Christmas '09

This Christmas was a small one for us. Adam and I decided not to exchange gifts this year and the kids had just a few presents under the tree. The few that they did have, though, they loved!!

Grandma and Grandpa Grimsley got each of the older kids a brand new scooter. Owen's scooter is a Razor and Caroline's is a Huffy brand Tinkerbell. They bough Howie a really neat ball that rolls and vibrates and encourages him to crawl and move. Howie immediately rolls over for the ball and once on his belly starts "swimming" because he's so excited. They also bought him a neat helicopter which has a string attached to it that I'm sure before I know it, he'll be dragging it behind him as he's walking or crawling.

Their scooters and ball from Grandpa and Grandma Grimsley




Santa brought Owen a new VTech VSmile video game system. He brought Caroline a new baby doll set that came with a highchair, bassinet, and stroller. She pushes that around all the time and insists the baby sleep her either the bassinet or Caroline's bed whenever she is asleep to.

Caroline with her baby doll set and Owen looking at his video game system from Santa


This year we also started a new tradition. We figured Owen and Caroline were old enough to start to learn what it means to give gifts and not just receive them. We set a $5.00 limit for each of the older kids. So, Owen bought Caroline a $5.00 Tinkerbell coloring pad. Caroline bought Owen a $5.00 Tonka trash truck (he's fascinated by the trash trucks and fire trucks). Owen and Caroline then bought Howie a $10.00 turtle that has shapes and numbers on him that eventually he'll be dragging that behind him as well as the helicopter. This is definitely a tradition that we will keep going from here on out. It is a tradition that my mom and dad started with me and my siblings and to this day, we still do it. It's a lot of fun.



There were a few new winter outfits, candy, a couple of movies a few toys and games and that was it. it may sound like a lot, but promises to everyone, there really wasn't much under the tree. It made me kind of sad in some ways, but in others I was - and am- extremely grateful that Adam still has a job (despite 2 rounds of layoffs and an involuntary 10% pay reduction) and that there was something under the tree for the kids. I can't complain because what little we had was an awful lot more than what many people had for Christmas.