Santa Gift Shop

[PENJET]

This is a really cute little shop that our elementary schools do. You send money in with your child and who they are to buy for and they get to do some Christmas shopping. I volunteer every year just to supervise and help the kids out.

Previous years, Nathan has been most excited about going to the shop and buying things for himself. I've been left disappointed and tried to explain to him about giving instead of receiving. Last year, he didn't even buy me a gift. As a mother, I wasn't "mad" I didn't get a gift....just upset he wasn't getting the point.

Today I volunteered at the gift shop. I brought him $20.00 to spend and he listed the people he wanted to buy for. He was SO into this year. Picking the perfect presents for everyone on his list. He was really taking the time to select the right gifts. I had a feeling we were up over the $20.00 limit I had set. When we got up to the register, it came to $66.00. Yikes! Good thing I brought my checkbook along. I just couldn't ask him to put things back. He was so proud of himself. I am so proud of him too!

The school gives each child one dollar to spend. Of course, he bought himself a whoopee cushion with his dollar. LOL.

As soon as he got home, he wanted me to open my present. (Yes, I actually got one this year. Haha) It is a beautiful diamond necklace and he was just gleaming when I opened it.  The funny part is he keeps explaining to me how I have to put it away at night in case robbers break in our house because its a REAL diamond necklace. Hahaha. Don't you all wish you could have a real diamond necklace for $6.25? In any case, I love it and will cherish it forever.

[justanotherjen]

Dec. 11, 2008 at 5:11 PM

Both of the schools my kids have attended do a Secret Santa thing.  My kids did theirs last Friday but we don't have that much to spend.  I had to search all over the house to find $12 for each of them.  And they had 6 people to buy for each (3 siblings, 2 parents and my dad who we live with).  So they had $2 to spend on each person on their list.  Last year my son was in kindergarten and spent all his money on his 2 younger sisters and me (leaving out his older sister, dad and papa, lol).  I got a little plastic ring.

My oldest daughter was able to buy something for everyone and have money left over, which she kept.

I haven't looked at what they bought this year.  They all wanted to hand out presents right after school and wanted to tell me or someone what they had bought.  My 6yo wants to wrap her presents now.

Oh, and when my oldest was in kindergarten (at a different school) she bought her little sister this Beanie Baby bear and it ended up being her sister's favorite gift that year.  All the expensive stuff we got her and her favorite was a bear my dd picked up for like $3.  3 years later and she still has that bear on her bead.

[TaraERZ]

Dec. 11, 2008 at 8:38 PM

That is the sweetest story! real or not, you love it just as much as you would a 625.00 necklace. That's priceless and I can only imagine how you felt getting that gift.  Happy Holidays!

[jess237]

Dec. 11, 2008 at 10:09 PM

awww how sweet!!!  at least he got the right idea this year!!!  eve had this too...and i forgot about it till midday...and my mom ran her $10 over (ours was each item for $1 or less)  with instructions that she was to spend $6.  well, there was only $3 change....i've not seen the presents (they are 'hidden' under my bed) but i said, wait--you were to spend $6, and she sheepishly admitted she bought something for daddy, me, nick, mamie, poppop and pappy...and HERSELF!!!  gotta love it!!  nick has one at preschool next week. that ought to be interesting!!!

[jess237]

Dec. 11, 2008 at 10:10 PM

ps: bet you have the necklace forever!!!

[paulad]

Dec. 11, 2008 at 11:05 PM

very cute....we have the same thing. my sister got a cheerleader rubber duck last year.  you did better than her with that diamond!!!

[inge55]

Dec. 12, 2008 at 3:23 AM

Way to go Nathan!!! He's growing up to be a fine young man.