Holiday shopping..

For as long as I can remember the kids have been buying Christmas presents for each other to open Christmas Eve. I believe the tradition started one of the years that Bill's parents was overseas. We had always gone to their house for dinner and family gifts on Christmas Eve and I remember we were struggling to find something to make our holiday tradition that year. It may also have started when one of the kids had a really thoughtful suggestion about what they wanted to get one of their siblings. Because ya know when they are little they pretty much just want to get the gift that they will enjoy playing with. It really doesn't matter what the other person would enjoy. So when one of them actually thinks about someone's likes and dislikes you want to reward them by letting them experience the joy of giving a really appreciated gift. It has become a tradition that has given us many valued memories!

When you have four kids one of the things that is rare and precious is getting time alone with each of them, especially the boys because dad is so much more fun that mom. The girls all I have to say is "anyone want to go shopping?" And I usually have at least one taker! So sibling shopping has as a rule developed into something that is done alone with mom. It is fun to watch and hear the thought process that goes into the gifts. Now they usually go more along the lines of the person's personality. For instance, there is one child that has bought Zach the same thing in different forms for the last three Christmases. The gift is loved and kinda adds to a collection he has going. I sometimes wonder if it will develop into a lifelong thing. I can't reveal what it is right now just in case one of them reads it. For some reason, everyone seems to get Zach gag gifts or humorous ones! Kinda goes with the personality right?

Shopping with boys can be quite a bit different than with girls. It usually takes a little longer because what guy in his right mind actually knows what gift to get a girl??? And my boys have three girls to buy for!!! Fortunately for my girls my boys have become pretty good shoppers. I tell myself that I am preparing them to be good husbands some day. Another way it is different? When the girls say, "oh look at that!!!" In an excited voice you can pretty safely figure what you are being directed to look at will be a cute outfit, shoes or a coach purse. However, when Zach says, "Yes! Check it out!!" You just never know where you should look or what it will be. Last night it happened to be a huge rubber band on the floor! Silly boy! It was one of those times I was laughing so hard trying to explain what was funny that he couldn't understand me. The boys also tend to be more likely to do a list when they shop. So usually they are finished pretty quickly. The girls can shop for days.....for one person! I have really come to enjoy the individual time spent with them! As they get older it is more and more difficult to find the time to spend with them.

Another reason, I have enjoyed this tradition is watching them try to keep their gifts a secret until Christmas Eve. Poor Cole has a really hard time with this one. In fact, the kids know not to ask for any clues about his gifts because the clue usually gives away the gift! Zach likes to disguise his packages by making them bigger so no one can figure out their sizes! He also likes to use clothing to disguise any noise or rattle the gift might make. That's how he has ended up with only two pair of underwear right now because he used all his clean underwear to cushion a package! They were CLEAN!!! He was just being green!!!!! Isn't that in style right now???
Kirsten has gotten where she doesn't even put her gifts under the free until Christmas Eve because she has a hard time deceiving people about their gifts. Lauren probably does the best at keeping things secret. This year Zach got his brother something he will love, something he has been dying to have. He is so excited to watch him open it. I explained to him that that is why adults love Christmas watching the other person open their gifts and see them be excited about them. His response, "yea but the gifts that adults get stink!" No worries, he's not growing up any time soon! Well, I need to get some wrapping done so I had better get moving!