Christmas Gift Gone Wrong

 

Back in October, the minis and I had a deep discussion about what to get their dad (also known as Hubs, or Matt) for Christmas. There were arguments. There continued to be arguments about the gift throughout November. Each mini had an idea for him, but nothing could be agreed upon. There were a few tears...from them. In the midst of one enormous argument, I walked away before I cried too. One night, the middle mini came home after an outing with dad, talking excitedly about something we could get him. He began describing a tool box, or at least something to keep tools in.

With the upcoming home improvement projects Hubs has on his list, I thought this would be a great idea. I was sold even more when the middle mini, so sure of himself, informed me that what he saw was only, "one hundred dollars." Sweet! 

It's important to note that at this time, I made a huge, rookie parenting mistake. I did not question the middle child further. I did not look up, or even go to the hardware store, to see for myself what the middle child saw. I did not confirm the price. What I did do was wait until the week of Christmas to go get the present.

Five days before Christmas I was on my way to go purchase the one gift the kids could agree on getting Hubs. Before I left, I told the middle mini to look it up, so I had an idea what I would be getting. He quickly found it online and paused handing the phone to me, "um, mom...I guess it wasn't one hundred dollars." As I was putting my boots on, I glanced at his phone to see the price was well over $1,000. And it was NOT tool box, but a gigantic steel tool chest.

This one is on him and me. I should have asked more questions when he first brought the idea to me. I should have asked to see what he wanted to get. Needless to say, we did not get the $1,000+ chest and instead agreed on a waffle maker and card game because nothing else would arrive on time for Christmas.

Notes to self: don't wait until five days before Christmas to get a gift....and definitely question my children when they say they have found the perfect gift for only $100. Also, work on noticing the extra numbers after the 100.

Early Christmas Celebrations

 December 16 - 21. So much Christmas with events, cookie decorating, celebrations, band concerts, and the first days of Christmas break. 

[December's event at the Des Moines Children's Museum was Family Game Night: Games From Around The World. The highlights were an eskimo blanket toss (read about it here) in which kids tossed a stuffed whale on the parachute, and pitch pot. We also had mancala, dominoes, dreidel, card games, and classic board games. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't great, so we didn't get a huge turn out, but I kind of love it when it's like that. I get a chance to speak with each visitor and thank them for coming. It's a more intimate experience for everyone involved]

[Find The Pickles scavenger hunt was so much fun. The prize was a pickle ornament to take home]

[The minis are still on a slumber party with mom (where we all sleep in the living room) kick, but we've gotten it down to every other weekend]

[We had quite the holiday celebration at my parent's house. My mom and sister baked all of the sugar cookies, then we showed up to decorate. We opened presents, ate dinner, and stuffed ourselves with holiday baked goods. Dogs were invited too]

[Elizabeth put on as many of her new items as she could]

[I forgot how much trouble kittens can get into. One kitten is attached to me, but only when the rest of the family isn't around. Two kittens found the closet where the youngest removed the panel and played in the walls until I could coax them out. It's slightly exhausting]

[The youngest had her first band concert. Between the nervous kids and the squeaky instruments while playing, it was one of my favorite concerts ever]

[Above: needy kitten; Below: new toys. The games didn't get to be played because the weather had big plans. Only four littles showed up for daycare on the 22nd and canceled daycare for the 23rd due to low attendance for the day. In my (almost) 13 years in business, I've had that happen in the middle of January, but never in the busy days before Christmas]

[I walked into the daycare room on a non-daycare day and find the minis playing with all of the daycare toys. That hasn't happened in quite a while and it made me giggle]

[Above: kitten begging for food; Below: needy kitten]