Christmas On A Budget

So David has me on this tight budget. Which is quite ironic considering he is the spender and not ME! He has this plan to go to Hawaii next November for our 10 year Anniversary (which will be in July), but November is much cheaper for Hawaii! So we have a formulated spreadsheet that is color coded with everything budgeted that we are going to purchase or spend from now and next November! Every night he goes to the laptop and calculates the day's expenses and moves things around if needed. I am so not kidding! Well he forgot to budget 2 important items for this Christmas season.... Christmas PJ's for the boys and Christmas Cards! GASP!!!! So I had to get a little creative with the PJ's and as far as the cards go..well he made me cut my list by over half....GASP AGAIN! So if you didn't make the very skinny list, I am so sorry. It's David's fault! And if you received a card (which I mailed Monday)....ENJOY..there are only a few out there!

Christmas 2010 Ethan (age 5), Will (age 3), and Callen (6 months)
Retro Christmas PJ's for the Boys
They might be a little tight in some areas, but still look pretty cute! Good thing I had 3 little baby boys in the last 5 years! It's a good thing when you can reuse clothes over and over again.
Take a little trip down Christmas Memory Lane!
Christmas 2008 Ethan (age 3) and Will (age 1)


Christmas 2009 Ethan (age 4) and Will (age 2)

Carrying on with the spirit of Christmas on a budget....
I have always wanted one of those super cute Advent calendars from Pottery Barn with the Bozeman name monogrammed on it. But of course that was not on the spreadsheet this year either! So Mommy got a little creative and let the boys have fun. We made our own old school count down chain. We started with 12 Days till Christmas. Each night the boys take turns tearing off one chain and choosing a Christmas book for Mommy or Daddy to read from Mommy's little library in the office. It had been so much fun, and I think we have started a new Christmas tradition.





All kidding aside, I am truly grateful for all the THINGS we do have this Christmas season. With the stress and bustle of the Holiday season, it is easy to get caught up in doing everything possible with your kiddos (Breakfast with Santa, visiting Santa in a VERY LONG line in the mall, making gingerbread houses, baking cookies, capturing the just perfect Christmas card picture, and the list can go on and on)! This Christmas I have tried to reflect on the simpler things during this special season. Last night I was sitting in my rocking chair with my sweet chubby 6 month old baby boy and I was reminded of the sweet Manger Story I have told many times this season to rooms full of children. This year my heart has been fixed on Mary. I rock my sweet baby boy in a heated home and make sure I have just the right soft blanket to lay him down in and a boppy to feed him on. Mary rode on a donkey for days without complaining. I would roll out of bed 9 months big and complain all the way to the bathroom as I released my bladder several times during the night. She gave birth in a barn with hay and animals. She had no idea where she would be delivering her unborn child, but knew that God was going to take care of it all. We make sure we have a birth plan, a hospital bag packed and ready by the door, take the hospital tour, and stress over the last minute details. While we are busy taking care of all these plans, God is taking care of it all! This season I am thankful for a gentle and caring Father who sent His son to this earth in the form a sweet baby boy just for me and for my sweet baby boys. I am also thankful for the mother Mary who reminds me this season and everyday to trust in GOD...He has it all taken care of.

To My Sweet Blog Readers,
I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas. I hope Santa gives you everything on your wish list and that God blesses your family this holiday season and all next year!

Till 2011....I'm signing off!