It's The Thought That Counts

Who hoot! Nearly finished with the shopping-- you know, the in-laws and such.

I've packed and shipped the #1 Son's gifts for him to OPEN ALL ALONE on his first Christmas away from us... sniff....

Everything that was supposed to ship from here, has-- except Christmas cards, which apparently I am not doing this year. Again.
I have to remember to quit buying cards (and addressing them) if I'm never going to actually get them mailed.
Oh and this year, several people were going to be so surprised that I thought of them.
***Happy Christmas, Blogger friends I had addresses for...***

We have a family tradition. As the Thanksgiving skeleton of a picked-clean turkey rests on the middle of a pillaged table, we draw names for gift-giving. Each person gets $20.00 (which has turned to £20.00 since moving to England) and must spend every penny (pence) of it on the name they draw. It's been so fun watching how the kids think.

This year, I was drawing for myself, Miss Ky and #1 Son. That gave me 3 of 7 that I am privvy to. Each year, I know EVERYONE's recipient and usually have my other gifts guessed as well. It's not like I try, my family is just NOT sneaky.

There was the year the Hubby threw his receipts in the bathroom garbage can... it was a time before I had a million children and could actually sit while urinating and my eyes had time to wander around my surroundings. "Oooh, nice, he's bought me and Oil of Olay gift pack, I'll like that-- oh, and hey, I needed one of those pans..."

About an hour after dinner, I found Miss Ky's card on the floor and someone's card with MY NAME on it. I announced, "Someone's card is in here on the floor" to which the Hubby responded, "Not mine, I ripped mine up and threw it away". Well done, 2 to go.

Shortly after that, A1 comes to show me who he's drawn... and following is A2. Ok, I have eliminated 6 of 7 people as the person who drew my name.

The next night at dinner, J2 (comedian child that draws trouble to him) says, "I know, let's play a game. Let's have everyone list what they'd like to get for Christmas-- we can start with you, Mum".
Bless his heart.



This past weekend, we went shopping.
At Carrow Road.
Where they have everything Norwich City Football (Simon Lappin).
J2 was very excited to find a computer desktop cd
with Simon Lappin on it.

He bought it.

When we got home, he quietly slipped away.





20 minutes later he showed up in my room with several rolls of balled up wrapping paper and angrily plopped this big cardboard box down on the floor, "I can't do anything right!"
I proceeded to show him how to wrap...
as he watched me, arms folded across his chest with a huge Grinchy scowl.

The child had me wrap my own present that he worked so hard to disguise with a big box.

I am practicing my surprised expression as we speak...