We'll see how that goes, won't we.
A few people have heard about our new (probably about 5 years old now) Christmas tradition in the Sanders household, and if you were here for our Open House last week, you may have noticed a couple oddities about our decorating.
Once our kids became late teens and young adults, we found ourselves in that predicament of "what do you give each other for Christmas?" They really had all they wanted (often bought for themselves), and also they were hopeless when it came to choosing things for their parents.
My husband does a lot of shopping at local thrift stores for his book business, and I, as a frugal young mom, raised my kids largely on thrift store clothes and toys. So my family looks on thrift stores as large treasure houses of adventure, kitsch and fashion. (I hope it isn't too obvious.) Naturally, this is what we have arrived at to solve our Christmas shopping woes...
Every year, right before Christmas (preferably Christmas Eve), we all gather for a lunch out at a fast-food restaurant. We then load up in the trusty crowded minivan and head for one of our favorite thrift stores (this photo was taken when we were in Minneapolis)--
We split up for about 2 hours, and shop like mad. The only rules are--THERE ARE NO RULES. Items bought for each other may be ugly, strange, lovely, useful, or an inside family joke. After 2 hours, we rendezvous at the Trusty Minivan with our big plastic bags and head home.
Then it's time to split up into various bedrooms to wrap. And of course, who is going to waste precious wrapping paper on this motley assortment? It's newspaper, folks! Lots of it! The colored comic pages are snatched first.
After our traditional Mexican Dinner of enchiladas and tacos (which the men graciously fling about the kitchen and make for the women), we gather around the tree for a couple hours of unwrapping and laughter.
Our favorite gifts are always the ones that prompt the reaction, "What IS that thing???" (See the Spidey Head tree topper here for a prime example). And amazingly enough, there are always a few gifts that are right on the spot, and get used for many years thereafter.
We rarely spend more than $50 for our entire family at the holidays now, and we have a whole lot of fun doing it. Admittedly, some of the gifts end up back at a thrift store eventually, but hey...
it's the Circle of Life.
And the people you meet while shopping...well, that's just a side benefit. One year an old guy tried to picked me up..."So, do you come here often?" I had to gently inform him I was there shopping with my family. Ah, well, missed opportunities.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!
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