So we finally got to the first night of Hanukkah. Preparing for the holiday brought me back to my childhood where my parents would put all of our wrapped gifts in piles in the living room and my sister and I can survey the piles and plan our strategy for which one to open first, second..etc. I have followed the same tradition and put all the presents out for the kids to check out prior to opening.
Sophie was quite observant as she saw one package and determined that that was the one she would open first. She knew it was her "American Girl Doll" bed that she has been wishing for. (She is none the wiser that the bed actually came from Target at half the $100 price tag) Seriously..it looks exactly the same and I have an extra $50 in my pocket. She kept saying "I know that's my bed..I can tell by the shape".
All day yesterday Mason kept asking..is it time to open a present?" I explained that we had to wait for the sun to set and then we would light the menorah and open a gift. Well..at 5:00 last night..he comes running in the kitchen "The sun set, the sun set..present time!"
As predicted, Sophie got her American Doll Bed and Mason scored a cool arts and craft toy. Color Wonders which is a parents dream. No mess.
My friends with older children warned me that my pile of presents will end as Sophie and Mason get older. I will want to determine the order of the gifts as the holiday falls on school nights. Saving the fun toys for the weekends and a new shirt for school nights.
I will also have to enjoy the lower costs of gifts now while my kids don't really care and their tastes are less expensive. I was told to wait until the days when their wish lists include cell phones, iPods and video game systems. Then I'm in trouble.
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