Christmas Presents

Warning: If you are family and like to be surprised, don't read any further. I don't think I'm really giving anything much away that I haven't already told you, though, unless you are a child. Here's something to distract you.



Ok, ready?

Long ago when I realized how broke I was going to be a Christmas, I decided that I was going to use my homework for my photography class as presents. By the way, this helped me make several decisions in my class, and really helped me out in many ways in class. It is also helping me now, since I am even broker (a great word) than I thought I would be.

So now my decisions are basically just about the kids. I am in the middle of a huge project for the older girls. My mom and I are making Barbie clothes. Sewing little tiny stuff is hard. I'm not really the sewing type, either. I just don't think that the kids would appreciate the pictures.

The little girls (4 two-year-olds) are all getting dolls that I am making. That's pretty fun, actually. The sewing isn't that difficult, and just the design is fun.

The boys are all I have left, and I'm not totally set on something yet for them. Micah might get a book of Lego designs. He has a whole lot of Legos that he won't use because he doesn't have instructions. He loves the kits because he has the instructions. The problem is that once he does the designs in the package, he won't play with them anymore. It's an autism thing. He really has to be shown how to play, otherwise he will go back to lining everything up. I figure I'll print up some instructions and put them in a notebook. I do have to make sure that he has all the blocks in the designs before I put them in. I haven't totally decided about that, though. I know, nothing like waiting until the last minute, right?

I am not sure about my nephews yet, either. I had ideas, but I was waiting for some money to magically appear in my budget. It didn't happen. I'm bummed.

I have to say, though, that making gifts feels better than buying them. I know that the things that I am giving are personal. Last year I gave all adults in the family calendars that I made. That was fun. Very personal, and not something that they will get somewhere else.

Still, I'm frustrated at not being able to shop. I love shopping. Retail therapy is my favorite. It was sad not to be able to go do Black Friday stuff. Bills have to be paid, though. I used to be able to shop all in that one day, but family got bigger, and bills went up, and life happened.

I am determined not to let that get me down, though. The stuff I am making this year is fun, personalized, and from my heart (and my mom's...Tony did think up something, too.).

So what do you think, do you like getting hand-made gifts?