Squeaky’s Blog

I have been talking to a few friends about what they got their kids and how they do Christmas.  I am surprised to find out that they only buy a few presents like no more than 3 or 6 per child.  So, then I think about what I got the boys and just wonder.  I know I am cheap and I never spend a lot on anything.  I think the most I spent was on WC’s scooter which was $30 but everything else was $10 or less.  I think 3 things for Giggles was just over $10.  So, does not spending a lot make it easier to get more or just make me spoil them?  I know a bunch of crap came from the dollar store but that was the silly things that they want.  I keep thinking about what I got and where I got it from and wonder how they ended up with so much.  I think maybe because I spent it in different places at different times.  I know my mom helped a lot!  We have a five below store back home and she picked up a bunch of stuff and sent it to me.  Those were probably some of the nicer gifts too.  I mean I got WC a Spiderman game for his Gameboy that he is getting for $5.  The Gameboy cost me nothing though since I found it in the garage a few months ago.  It was DP’s I think but we don’t use it and why not it will be great for the car and the house time he will be limited though!  Then Giggles I found a few toys at Ikea (well my mom-and sent them to me), a few at Target (the ones just over $10) and had them mailed with free shipping and then a few from Family Dollar so they really did get a lot but I don’t think I spent that much on them.  All the stocking stuffers came from the dollar store or clearance racks for a buck.  I am really cheap and though I don’t think their toys reflect that.  I know a few things might but they are things that WC asked for and has bugged me about getting like a paddle ball and a jump rope.  All that being said I think I spent $100 on each kid and they have almost 20 gifts just gifts not stocking stuffers, which they have a stocking for each of them and then a stocking that is the same (like life savers, playing cards, ugh I forget but it’s the stuff you get both).  So, is that too much to spend or a normal dollar amount and if no that’s about what most parents spend then is near 20 gifts too much even if a bunch are little things?  They are still small so a lot of the things they get are small but when they get older I am sure it will change.  I know I was stressing when I started trying to get the gifts but I looked around and shopped sales and smart I think.  I don’t think I ever realized how many gifts they had until I went to wrap them.  Now I keep thinking they are going to open all these presents in front of our family and I don’t know what they are going to think.  I didn’t put anything on a credit card and I paid all my bills too along the way.  So, why do I keep feeling like I have to defend myself for what I got them or explain that I didn’t spend a lot?

DP had to go out of town this weekned and WC wanted to do something fun since he couldn’t go.  I thought it would be nice to take WC and Giggles to Chuck E Cheese.  It always sounds like a good idea when we plan it.  Then we get there and it’s another story.  The place was packed and the only tables that were empty were reserved.  I understand that you can have parties there but wow!  I mean the idea was to get pizza and then let the boys play.  It took over 30 minutes to find a table and then it was too small so we atleast got a break for a while until a bigger one was available.  I guess it could have been worse.  But hey we got a table eventually and the kids ate and all should have been happy.  However you know life is rarely smooth.  The kids did have fun I have to say.  Giggles had some moments of fustration.  He was so tired and wanted to run around and play but it was just me and a friend who brought her daughter.  We had to take turns checking on the kids and sitting at the table with the food.  I mean who wants to trust people to not steal your things or spike your drinks?  I guess the better thing would have been to feed the boys first and then go.  I think the next time we will do that and take in a small backpack for the diapers and wipes.  That would make more sense then I can run around after the kids and let them play with less stress and hassel.  It was crazy and my friend that came was nice to have but we really didn’t get to talk because we were worried about the kids and too busy constantly chasing after them.  I think it’s a reminder of why I don’t really take the boys to the park but have people here and spend so much time in our yard.  It’s hard to talk and hang out with friends when you are constantly worried about your kids.  I have to say the Play Place (indoor kids playground) is a lot better since it’s smaller and more confined too.  It is more of a way to let run off energy then spend money on games.  They do have a small game section but it’s more of a playground than anything else.  I also think the stress level is so much smaller.  The down side is according to my mother we all get sick after going.  I know the last we did but we were just starting to get sick and didn’t know it.  It was one of the colds that we just passed back and forth for 2 months.  We would all take turns for a week being sick then better for a week or two and start over again.  So, the last time it wasn’t because of going but I am not ready to put it to the test.  Oh well, maybe I will learn from my mistakes and the next trip to The Devil’s Playground will go smooth after all once again we have coins left to use another day.

 The last time I took WC shopping for clothes he told me that everything I picked out was lame.  I mean everything.  I had to let him pick out the clothes and it was more trouble than it was worth.  So, today I found him a few things and on my way to pick him up I remembered the last trip.  I had to find a way to keep him from telling me the clothes were lame.   I was not taking them back and he was going to be okay with it.  Well I remembered our neighbors son.  He is a senior in high school and he and his friend actually play with WC.  WC thinks they are the coolest thing around and this was my way to not being lame.  I came up with this story of how this guy just like them was in the store and I asked him what was cool and what was lame.  I told him how he said the ones I bought were cool but the others lame and so I didn’t get him those.  I couldn’t make him wear lame clothes!  So, I told WC that I hoped he liked them and they really were cool cause the guy said they were.  WC was so excited.  I was worried still but when we got home he loved all of the clothes so what ever works right?  I feel bad still for the tall tale I told.  I guess I will have plenty more years of being told I am lame so I should I have to use all the help I can.  It’s still amazing the things I will do for my kids.