Up at 7am – rather dragged out of  bed by two eager kids.  We celebrated Christmas last night with my in-laws, mom and friend.  It was really nice and gift wrap was flying EVERYWHERE!!!  The kids were spoiled with goodies and off they went to bed.

Then, this morning, they couldn’t wait for….well…MORE gifts.  From Santa this time.  They were dying to see if Santa fulfilled their Christmas wishes.  And I must say…..it would appear that Santa fell short.

Chris timed it.  FOUR minutes for them to rifle through all their presents.  Which were mostly clothes.  Not exactly what was on their list…..oh…I mean their second and third modified lists……

Quickly after they got their gifts, the ran to their Itouches to see who got what.  It was getting posted on Instagram…”So and so got and Iphone5″, etc., etc., etc………

To hear the list of some of these kids; I couldn’t help but reflect back.  I got board games and stuffed animals.  Barbie’s and stuff that didn’t ‘do’ much.  Now, the times have changed and the bar has been raised exponentially!!!

I’m sad that my kids didn’t get exactly what they asked for.  But it WAS stuff that was on their ‘original’ list.  And if they were soooo disappointed, they didn’t really show it.  They were respectful, which I appreciate.

We talked about how sometimes we get gifts we NEED….rather than what we WANT!!

Soon, they were off trying on their clothes and messing around.  The excitement was over with and they were on to the day.  We still have one more stop to make for them.  The GRANDPARENTS HOUSE……..

It’s so much more than we ever had.  And it seems to continue to grow.  I looked on Facebook at the barrage of present these kids get and I wonder exactly HOW many of them will be truly treasured by the kids?

One thing I learned a long time ago with my kids; their wants pass quickly and move onto the next.  And when we have invested in the big ticket items, they were enjoyed for a short time and then were outgrown.

Now this may sound like I’m a bit of a humbug…. and I’m not trying to be.  I’m just trying to reflect on what works best for my kids.  I have them ‘watching’ the kids with the Iphone 5’s and seeing if their life completely changes for the better!  Do you know what my daughter said to her grandma last night?  “Grandma, I know this kid who has an Iphone and was messing around with it and let it drop to the ground.  Then they laughed and did it again as all the kids laughed with him!”

She’s watching.  She knows if and when she gets one, it will be a prized possession.  A few years ago, they got an Itouch from their Norwegian cousins.  It doesn’t have a camera and that is the only thing they are missing.  But they still play with them daily and have never lost them or damaged them!  Avery just bought a new case (with her own money) for the one she has.  For that I am very proud of my children.

I’m not saying all kids who get stuff damages or loses it.  But in this house, you need to be sure that you will take care of something if you want us to sink money into it!!  When the time comes that they get that upgrade; they will treasure it for sure!!

I sat back today and thought I should have bought a few more ‘fun’ things for my kids.  But then when I really thought about it, I realized it would be stuff they wouldn’t have time for since they are so busy already.  So I stood firm in what they got for Christmas.

I don’t mind the season….It’s just when we get all caught up in the ‘should have’s and forget why we should really celebrate!

Sometimes more is just more.

Merry Christmas!!