A New Christmas Tradition

As our family has grown, our gift giving practices have had to be re-designed every few years. This year we came up with a new plan, that just might work for a few years.

All children and young adults that have jobs/bank accounts are involved in one gift exchange. They draw names and purchase a $25-$30 gift for that person.

All children that do not have jobs/bank accounts are involved in a separate gift exchange. Papa and Mama provide the funding for this gift exchange, and they each purchase a $10 gift for the person who's name that they drew.

We have been very excited for Jacob, Sarah, and Rachel to be able to know the joy of gift giving. We drew names a week or so ago, and have had them each just think about what type of presents they would like to purchase. Then, last Friday, we had them each sit down and write a list of 10 possible things that they might like to purchase.

I then realized, however, that this meant we would need to take them shopping. I am not a fan of Christmas shopping with the masses (which is why I did my own Christmas shopping in October and November). I am also not a fan of taking children to the mall or to Wal-Mart during the Christmas season, because I do not want them focusing on the "I want ... I want ... I want ..." For MANY years, we have had the policy that the children don't go shopping with Mama or Papa between Thanksgiving and New Years. However ... as I said ... we really want the children to learn the joy of gift giving.

So, I came up with a plan. Yes, we should take the children to Wal-Mart, since you get the most bang for your buck there. However, I was not about to fight the Christmas crowds, especially with 5 children doing their first personal shopping trip (neither Josiah or Elijah have been involved in gift exchanges in the past). Therefore ... I decided that we should take our children on a midnight shopping trip to the "big city" (10 miles away).

We put the children to bed last night at 9:00; and woke them up at 11:30. We told them that they needed to get dressed for a "Christmas Adventure". I wish I had pics of each of them as they stumbled out of bed, completely confused.

Since Papa and I had both been to the city during the day, we knew that the roads should be clear enough for our Monster Van, so we loaded up and headed out for an adventure.

Mama, "Jacob, do you know where we are going?"

Jacob, "No."

Mama, "Sarah, do you have any idea where we are going?"

Sarah, "No."

Mama, "Rachel, what do you think?"

deep thinking ...

Rachel, "I think we are going to the mall."

Mama, "The mall?" (Rachel has never been to the mall.) "Do you know what the mall is?"

Rachel, "No."

Mama, "Do you know what you do at the mall?"

Rachel, "No."

Mama, "Than why would we be going to the mall? What have you heard about the mall?"

Rachel, "Josh and Ben go to the mall."

Mama, "You're right. But ... sorry ... the mall is closed."

(about 10 minutes later)

Rachel, "I think we are going to the store."

Mama, "Why would we be going to the store?"

Rachel, "To buy our presents for the people that we drew their names."

Mama, "Rachel ... you are very smart. Yes, we are going shopping to buy our presents."



After we arrived at Wal-Mart, I huddled all of the "big people" together for directions. We paired off one little person with one big person, gave them their lists, and sent them off to explore the store. (This was Jacob, Sarah, and Rachel's first trip to Wal-Mart, as Mama usually enjoys a little Mama-Time on her shopping trips to the city.)


The kids are ready to shop. (Oops! Already lost 2 of them, they're in a hurry.)



Josh helps Rachel choose a present for Sarah.



Hosanna helps Sarah choose a present for Elijah.



Cassie helps Josiah choose a present for Jacob.



Elijah decides to take a break from shopping for Rachel, to play with this fun sword.



Ben is Elijah's partner. He is, obviously, "hiding".




Sorry ... no pics of Jacob & Papa ... they were shopping for Josiah.


Ready for the ride home at 1:15 a.m. What a fun adventure. And ... guess what ... it is snowing again. Yea!