Over the years, our Christmas celebrations became a struggle between extravagance and simplicity (we added a child about every other year, had a limited amount to spend, and felt obligated to make Christmas a BIG deal). As a parent, it can be easy to grade the quality of the Christmas experience by the number of gifts under the tree. In past years, we would purchase items and hide them away until Christmas Eve, when we would hide in our room, sorting and wrapping all of the gifts. Inevitably, we would find that some child had too many or not enough and then, have to scramble to get more things. On Christmas morning, the children would tear through the giant pile. One year, there were so many gifts, our children got bored half way through and some of the gifts went unopened for days after.

In our recent move, our VERY LARGE and lovely tree arrived

incomplete. I didn't want another tree, but the kids needed a place to put their gifts, so we made a paper tree. We worked on it together and little by little we continue to make and place ornaments. I think it is the best tree that we have ever had.

Then, there comes the issue of gifts. How do we give our children the Christmas morning present frenzy that we grew up on, and can't bring ourselves to deny our children of, without going into debt to do it?

We have faced this crisis every Christmas, and every year, I dread it.

This year, my husband slayed my dragon for me. He is truly a hero!

The seminary clothing co-op is a God-send as well.

Don signed up the children for the "Marketplace"

Each of the children were given the opportunity to shop and choose a gift for each of their siblings, and for each of their parents. Six children, each choosing 7 gifts (5sibs+2parents) makes 42 presents under the tree - WooHoo! That's a lot. Don and I each chose a gift for each of the children as well (that's 6 more) up to 48. Then, they each chose a present for grandparents. The gift pile keeps growing....

I love that all of the gifts are already under the tree, I love to look at the pretty wrappings, and I get to enjoy them all for a couple of weeks, instead of just one day. We did buy one big gift for the family (something we likely would have purchased anyway), and Don convinced Gramma to give us one big family gift as well.

When we see all the gifts already wrapped and under the tree, it reminds us that there is plenty and that we do not need to shop for more.

I think this may be the first year that I am truly enjoying the Christmas season.

Corinne