We are in the same boat and that may be why I don't spend tons. Riley has 11 grandparents- She has great and great-great grandparents still alive plus step-grandparents etc. If she was any more spoiled, I don't know if I could live with her.

I didn't even notice the date on the post.

Good for you Erica! That's awesome that you are teaching your little one so young that Christmas is not about material stuff. You know I was in a networking group and one of the members there told about her mother who always took her to the hospital on Christmas. I think the group was a little shocked and horrified that instead of visiting family and doing presents a parent took her children to the hospital to basically visit with strangers and wish them well on a day where they were probably feeling pretty lonely. The lady who told us relayed the story with great emotion about what amazing memories it created for her and she was not upset at all that it wasn't the 'traditional' Christmas day that most people had.

Anyway, I'm getting pretty wordy myself here!

I pretty much forgot about this video as it's from last year but it popped up as I was scheduling my happy holidays message for this year. Thanks for your reply Erica, very inspiring!

Angela

This message was from last year but I came across it while posting a Christmas message this year. Sad but I pretty much forgot the message in it until I saw it again. You know, I'm going to start right now thinking about next year and start putting like home-made projects my little guy and I can do all throughout the year to plan for a much less commercial holiday next year – we can do it! You've inspired me.

We are making a few gifts this year though, they're really cute, cheap and easy – Super Mario Brothers 1-up holiday decorations – the link is here:
http://bit.ly/4ztj1m

Thanks for the reply Erica!

We are in the same boat and that may be why I don't spend tons. Riley has 11 grandparents- She has great and great-great grandparents still alive plus step-grandparents etc. If she was any more spoiled, I don't know if I could live with her.

I didn't even notice the date on the post.

Good for you Erica! That's awesome that you are teaching your little one so young that Christmas is not about material stuff. You know I was in a networking group and one of the members there told about her mother who always took her to the hospital on Christmas. I think the group was a little shocked and horrified that instead of visiting family and doing presents a parent took her children to the hospital to basically visit with strangers and wish them well on a day where they were probably feeling pretty lonely. The lady who told us relayed the story with great emotion about what amazing memories it created for her and she was not upset at all that it wasn't the 'traditional' Christmas day that most people had.

Anyway, I'm getting pretty wordy myself here!

I pretty much forgot about this video as it's from last year but it popped up as I was scheduling my happy holidays message for this year. Thanks for your reply Erica, very inspiring!

Angela

This message was from last year but I came across it while posting a Christmas message this year. Sad but I pretty much forgot the message in it until I saw it again. You know, I'm going to start right now thinking about next year and start putting like home-made projects my little guy and I can do all throughout the year to plan for a much less commercial holiday next year – we can do it! You've inspired me.

We are making a few gifts this year though, they're really cute, cheap and easy – Super Mario Brothers 1-up holiday decorations – the link is here:
http://bit.ly/4ztj1m

Thanks for the reply Erica!