It was such a blessing for me that BW was home that last week before Christmas with finals done:) I was able to go out and do some Christmas shopping ALL BY MYSELF!!!! Only moms with children can truly understand the feeling of freedom to have a whole day to make as many stops as you want and not have to buckle anyone in carseats!
A tradition that I have had with Girl8 was continued this year. Every year we have gone to the dollar store where she was allowed to pick out gifts for family members. This year she was very proud and excited because she had her OWN money she had saved to spend. What fun to watch her try to decide what everyone would enjoy. She chose a doll (and added a bottle and clothes) for Girl4, a bow & arrow for Boy6, a mini nutcracker and dog bath sponge for Boy2 and a toolbox and flashlight for Dad. So I assume we are done, but she is hesitating. She wants to buy something for Grandma & Papa too. And then if she gets them something she also wants to get something for the others who will be at Grandma & Papa's on Christmas. How early this gene appears in women!
Then she says she wants to get something for Grandma & Papa in Nor Cal. I explain that it won't get there by Christmas. She says it's ok because they will have fun opening something after Christmas. That was where I stopped her because she was ready to start shopping for all of BW's family and I knew that she was close to her spending limit. So she decided to buy her own wrapping paper and tape. Then she got to count out the $15! she had spent by the time she was through. She just loved wrapping her presents, hiding them from the others and watching them open them on Christmas morning.
The next day I took Boy6 in for the same purpose. His main worry was that Girl8 had told him what she wanted (she had just been there the day before after all) but he wasn't sure which one was the one she wanted. Then he kept finding things he wanted for himself. However, within 6 minutes he had finished all of his shopping and was ready to go home.
-J
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