Jolly Old Saint Nick...
Having just finished Christmas three of three, I've now poured myself a drink and finally turned on the computer.
Friday we celebrated our family of five Christmas. Kids opened things from us, and the Husband and I exchanged a couple things as well. Saturday we tidied up best we could, had the Rot0-Rooter man out to fix the sink drain (could you imagine the smell if we'd let it go a week?), and drove to my parents. Celebrated Christmas Eve as I always remember - one present, chili and oyster chowder. Woke up Christmas morning to Santa! Kids loved it. The after the kids were in bed, the adults adjourned to the hot tub with a glass of their favorite drink (or three). Today (Tuesday?) we headed to the inlaws, and waited for Husband's Brother for dinner then gifts. I do enjoy my brother-in-law. I really do. He's snarky and funny and seems to get the joke. We'll be here for the next couple days, then plan to head back to my parents on Friday, and to the homestead on Saturday. One more day away from home than I'd like, but...
By Christmas3, I had a plan. Went to WalMart and purchased four stacking blue bins - they don't have lids, but remind me of the totes UPS uses to deliver bulk mail.
Can you guess where I'm going with this?
Each kid had a bin, plus one extra for good measure. I put their names on them. As they opened a present, they thanked the giver, gave me the paper, and put their gift in their bin. If it was clothes, they went back into the gift bag minus the tissue paper. I was on standby with two trash bags for the paper. Nothing got buried in the shuffle. The room wasn't a complete disaster when they finished. And I can use the bins when I clean out my craft room in the coming weeks. As we proceeded, the fourth bin was designated "shared" toys.
Next year, I'll be doing the same thing. Somehow, the kids were a little more careful with their gifts. Rather than throwing them on the floor and wondering what to open next, they looked a it just a little longer.
Soon enough I'll be plotting my New Year's Resolutions. Can you tell one of mine is more order in the house?
5 comments:
Very nice, Gretchen.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
P.S. Been meaning to say this for a while- that picture on your profile looks great.
What an ingenius idea! Sounds like you have this Christmas thing down to a science! Do you organize other people? I could REALLY use some help in that department! :)
pour another drink!!
Oh Martha, you always give me some inspiration! It was so much better this year with just the four of us at home but if we head to the folks again definitely sounds like a good strategy!
Joe- Thanks. It's about time for me to update it again since I've cut my hair, but this one will probably stay up for awhile.
Heather - I'm still trying to organize myself. I tell you what, they're still keeping the toys in the tote when they're not using them. Keeps everything a little more managable.
AW - I second (or maybe third) that!
HeatherZG- Next year, I'm looking to stay home...
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