Thursday, February 14, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day....

What are your plans tonight?

We are having steak and grilled shrimp, baked potatoes, sauteed mushrooms, baked potatoes, salad, Valentine cookies and mini cupcakes.

Caity, Jacob & Brea got to go to the circus as their V Day gift, so they won't get a gift tonight. I did buy them all a small sugar-free heart of candy:)

Rory didn't get to go to the circus (figured she was too young to enjoy it...and keep up with), so she's getting her little candy box and a my little pony in a little heart shaped case.

It feels so good to give them things that won't add clutter to the house (circus tickets). I told dh other than bdays & Christmas, this may become the norm. There are all kinds of things we can "do" and make memories, rather than bring more toys into the house. I have a few ideas off the top of my head: zoo season passes (Easter), movie tickets, chuck e cheese, the fair, etc.

Also the kids are wanting bday parties at places like chuck e cheese, the skating rink, bowling alley, build-a-bear, etc now, so we are thinking of just putting some money in their savings accounts, buying them one small gift and letting the party be the rest of their gift. We'll see how it works out.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is a great idea! My kiddos have too many 'things'.

Cherylann said...

I get tired of picking their things up myself, and I don't want them having so much it overwhelms them to pick them up, so this was a much better alternative to gifts:) Clutter-free gifts:) Plus, we are making memories at the same time:)

Sheila Martin said...

We have been doing this for years with my family. For my mom on Mother's Day or her birthday we will get together for some fun, as she downsized years ago and doesn't want anything. We have let the kids plan their birthday parties to some extent, some birthdays they preferred home parties or maybe a sleepover, others preferred dinner out or going to a fun place. We also try to take lots of pictures. The celebration with a few new things (clothes if they need them and something new to keep them active, reading or foster an interest) and they have always seemed pleased and content. My siblings and I get together treating the birthday person to a dinner out and there are no kids, mom or spouses invited. We do this for each of our birthdays and then just exchange cards. It is the time together that is so precious.

Cherylann said...

these are great ideas, slmar, thanks. I also thought we'd deposit some money to their savings for each bday/Christmas to help them out at college time:)