Opening Christmas Gifts

We do our Christmas a little different around here. My family always opened gifts early when I was growing up, and we have continued that tradition here. We don't really do Santa here, and have scaled back big on the gifts, so we just do them all at once, but early, and then save stockings for Santa, on X-mas morning. Even that was really small this year. We like to open early so that the kids have more time to play with their gifts, and get to share in the excitement of our gifts, before they get all their other stuff from family. It just spreads the celebrating out longer. So, the Sunday before Christmas, I stayed home from the hospital that day, and we had Christmas. I also didn't wrap anything this year. I just didn't have the time, and once we decided to open gifts, I decided I could save that hour of wrapping, and money on paper. I know, sad, huh. I never thought I would be that way, but this year, I was really a Christmas scrooge. Thankfully, I didn't ruin it for the kids, they didn't care at all that their stuff wasn't wrapped. I just had everything sorted into their own pile, and then called them all in. Noah told me later that he got everything that he had wanted, and had asked for in his letter at school. Good thing, since I had no idea what he had written on that paper! Our Christmas has gotten smaller every year the past few years, and I think this year was just about right. I remember years past when I would clean out everyone's room, and get rid of half their toys, just to make the room for all their new stuff. Now that is pitiful, a waste of money, and just makes no sense.

It was complete with a big can of popcorn and chocolate covered cherries to chow down on!