Christmas Project 1 - Status: Complete!
11.21.2010
9:57 AM
11 2009
Melanie
Christmas Thoughts....
11.18.2010
8:25 PM
11 2009
Melanie
Today Peter and I were talking about Christmas. We have the budget talk every year, though I'm not sure why. I blow it every year. He doesn't, because like a normal logical male, he thinks that when we decide something that's that.
I had just picked him up from work and was driving, and Bella was sleeping in the backseat. We were talking about money, which isn't ever fun, unless you have lots of it and don't have to think about it. We did that one year. The second Christmas we were married. I remember the number we'd set for each other, and honestly, it's so stupidly high, I won't even type it. We were both working and getting paid well, living very cheaply, and didn't have Bella. So we went a little crazy. I don't really remember what I got.
This year is not like that. I'm not working, we have a baby and expenses are high. The list of things we need to get in the next little while for Bella includes things like a new stroller, which is expensive. Babies are expensive. Groceries are expensive. Debt is expensive. But it's not even about that. I was trying to come up with a list of things I wanted even if we had more money and I came up blank. I thought I was being lame so I walked around the mall window shopping and I came up blank. I don't want anything. I can't think of a single thing that I would want that's not ridiculous. Like ANOTHER Bath and Body Works lotion. I should do a lotion post. If I lined them all up, you would be astonished. It doesn't help that I barely use them, I usually forget. Obviously, there are a few large ticket items that I'd like that are just unrealistic. Like a new dining room set. Not gonna happen.
So we were talking about what to get, and how much to spend and how to add it all up, and I think what happened is that I pulled into an intersection to turn left and was going to stop, but Peter didn't think I was going to stop. (It's true that sometimes I tend to brake later than some would). He pointed at the oncoming traffic, that I had planned to avoid, but when he said to watch out, I got a fright and thought I was doing something wrong and jumped into the intersection. I have no idea why this was my knee-jerk (or foot stomp) response. It was highly stupid. I had to slam my gas pedal down to make it across. It scared the life out of me. And as Peter is trying to figure out WHY I would try and rush across a busy intersection, and I'm trying to figure out what just happened, it crossed my mind that I very nearly ruined Christmas. And every day following. One accident. One stupid, distracted mistake. We'd have been hit by a car going about 70 on Peter's side and I don't want to think about the rest. All of a sudden the money wasn't an issue. We were all safe and warm in the car, and although it's cliche and a little bit cheesy to boot, I knew that I had everything I wanted for Christmas already. And then some.
That being said, we do have to shop. But I want to get people things that mean something. I wonder, if you spent more time and thought and less money on Christmas, what you'd end up giving? What would you end up getting? That being said, I have come up with my Christmas wish list this year:
~I want to have Christmas Eve night in front of the fireplace, curled up in new jammies with Peter and Bella, on the mattress that we've dragged out of our bedroom. I want a bunch of Superstore appetizers and a cheap bottle of wine.
~I want memories like we just made in Bali with our family.
~I want to go to Children's Hospital next week and hear a good report about Bella's health, and more than that, to be able to see her doing well as we take her off the medication she's been depending on for over a year. I want to drive out of the parking lot, and I will. So many other parents will spend the holidays there.
~I want to play Settlers with Loren and Peter
~I want to bake cookies with my mom and Robyn and have them tease me all day because I'm such a terrible baker, and then hear my mom yelling at Robyn for decorating her gingerbread men inappropriately.
~I want to chase Bella away from the tree a million times (does anyone have some of those baby fences they want to lend me?) because she's so excited, and it's so pretty and new and fun.
~I want to go horseback riding in the snow with my mom.
I don't need more stuff. I'm trying to get rid of the stuff I already have. That being said, tomorrow, I am going to the Christmas Craft Fair in Parksville to take a look around, and hopefully become inspired as to thoughtful gift ideas for others and yes, do a little shopping. Plus, I love a good craft show. And there's free hot chocolate. And free carriage rides. I'm so in. I'll take photos.
I had just picked him up from work and was driving, and Bella was sleeping in the backseat. We were talking about money, which isn't ever fun, unless you have lots of it and don't have to think about it. We did that one year. The second Christmas we were married. I remember the number we'd set for each other, and honestly, it's so stupidly high, I won't even type it. We were both working and getting paid well, living very cheaply, and didn't have Bella. So we went a little crazy. I don't really remember what I got.
This year is not like that. I'm not working, we have a baby and expenses are high. The list of things we need to get in the next little while for Bella includes things like a new stroller, which is expensive. Babies are expensive. Groceries are expensive. Debt is expensive. But it's not even about that. I was trying to come up with a list of things I wanted even if we had more money and I came up blank. I thought I was being lame so I walked around the mall window shopping and I came up blank. I don't want anything. I can't think of a single thing that I would want that's not ridiculous. Like ANOTHER Bath and Body Works lotion. I should do a lotion post. If I lined them all up, you would be astonished. It doesn't help that I barely use them, I usually forget. Obviously, there are a few large ticket items that I'd like that are just unrealistic. Like a new dining room set. Not gonna happen.
So we were talking about what to get, and how much to spend and how to add it all up, and I think what happened is that I pulled into an intersection to turn left and was going to stop, but Peter didn't think I was going to stop. (It's true that sometimes I tend to brake later than some would). He pointed at the oncoming traffic, that I had planned to avoid, but when he said to watch out, I got a fright and thought I was doing something wrong and jumped into the intersection. I have no idea why this was my knee-jerk (or foot stomp) response. It was highly stupid. I had to slam my gas pedal down to make it across. It scared the life out of me. And as Peter is trying to figure out WHY I would try and rush across a busy intersection, and I'm trying to figure out what just happened, it crossed my mind that I very nearly ruined Christmas. And every day following. One accident. One stupid, distracted mistake. We'd have been hit by a car going about 70 on Peter's side and I don't want to think about the rest. All of a sudden the money wasn't an issue. We were all safe and warm in the car, and although it's cliche and a little bit cheesy to boot, I knew that I had everything I wanted for Christmas already. And then some.
That being said, we do have to shop. But I want to get people things that mean something. I wonder, if you spent more time and thought and less money on Christmas, what you'd end up giving? What would you end up getting? That being said, I have come up with my Christmas wish list this year:
~I want to have Christmas Eve night in front of the fireplace, curled up in new jammies with Peter and Bella, on the mattress that we've dragged out of our bedroom. I want a bunch of Superstore appetizers and a cheap bottle of wine.
~I want memories like we just made in Bali with our family.
~I want to go to Children's Hospital next week and hear a good report about Bella's health, and more than that, to be able to see her doing well as we take her off the medication she's been depending on for over a year. I want to drive out of the parking lot, and I will. So many other parents will spend the holidays there.
~I want to play Settlers with Loren and Peter
~I want to bake cookies with my mom and Robyn and have them tease me all day because I'm such a terrible baker, and then hear my mom yelling at Robyn for decorating her gingerbread men inappropriately.
~I want to chase Bella away from the tree a million times (does anyone have some of those baby fences they want to lend me?) because she's so excited, and it's so pretty and new and fun.
~I want to go horseback riding in the snow with my mom.
I don't need more stuff. I'm trying to get rid of the stuff I already have. That being said, tomorrow, I am going to the Christmas Craft Fair in Parksville to take a look around, and hopefully become inspired as to thoughtful gift ideas for others and yes, do a little shopping. Plus, I love a good craft show. And there's free hot chocolate. And free carriage rides. I'm so in. I'll take photos.
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