Time Means More

Because making memories means more than getting a present you'll soon forget about, I decided this Christmas to give my sister's kids the gift of time with their aunt! This year, I had the 4 oldest (the baby needed his mom's milk as sustenance and couldn't come) stay the night. I let them get whatever they wanted at Jack-in-the-Box for dinner. We then ate it on my living room floor, picnic style! They loved it. We all were smiling and laughing at our picnic dinner on the floor. Everyone busted out their pillows/blankets while we watched a movie (with treats! that was part of the gift). We had so much fun laughing and eating popcorn and candy canes! I know the kids won't forget the time they spent here, but they would have forgotten what I bought for them at the store.

One of the other parts of the present was that they got waffles for breakfast the next morning and could put whatever on it they wanted! For the 2 youngest, this was the COOLEST THING EVER! We all had a great time (minus the 1st and 3rd giggling and messing around until 11PM even though I kept saying they had to go to sleep... kids)! They each got one more individual present from me that involves doing something hands-on that they enjoy doing (e.g. the 4th child gets to go on a hike/walk with me and gets to choose the location... she was SO STOKED that she could choose wherever she wanted to walk. She suggested the grocery store. Haha.) Love those kids!

They were so excited to light the candles in the woodworking I got in Germany last summer. Except the one on the left was SCARED because she recently had her hair caught on fire from a candle. Hence the reason, the little one on the right was more curious to get in close. :)