No Gifts This Year....

We talked to the kids early this year about gifts for Christmas. They usually get SO MUCH, between us, Grandparents and others. Not only do we not want gifts to be the focus, we've always emphasized having traditions and being together as most important. On that note, we told them this year that they could give us a few ideas for gifts or we could take a family trip to Great Wolf Lodge. It was an easy decision, one that surprised me. They all opted for The Lodge (aka Great Wolf Flodge by Franchesca in her younger, years). We told them they would still find something in their stocking and we would still have our traditional Christmas Eve gift to open (always new pj's). The kids were very surprised (and pleased) to find NOT jammies wrapped up for the eve gift, but something that each of them had requested on their wish list this year. They were also very impressed that SO MUCH could be jostled into a stocking. They are super excited to go and it should be great fun with Solomon old enough to really enjoy the water this time. Waiting until January has been a good lesson in patience and delayed gratification. Here is a pic from Christmas Day.