Brand New Year

Well it has been a while since my last post. Christmas was nice and uneventful. I was very proud of my children's reactions to all of their presents. In all I spent $54 on Emily, $44 on Lauren and $12.99 on Ben. Yes, that is right, poor Bennie. Fortunate for me and probably unfortunate for him I found a box of toys at mom and dad's house that were in the laundry room. I had them their since em was born but cannot recall the last time i took them out. Yes, I did wrap them up and pawn them off as Santa gifts so Ben would have the same number as his sisters. The girls did not even recognize them. they were as excited as he was. I could not justify spending another dollar on toys after donating nearly $200 of our used toys to the goodwill right before Christmas. The girls got new webkinz which is all they really asked for besides the Wii. They got new outfits for their American Girl dolls (from Target of course). They enjoyed their numerous gifts from all their cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents and I just did not see a need to pick up more shifts to buy more stuff.
Then came New Years Day. Emily reminded me that I promised her a birthday party at an inflatables place this year. When I added up how many girls I had to invite and how much it was per person, it came to $300. Crazy! But a promise is a promise and I came up with a brilliant offer. What if I were to buy her a Wii instead of a party? I would actually come out on top. She thought it over and said "Mom, a party would be over after 2 hours but I could play the Wii forever, right?" She chose the wii and I was so proud of her for making the right decision herself. As much as she wanted to sit on the Monkey Joes inflatable throne and be the center of attention, she knew that her moment in the spotlight would be gone in a blink....but the excitement of the Wii would last forever. Just kidding. It will at least last longer than a blink.
The first day I got it I told them the time limit was unlimited. After that, one hour of media a day as a combination of the wii, computer and tv. I am certain Em may never watch tv again.
This is something that came up before Christmas when we bought stuff for poor kids and it came up again last weekend when a friend came over to spend the night. Emily didn't understand why Santa would buy some kids so much more and expensive toys than others and not give some kids anything. I just don't have an answer for that. I do not agree in the whole lying to kids about santa and the tooth fairy and all these other things. I know they are just in fun but I know in deeply thinking kids it has to mess with them. Did she do something bad and that is why her friend got more? Does Santa not love poor kids as much? I tried to explain to her that Santa knows that we have a brand new camper and that we get to go camping many many times each year and he might have given those kids more toys because they do not go as many places and need more things to play with. Some day she will understand. I often have to remind her why we don't have the money to buy alot of extras that some friends have since I don't work much. She usually says that she wishes I would work more to buy those things for her. I know she is thinking with the brain of a 6 year old and maybe someday she will realize the sacrifice we have made. I always felt the same way when I was in grade school. I wanted mom to go to work so bad so I could get guess jeans like everyone else.
Well, this weekend the Elfrinks are heading south to Branson for a 3 day stay at the amazing Big Cedar Lodge resort owned by BassPro shops. We have a 2 bedroom private log cabin which we will be sharing with the neighbors (Jackie and Dan). I am so excited. Scott and I have not been there in 5 years and it will be fun to show everyone the property right on Tablerock lake. The kids can't wait to swim in the indoor pool. Should be fun!