Alright, friends, here we are again!! Let’s talk about presents!!
Now, I know, I know, there needs to be a disclaimer. No, I do not think Christmas is about gifts. I believe its about Jesus’ birth and celebration! But I also think gifts are really nice, and special, and fun! Do the kids anticipate them? Totally. Do we blast them with thousands of dollars worth of plastic toys? No. Would it be ok if we did? Sure! To each their own! Don’t get at me, hahaha!
The actual main purpose of this post is to talk about the four categories we buy under, and maybe give others ideas! Its such a great way to do gifts, in my opinion!
Each child receives something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.
On top of that, we usually include a pair of jammies, and then if I’m really on top of it, I like to crochet them something too.
We were suuuper broke and suuuper busy this year, so it did not all happen, unfortunately, but alas, they got gifts and they’re happy with them! I remember last year, having a bit of a breakdown when I realized almost ALL of their gifts were things that most people would just put in a stocking as a little “extra.” But my children actively celebrated their pjs, small books, and electric toothbrushes! I don’t have to worry. My children are so grateful.
We’ll go oldest to youngest and start with Dekker. For his want, we got him a Meccano set that builds like five different kinds of street bikes. I know he was hoping for some Lego technics but he loved it! His need is a pillow, because his is a pancake. We got him one of those nice cooling memory foam ones from Costco that normally we wouldn’t justify the cost of. But he is a sweaty beast and I think the cooling effect will be extra nice! His item to wear is actually new underwear. Puma underwear. Spoiler alert, they’re all getting new underwear for their “something to wear.” Boring, maybe, but honestly I think they’ll be totally thrilled. I’m determined to just check every pair of underwear they currently own and just start fresh. Maybe we’ll do that every Christmas, lol! Dekker’s gift to read is called “The Dangerous Book for Boys,” and it might be the gift I’m most excited about! I got him the pocket edition for next to nothing off of Amazon. I can’t wait to see him flip through that, learn all kinds of cool things, take it to the lake, etc. Its a winner, trust me! And as an extra, he’s getting a cozy onesie, which he has desperately wanted for a couple of years! Its fleecy, white buffalo plaid!
Laela is next! She has been asking for her own Lego set, so I got her a cool Lego Technics set out of Costco. I think Dekker will be a little jealous, but I’m pretty sure he’ll eventually get a turn with it. Laela has received Lego Friends sets in the past, which are fun, but we got her a race car! I think she’ll love that its a tougher, older kid set. Her need is also a pillow, as her pillow is possibly flatter than Dekker’s. They both sleep on a stuffed toy on top of their pillows. Laela got underwear for her “something to wear” as I said, but she got cool bright brand name ones, too. Her book is the first of the Ivy and Bean series. She told me she’s actually already read it (merp) but she liked it, so that counts. She’s still happy with it! And she, too, got a onesie. Matching. Second spoiler alert. They all got them.
Rowans turn! His want is his first Lego set! (See the theme here? Lol!) Its a cute policeman set. He’ll love it, and its within his age category that he should be able to build it mostly on his own. Rowan’s need is a bigger weighted blanket. We gave him one earlier this year and it seemed to help him settle a little. My poor little boy and his sleep anxiety 💔 He’s grown like a weed this year, and his blanket just is way too short. The children’s ones are usually only 4’ long :/ For my kid who LOVES soft things, its not enough. So after searching and searching, we found one that is 5’ long, and is still light enough for a kid his size! WIN! His wear is also underwear, which I snagged from Carter. However, I realize now they pack has fewer pairs than I thought, and he doesn’t have enough. I’ll have to go buy more. I had a cool bundle of gitch in my Amazon cart for so long, but had to give up on them for cheaper ones. So be it. And for reading, Rowan got one of my favourite books from childhood – Blueberries for Sal. He’s been struggling with dreams, and has some bad feelings about bears. I’m hoping this book will help a little 🙂 And like everyone else, Rowan got a super cozy fleecy buffalo plaid onesie!
Solomon was a tricky one this year. As Rae would say, he’s a watcher. He doesn’t like to DO so much as watch. Its a constant push for us to encourage him to jump in and participate. So I wanted to get him age appropriate things, but also things that he would sort of care about. His want ended up being one of those itty bitty Lego Creative sets. Its super young and small, but I think he’d be overwhelmed by anything bigger, even if it said his age category on it. So we started small 🙂 Still lego. Still learning. His need is a new backpack and lunch kit!!! He was MOST excited about that. Easily. We got his matching set from Costco, surprise surprise. His item to wear is underwear, obviously. Cookie Monster underwear, to be more specific. Solly, of all kids, the youngest one who still has accidents sometimes, has easily the LEAST underwear! So this is a HUGE win! Hahaha! His book to read is a box set of Clifford books! I think he’ll be all over those. And he also got a onesie.
Waverly is last, because littlest. I actually had a hard time coming up with ideas for her, or the ideas I came up with wouldn’t come together. I had in mind this great gift for her want. You know those Melissa and Doug magnetic “dolls” that you stick their little outfits on them? Kind of like paper dolls, but actually wood? Lol! There was one a couple of years ago, a much smaller than average set, called “Waverly Mermaid.” I wanted to jump at it, but she was a baby, and I figured maybe next year. And now, she’s GONE! The set still exists exactly the same, but she’s now Merry Mermaid. And I’m grouchy. Aaaaanyway, I had to give up on that dream after literal months of searching. She ended up with one of those colouring pads where you put water in the “pen” and the pictures show up, and then dry down to white again. Its all animals, so I think she’ll have fun naming them and making their sounds throughout. Her need is a potty seat! She is SO ready to potty train, I am confident, so I figured we should throw away the old potty seat (because boys are gross and pee all over it and in the seams and it never stops stinking ever) and get her her own! Its Minnie Mouse, and it talks. Her thing to wear iiiiis – you guessed it! – underwear! Cute little Walmart underwear, because it fits smaller than other brands I’ve tried. Her book to read is a Christmas book my Sandra Boynton, because she’s SO fun to read! And while her onesie isn’t quite the same as everyone else’s, she still gets one! Hers doesn’t have a hood, but its still cozy and fleecy and yummy!
So. You can see our theme, right? Everyone’s “want” is a cool toy or activity. Their need is an actual practical gift. Wavy was potentially going to get a single mattress, but truthfully, the hang up on that one was me :/ Because I’m not ready to not need a crib in my home anymore. Their “wear” was underwear and jammies, and then they each got something to read! Sometimes its been comics, or magazines, or different things to mix it up. But this is what we’ve got this year 🙂 And you know what? They’re so happy!
Does anyone else do category gifts?? We LOVE this way!