Gift giving

What do you buy your kids? Each year, as I finalize gifts and check my list twice, I get wrapped up in commercialism. After spending December hearing about all of the "hot" items for Christmas that people are gifting and requesting, I find myself questioning if I should have gotten more for my children. When they were younger, one new toy kept them occupied for hours and they didn't pay attention to what their friends were receiving. As they get older and see their friends getting cell phones, tablets, and lots of other cool gadgets, I fear they are going to open their gifts and feel like they got "cheated." This year was no different. 

We stick to the "want, need, wear, read" list when it comes to Christmas. Each girl gets 4 gifts. Our tradition has been to open one the night before, since Jesus was born at night, and then open the other 3 the next morning representing the 3 gifts of the magi. Though each year I wait for it to be the year they seem disappointed, this year, once again, they were overjoyed and grateful for their otherwise "simple" gifts. 

Hazel doesn't make the cut. She gets one gift, but she loved it.

Emma loved her much needed new backpack.

Grace's favorite was her new pair of shoes to wear.

Norah wanted Calico Critters to play with this year.

And though her backpack was her favorite, she polished off her new book by 10am. 1.5 hours Christmas morning Emma spent quietly sitting at the kitchen table devouring every word of her new book.