Secret Santa....well, sort of

With this many kids, and an economy that is not doing well, our budget is extra tight this year. So, I had an idea. How about doing a secret santa with the kids? They usually like to get eachother gifts each Christmas, but that gets expensive and honestly, we don't need more toys around here. So, we decided to put all 5 names of the kids in a hat and they could draw a name and that is the brother or sister they would buy a gift for this year.

Walker was very excited about this and offered to do the legwork to get it started. He got out his safety scissors, a pen, and his red ball cap. He wrote out QB on one slip of paper, then Walker on another, and needed a bit of help with the other names. It took him awhile, but he was so proud of himself (I was proud, too) for getting it done. He was a little disappointed with his work on Karizma's name...he spelled it Karisma, but I told him it was ok.

The rules are:
- The gift is to be purchased with their own money. They must use their allowance or earn some extra cash. I think this makes it extra special because they know they worked to buy the gift themselves.

- They get to pick out where they want to shop and what they want to give. No hints allowed and this will encourage them to buy with their hearts. I think this will also teach the recipient to have a grateful heart.

- The kids did not want to keep who got who a secret but the gift must remain a secret until it is opened on Christmas day. This should be interesting, and I think may be the hardest rule to follow for the little guys.

I think it is going to be funny to see what Zack picks for Miguel. Since he is only 2, and has no idea or clue what we are doing, I wouldn't be surprised if Miguel gets a box of animal cookies or a hot wheels car that Zack will most likely assume is his anyway.

My mini-husband, Walker, asked if we could go on a date to shop for his present for Zack. This is a reminder to me that each of the kids really loves to have one on one time with me and I have to be better about that. I do spend lots of one on one with Karizma and Zack, but not as much with the other boys.

I can't wait to let you know what they each got their siblings!
Karizma got: Christian
Miguel got: Walker
Christian got: Karizma
Walker got: Zack
Zack got: Miguel

p.s. As I was about to hit 'publish post' Walker walks up to me with his piggy bank. "Is it full yet?" He had already asked me as I had started this post, and it was about 3/4 of the way full...now, it is full. "Where did you get the extra money, Walker?" "Christian said I could have it." Walker had helped himself to what Christian had in his piggy bank and left him with a whopping one penny. Hmm, I want to encourage a giving heart (Christian), but not a little conman (Walker) for a son. I better go figure out whose pennies are whose.