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Today was Christmas shopping day for us.  The sun was shining which made it seem not so cold and we were feeling ready to attack this errand.  I am not a great shopper anymore.  Maybe because I had a store for so many years, it has spoiled it for me.  Today it was fun with John.  We started with the toy store and we both were in awe of the available options.  I wanted to make a list out for me!  We were entranced with a huge remote controlled Ultra dinosaur that roared, stomped, walked, and looked like it could attack.  We could have fun with that.  Oh, yes.

Can you stand another of my stories?  If not, stop reading now.

Years ago, in my previous life when we lived in Westport, CT, my then husband often was in London in mid-November.  I always tagged along to go Christmas shopping.  I loved Harrod's.  Then it was this amazing store with amazing displays and really unique merchandise.  Every Christmas season, the store would have a theme and every department would have gifts and elaborate decorations relating to that theme. One year it was a "Dickens Christmas" and another "Baroque Christmas" and so on. Every year it seemed more elegant than before.  One year I took all my Christmas money and an open mind, determined that I would buy for everyone on my list presents from Harrod's.  The gifts would surely be really special and pertain to the store theme.  Shopping day came and there I was in front of the famous store getting a glimpse from their windows of their theme.  I couldn't believe what they had chosen that year.  "Christmas in Connecticut"!  

So many of you were touched by my story about my old neighbors, the Bennetts and their son Will.  I have to tell you that this is a special family.  Every year when Will would make out his Christmas list, he was encouraged to donate the same number of his old toys as he asked for on the list.  Isn't this a great idea on so many levels?  It cleans out the toys no longer played with, it helps children who may not have as much and it teaches the youngster to be generous and to think of others.  Will is now in college and he is a really fine young man, volunteering and helping others while being an active and fun person.

I asked yesterday what your favorite part of Christmas is.  I loved your answers.  I would have to agree that my favorite thing about the holidays is the sparkle and twinkle of all the lights and the excuse for family to all get together and have a good time.

Today's question:

With the economic downturn this year, will you do things differently?

Comments

[TACE]

That is so crazy, you went all the way to London to buy Christmas presents to take back to Connecticut and that was their theme? haha That is crazy! Did you end up buying anything? I mean from their Connecticut theme? Cause I dunno, maybe London could do Connecticut better than Connecticut, hahaha.
I agree about the toy choices out there for the little ones. I have been drooling over toys for 3 days now and finally had to shake myself out the self induced giant stuffed animal trance I was going into because I finally realized I was drooling over them more for me than the little ones. haha
People keep mentioning the economy, I'm not sure we personally are seeing this downturn, I mean I know it affects every one on some level but I guess it isn't affecting us or our Christmas decisions. That said, we did cut way back this year, but it's un-economy related. I mentioned in a previous comment that I was going to gracefully tell the adults in the family that we didn't wanna get presents for them, hahaha That's putting it bluntly but the reason is just that it's so hard, and rather than all the adults wasting money buying token gifts to fill a slot, we thought they should save their money, us ours and we'd concentrate on the kiddies. Every one went for it so our Christmas list is dramatically reduced, the self imposed pressure to find SOMETHING for every one is gone and we can enjoy shopping for the kids. I hope what I'm saying isn't coming across as grinchy, I mean it in the opposite in that while none of us are rich we all have enough towels, socks and blenders, and spending time and a meal together on Christmas day would mean more than any THING. :)
Your Christmas decor photos are inspiring. My fingers are itching, I gotta put mine up soooon.

[Rachel]

Loving your stories. My kids also donate toys they no longer need. We just donated about 4 boxes full in the last couple of months. Mainly because they have outgrown a lot of the baby toys now. Their rooms have a little breathing space for some new ones at Christmas. Plus when it's so nice and tidy, then tend to play with their toys more!

Economic downturn - no real change here this Christmas, although like Tace said, the adults are not buying for each other. We're having a gathering here on the 20th with hubby's family before the big trip out west to my Mum's farm for Christmas day.

[Brian Kasstle]

We are fortunate this Christmas, we both are working, we have more than we need and don't plan on getting each other anything, our friends and family as well. We all decided other than the kids we would not buy presents for Christmas for each other and we are going to sponsor families that are out of work for Christmas. The real exciting part for us this year is that a good friend has been trying to adopt a baby girl from Guatemala and just when it looked like it was not going to happen it worked out and she came home to her just before Thanksgiving! She is wonderful and so sweet. It is amazing to get to know this little wonderful girl. So we get to experience Christmas through her eyes this year which will be fun for us all.

[Brian Kasstle]

a friend of mine has a really sweet idea on her blog, being a secret Santa for a needy family & most of the items on her list cost relatively little. Check her out here:http://queenofpaper.blogspot.com/

[NotSoccer Mom]

yep, mostly handmade presents this year. my sister and my best friend are both unemployed so they are doing handmade as well. but i am finding it much more fun! i've even made some ornaments for the annual ornament exchange, which by the way, are better than anything i could have bought (and cheaper)!