woken up my children out of sheer anticipation.  I love to see their faces when they get up and can be found with my cup of coffee in hand sitting near the tree waiting on them.  That is my favorite part - the joy and wonder of their faces first thing in the morning.

13. What Christmas craft do you like best?
I made really neat stockings one year.  But my favorite is making the Gingerbread house, I try to get better each year.

14. Christmas music?
Dear hubby isn't a big fan - although he enjoys the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  I am not picky and love Christmas muic.  The Christmas station has been on in my car since the first day of December.

15. When do you plan to finish all your shopping?
Hopefully before the 20th. I do not want to be caught out the week of Christmas. One year I fogot the gift for my brother and had to go out  Christmas Eve, it was pouring a cold rain and the mall was packed.  It was the most miserable shopping ever. 

The original version of this meme says to tag 5 blog friends, so that is what I'll do. I'm going to tag:
Desert Rose Moments
Diaries of a Coach's Wife
I'm Living Proof that God has a Sense of Humor
Twinsomnia
Anti-Supermom

HELP! How do I not blow Santa's cover???

Have you heard about the Elf on the Shelf? It is all the new rave.  Well, at least at the twins school.  Their teachers each have a Elf on the Shelf who watches the children and then goes back to Santa each night and tells whether they have been 'naughty or nice'.  Each day he comes back to a different spot in the room.

I think it is a great concept, the boys love it.  He comes with a special book and you can name him and 'register' online to get 'adoption' papers.  The boys have fallen in love with the elf, and all in the year I was afraid the magic of Christmas would start to disappear.  They are seven now.

T1 and T2 have been asking for an elf for about a week.  They told me which website I could go to and would ask everyday if I had been.  Well I went.  It's $29.99 for the whole set-up and we don't have an extra thirty bucks for an elf on a shelf.  I nicely told them we just couldn't afford it right now and it was a lot of money.

Last night, T1 politely informed me that I didn't have to worry about getting one anymore.

"Why?" I asked
"Because I wrote Santa a note and the Elf in our class took it to him.  Santa will send you a Elf on a Shelf."
"Wow!" I responded.  Dumbfounded because now I either get to make or break Christmas this year.

There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child. ~Erma Bombeck

So it's Christmas and you're broke - who isn't?

In case you live in a cave, or aren't from around these parts, we are in a recession/depression (depending on who you ask).  No one has the money to go out and spend loads for Christmas, but we want to give just the same.

Giving is no longer what it used to be.  I have customer's asking for donations to charity instead of their usual gifts.  Families are starting to draw names instead of buying for every single aunt, uncle, cousin, niece and nephew. 

Even with all of these changes, we still have this strong desire to give to our families, especially our children.  We don't want them to see how the economy has affected us on a personal level.  We do not want them to worry about money or the future.

Well either get over it, or get real creative about your spending.

I'm doing both.  The kids aren't going to get what they are used to getting (although I will say my children don't ever ask for much - only one or two things).  And I'm getting creative about my spending.  I'm making a list, or two, or three, comparing deals, prices, freebees, (and entering a few Christmas giveaways).  So I thought I'd share my knowledge with you - so you can get in on these too!

1. Check out the saver websites: Mommy Savers  is a fantastic website that I have been a member of (its free) for a couple years now (and no they did not know I was writing this).  There are all kinds of articles about saving money on any and everything.  PLUS their forum is constantly being updated by people who have found great freebes or awesome online codes or great in store bargains.  Just a sample of what you can find on their site

• 50 free photo cards, including free shipping
• Yankee Candle Coupon - buy 2 get 2 free
• 10 piece Stainless Steel pots and pans for $20.99

2. Check into Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals: We've all heard of Black Friday and you either do it or you don't.  I was one of those who didn't until I saw a couple of deals I couldn't pass up.  Watch these sites and see if it is worth going out on Black Friday.

• Black Friday Ads
• Black Friday

Cyber Monday is the Monday after Thanksgiving and it is the day that all us cyber junkies do all of our shopping - lots of deals are done that day also.

• Cyber Monday Ads

3. Make your own gifts.  Yes it may require a skill and some time, but there are a lot of terrific ideas out there that don't look like first grader crap and mean more when given.  Try these 50 ideas!

4. Win something in Blogosphere:  I may be the only blogger not doing a Christmas extravaganza/gift guide/giveaway, but that doesn't stop me from going to see what is out there and trying to win a few of my gifts.  You get to meet new people, get some great ideas and hey you just might be able to check someone off your list.

• The Five Fish is doing a Holiday Gift Guide that includes some of the most awesome giveaways I've seen!  Like luggage from High Sierra, or a Fountain Jet Soda Lover's Start-Up Kit  to make your own soda with.
• My Organized Chaos is also doing a Holiday Gift Guide that includes all kinds of giveaways from Pearl Earrings to Cheeky Umbrellas. 

Any thrifty ideas that I missed?

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.

~Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas