christmas gifts Archives - All Things Pondered Here

As the Christmas draws near, I really get into the holiday spirit right after Thanksgiving. You can call me old-fashioned, but this is my favorite part of the year. The thing is, I like picking out presents for my family and friends and I always like to be very personal doing it. Generic gifts and all that: really not my style. In there lies a problem. My older daughter is just so picky when it comes to the things she wants. And the thing is, I can’t say no to her. Not because she is spoiled or anything, but because she is the only one that takes Christmas more seriously than me. As it turns out, much more.

I asked my kids to write to Santa this year and here is what I did: we sat down, I explained the rules and made it very clear that Santa likes kids who obey them:

You can only ask for something you really want.
You can ask for one thing, and not like PS4 with all the games (my oldest last year).
Santa will do his best to grant you the wish if you are a good kid.

So check this out:

All three of my kids (I got 2 daughters and a son) asked for this in the letter to Santa. At first, I thought it was a mistake, but it wasn’t. Then I asked my wife should I be worried that my 11-year-old wants a make-up doll? She then told me the most remarkable story I have ever heard.

So we got three kids: David (11), Meg (6), and Brook (3).

Meg is the mastermind behind this entire operation. She really wants this toy and she proposed a deal to the other kids. Meg told Brook that she will practice on the doll and then put make-up on her if they get this gift. So naturally, Brook was on board. And then she promised David all of her next year’s candy from trick-or-treating if he writes to Santa for this toy as well. I mean how the hell did she come up with this idea? Do I have the cunningest kid in the world or what?

The moral of the story is that my kid really wants this toy. And from what I heard from other parents, this is a really popular toy amongst little girls. If you follow the link I posted, you will easily notice a 4.5-star rating that only confirms the fact that kids love this thing.

So I made Meg a deal: She would have to fulfill all the promises she made to Brook and David, and she would have to make her bed every morning until Christmas, and I would write to Santa for this doll as well. She told me: DEAL, and squeezed my hand as hard as she could with the widest smile in the world. Man, kids these days are really something!

–Marko Lipozencic

Make Christmas Crafts – ‘Tis the Season

I remember when I was a child that we worked on those little craft projects that you would decorate and then place in the oven and they would shrink down to a miniature size. What I recall about that time is that it was both interesting and fun. At that age, I thought it was really strange that they would shrink so much from being placed in the oven. It was a mystery to my young mind.

I remember the sense of family as my older sister, by thirteen years, led us in the craft making process. It is a memory worth hanging on to. Such memories make me glad that I had an older sister who helped to take care of me.

Sentimentality and nostalgia come to call. Life seemed easier and simpler then. Remembering those quieter times brings a bit of peace to a complicated, and sometimes messy, adult life. It’s great to recall those gentler times.

I think making Christmas crafts can be very satisfying. Both adults and children can walk away with a sense of accomplishment. Home made crafts can also become a unique, one-of-a-kind gift to give away, made from love. Crafts can also be hung on walls or Christmas trees to help spruce up and add to the joy of Christmas celebration – or whichever holiday you might celebrate.

Now that I think about it, Christmas or holiday crafts can save money too. I don’t have to feel obligated to buy the latest and greatest decorations if I want to have something new and different to add to the season. I can escape from Christmas commercialization, even if just for the moment and not completely. I can simply make my own decorations and gifts. They would be unique and nobody else would have them. They cannot be bought in stores, because they only come from me. There is something comforting in that.

Homemade Christmas crafts are excellent for promoting interaction and building relationships between the older and younger generations. As Grandma or Grandpa help the children to learn, they make their bonds that much healthier.

christmas gifts

Bratz Styling Head – favorite amongst little girls

Make Christmas Crafts for Fun, Family and Memories