Just thinking we may do something completely and totally different for Christmas this year.. We wanted to do this last year but it didn't work out.. We have limited funds as does most any body I know. Generally we don't spend more than $700 on all four of our kids together.. That's not a lot when you have teens.. My kids have all they need and most of what they want and we have been racking our brains trying to decide what to buy them and are coming up blank with the exception of clothes.. So we were thinking that we might go to Colorado for Christmas this year.. My dad lives there and we can see him and save on Motel by staying at his house.. My youngest somehow picked up on the whole santa clause thing even though we have never really promoted it so this might be difficult for her.. They will probably have a stocking to open on Christmas morning that I'm going to start assembling now so that I'm not scrambling at the last minute.. Probably things related to what we will be doing in Colorado.. Such as gloves for snowball fights and some warm socks for when we go tubing.. Just think this is so much better than all the worthless baubles they recieve each year and have no recollection of them.. MEMORIES are what this is all about.. We haven't seen my dad in over SIX years.. And my Grandma's got the onset of alzheimers so we really need to go.. What do you think???? Has anyone else ever done this?
What part of Colorado will you be visiting? We are going to Colorado for two weeks. We aren't sure if we will go a week before Christmas and return right after the new year or go after Christmas and return a week into the new year.
We were looking at houses in Pueblo West a few years ago. Our family lives in Colorado Springs, Yoder, and Denver. Pueblo West isn't a long drive. We wanted to be near the city without actually living in it. We will be staying in Colorado Springs over our vacation.
I think that is a fantastic idea. I have been having a hard time lately being happy over all the gift giving that seems to be the focus.... and we are even more financially crunched this year than last, so I really would rather do something that creates a great memory than just add to a toy pile, too....
One year when we were in Colorado, my bil took us sledding on this great slope. If they have snow this year, I would like to go again. I didn't ride the large sloped, but Ems and my nephews did. We had a special time. Maybe it is all in my head, but there is something special about Colorado around Christmas time.
Sledding or tubing is Definately on our list of things to do.. We won't have a lot of money and would much rather find some place we could do it for free.. But if we have to pay we will.. It will be worth it.. Plan on taking the kids to the zoo when it's all lit up in Christmas lights as well.. Trying to find a list of happenings in December for when we are there but am not having much luck.. Maybe it's too early.. If you hear of anything please let me know.. I think ice skating is going to be on the list of things to do as well.. The kids have begged and the closest place to us in Texas is 4 hours away.. Not driving 4 hours to go ice skating for a few hours.. :/ Seems to me that theire used to be an outdoor ice skating arena somewhere in the area of Colorado Springs.. THAT would be awesome!!
I know the mall in Colorado Springs has an ice skating arena. I believe there is another but I am not sure where. It is outdoors. It might be the same place you are talking about. The slopes my bil took us to were free and fun!
I think it sounds fun....... christmas vacation in Colorado..... you know Santa knows where you are..... you can still get a small santa gift ........ If she is young enough to believe in Santa then I will tell you a nifty idea........ CLAIR'S in the mall (or on line) has a ten items for $10 deal... I just picked up some wonderful things including head bands, bracelets and ear rings for a dollar apiece........ stuff even for my teen daughter. you could make it a pretty special gift by going to the craft store and purchasing a small wooden box that looks like a small jewlery box and paint it thier favorite colors... put a small piece of felt at the bottom and wrap the jewlery you get for $1 .... inside the box ...... but gloves, scarves, etc...... sound fun.
I think it sounds like a fantastic idea!....and ABall, thanks for the Claire's reminder! I like to do that for my Dd's stocking. mommix3, I would not doubt it if this might end up being your best Christmas yet. Our Christmas spirit returned to our family the year we went to the "the three gift thing." I'm thinking traveling to see relatives who need a visit is a gift both to and from your family.
The claires thing sounds like something that I could do for both girls! I didn't know they had that deal.. I'm going to have to check it out.. Does it go on all the time or do I need to watch for it? Thanks Angela
when I talked to the cashier... she said it happens every month (about a week I guess)...... which I did not kinow.... its kind of clears out thier old inventory and gives space for new....... but I am telling you I got some really neat things..... my older DD said "anything PEACE"..... and they had lots..... my other DD said "anyting Hello Kitty"....... and I didn't know that it ment ANY of the "red line" jewlery or I'd got more!!! I found some nice hair accessories though and even a body spray....... I found out about it by signing up for thier E-mail........... if you buy online they have a thing where you have to buy in multiples of 10 on the special, but in the store its not so.
Christmas memories For Christmas of 2006 we got for the kids and us tickets to Walt Disney in Florida, they were so surprised. We didn't go til April of 2007, but they were surprised anyhow. My oldest daughter got on line and planned alot of fun things for us to do and make reservations at some of the resturants. She loved doing that. It has been 5 years but t hey are still talking about that. They are all ready to go again but not sure when that will happen. Oldest daugter is now in college and would love for her to go but we don't go in the summer because of to hot. So we will have to see. We are not sure what this year will bring for the kids. Daughter-19, Son-17- Daughter 11 soon 12. So we will have to see. We usually do one big gift for them in our budget so we will see what they say.
I signed up for their emails.. Melissa, that would be AWESOME!! My kids have begged for YEARS to go to Disney but it's not feasable for hubby with his health condition :/ Someday but not now....
We've talked about taking trip instead of 'doing Christmas' but we haven't been able to afford to do it yet. Maybe next year I love the idea. Especially since you have family to visit (we don't). This year we're doing the 3 gifts thing. (plus one together gift to promote sharing and one Christmas Eve gift-it's our tradition to get a new game on Christmas Eve then play it as a family that evening) I love the trip idea though. Just LOVE it!
I don't think we are even going to put up a tree this year.. Maybe a door wreath and that's it.. I just feel like Christmas is so over commercialized.. I want to get back to the basics of what it really means.. I'm envisioning time with family we haven't seen in a long time, Christmas eve with hot coca and the reading of the Christmas story and possibly some caroling.. I just want to stop and slow down and focus on what Christmas really is.. I would LOVE to volunteer at a soup kitchen.. We don't have anything like that here where we are.. Small town USA doesn't seem to need that.. Even though I KNOW there are lots of people who could use a meal and some basic necessities.. I would much rather focus on giving to others than recieving this year.. Operation Christmas Child will be getting lots of things from us.. We wrote letters to the children today.. Next week I will purchase more items to place in the boxes and finish them up.. Just feels right.. To do it this way.. And this shouldn't be just a Christmas time thing. This should be an every day thing...
We do 4 gifts and stockings. SO and I get each other one or 2 things that we need and dd gets us each one or 2 things plus she always makes a TON of gifts and decorations. She loves making stuff for others and seeing it displayed for the world to see. Her gifts are something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read. We started that last year and it helped so much because she was so appreciaative of everything she got. She didn't have a favorite they were all her favorite. Then on Christmas Eve we all get ot open a new pair of PJs so we all have nice new jammies to wear in the morning and to bed. I would love to do a trip for Christmas, but SO plows snow and in Indiana that means he has to work every year and we are lucky if he gets to be home to see dd open presents in thew morning or see her off to bedd the night before(depends on if he works day or night shift which we never know until November). Traveling at the holidays is out. We do g ovisit family though for a little bit since they are all local or within an hour of us anyhow. This year most everything will be homemade for gifts because money is tight.
I think it sounds great! I agree with you that those experiences will leave memories that last much longer than a lot of gifts ever will.
Exactly! This is why we have started focusing on Advent (something the mainstream hasn't commercialized and took the Christian out of yet) and started having a month of focus on the real reason for the season. We used http://truthinthetinsel.com/ last year and loved it-we're doing it again this year. The kids can't wait to start and neither can I!
