I know, it's easier said then done. Now days with all the toy ads and the cool 'big kid toys' out there its almost like we are saying its okay to take a second mortgage on the house, as long as the kids are happy.
Trust me, that really cool toy that your kid can't live without, WILL be at the bottom of the toy box in about a week. Christmas is and always will be about a child. But let's not forget WHAT child. Christmas is a world-wide Birthday party for baby Jesus. Do you really think our Lord wants to see you loose your stability over a game system?
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Let's start with the Shopping. Since that's what (unfortunately) everyone thinks about when they hear the word Christmas anymore.
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FIRST, start shopping for presents in January. Put them away throughout the year, make sure you remember where you put them. And wrap them and label them.
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However, if you are like the 99.9% of humanity that waits until Black Friday and up to the night before Christmas. Take the time to sit down and make a list. Hey it works for Santa.
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On that list (for children) divide it into 2 columns, 1 from Santa, and one from family.
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We even have a gift from the child's elf. This is the elf that sits around and takes down naughty or nice notes and reports back to Santa. It's only fitting that the little snitch make good with a gift for ratting out who filled the sugar bowl with ants.
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Keep in mind that gifts will be given from grandparents, uncles, aunts, etc. Mom and Dad 2 presents a piece are more than enough
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Siblings one present from each sibling to each sibling (no matter how young or old).
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Santa presents should be the largest present. And still this doesn't mean breaking the bank. And one large present or a couple smaller ones is more than enough.
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Stockings. Fruit, candy and things like bubble bath, toothbrushes, toys about the size of a matchbox or a comic book appropriate for the age.
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Gifts for husband and wife. Okay guys Christmas is for the kids Give nice but sensible gifts that won't plunge you into nightmare fighting the rest of the year as pay it off.
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Gifts for adults. Oh how I preach this one. KEEP IT SIMPLE! Bake a box of cookies, a cheesecake, fudge or something homemade. If your friends don't appreciate your baking time, are they really friends worth your time?
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Christmas Cards. I love Christmas cards. I love receiving them and I love sending them. Our local Christian bookstore has some lovely ones. I keep a list of people I'm going to send cards to and start the day after Thanksgiving. Mailing them out in "sections" keeps the postal finances nicely spread out.
- Christmas Dinner. Keep it simple! In our house we get into the yearly discussion Ham or Turkey. Pretty much everyone is sick of turkey by December (Thank you Thanksgiving), so we go with the ham. Or as my 9 year old calls it. Piggy-butt. Nicely enough a small ham goes a long way. If you get a bone in ham, it goes even farther (bean soup, ham and cabbage, potato and ham casserole, etc). Again, you don't need to be Martha Stewart for a good Christmas feast. Keep your sides simple so you can enjoy the holiday with your family and not slave all day away from them.
- Decorations. Keep it simple! Okay guys, the $200 inflatable snowman is about as tacky as you can get! Trying to outdo the neighbors by draining the local energy grid is also pretty dumb. While we all have our own decorating style. Remember this, keep it simple and stay true to the meaning of Christmas. Having a Christmas tree that is covered with fine glass and china ornaments will only frazzle your nerves every time a child passes by and goes "PRETTY", and besides who wants a tree that you have to put a fence around?
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