Christmas 2013 Happies & Crappies

Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. My son had an amazing Christmas, therefore, so did I.

 

But, like everyone else, I always look back at what went fabulous and what could have gone a little more smoothly. I know that as a mother, we're the only ones who stress about all the details and in the end all that really matters, so I wasn't stressed because we made store bought cookies for Santa instead of made from scratch ones. That really doesn't matter to me. Santa doesn't differentiate. ;)

 

You'll see what I mean as you continue reading.

with the Vintage Modern Wife and Brunch With Amber

 

 

CRAPPIES

 

1. I wish I had done a budget. Before I even started shopping I should have set a budget amount per person, with my son getting the majority of my budget, as well as set aside a certain amount for my own 'presents.' (I know I'm not the only who does a little shopping for themselves. Those great sales are hard to resist sometimes!) I always start shopping and then, whoops I have almost no money left and 10 gifts to buy. Bad, Bad, BAD habit!

 

2. I wish I had made lists. This is especially pertinent regarding my son. He's only 3, so he doesn't have a huge list yet. Actually this year all he wanted was a firetruck. But of course, I think he needs more. So a list would have been a better idea than trolling the aisles of Toys R Us and Target. Also, it would have helped with everyone else too if I had a list. I think a list and budget go hand in hand. Next year, I am planning to make my budget and than making my lists ( checking it twice.)

 

3. The old adage 'When you fail to plan, you plan to fail' is, unfortunately true. I PLANNED on doing something every night for our Elf on the Shelf, but I did NOT plan out what I would actually do. Next year I want to make my own schedule, not cheat off one on Pinterest, and actually have every night planned. Like if our elf planned to bring a gift, have the gift ready, or if he planned to build a marshmallow fort, have the marshmallows ready.

4. I got sick :( Unfortunately I got a sore throat AND sinus/allergy attack at the same time. My throat was getting a little sore on Tuesday, which is rare and I woke up Wednesday with hardly a voice. And when ever the weather changes and our weather goes from warm and humid to cool and dry, like it did Christmas Eve, my sinuses/allergies go hay wire. So I looked like Rudolph. I guess what maybe could have helped would have been for me to keep up on my vitamins and keep a stash of Claritin handy!

 

Basically, my lack of planning and staying organized is what was 'crappie' about this Christmas. That is one of my New Year's resolutions, to work on being more organized and planning things out better.

 

 

HAPPIES

 

Not everything about my Christmas was bad. There was a lot that I was very happy about.

 

1. I did A LOT with my son this year. We went to our local Christmas parade, to Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, ChristmasTown at Busch Gardens and to an event at our local zoo. Whew! And I am one mama that believes spending time with your child is more important than anything you can buy them. And the excitement on my son's face was well worth every penny spent and hour of sleep missed.

 

2. I made sure my son was able to see his entire family for Christmas. Christmas Eve we ate dinner with my father and step-mother. It just works out for us to eat Christmas Eve dinner with them. They get to spend time with my son, niece and nephew without a bunch of craziness around. They usually host Christmas for a bunch of older adults and it's not always the most child-friendly environment, so Christmas Eve is our time. Christmas morning my son got to open presents with me, his father and my mother. And then my sister and her two kids came over to play. After an attempted nap, we went to my son's other grandmother's house and ate dinner with his father's family. Then they all went to see his great-grandmother while I went home and to bed. (Remember, I was not feeling well.)

3. My son loved all his gifts. Obviously some he really liked, but he does like everything and has played with all his gifts so far.

 

So, you can tell that my lack of planning and my sudden 'illness' kinda put a dent into things. I definitely don't feel that I wish I had done more activities or decorated more. My main problem was that I didn't plan things out better. Oh well, there's always next year. And the year after. And the year after that. But, overall it was a good Christmas and I'm grateful that I was able to do so much with my son and to put so many presents for him under the tree. And in the end, that's all that really matters.

 

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!