Happy Holidays Sad Pockets

I have been m.i.a for awhile but I am back now. So as we know already the holidays can be very stressful but I am happy to say ITS OVER. My oldest daughter has given me such a hard time because her Christmas list was four pages back and front with not a single space. My husband and I are far from being rich so you know that list had to be cut down....way down. We ended up expanding her wardrobe and buying her a few toys (which was forced on her). The baby of course was the easiest to shop for because she is only 7 months, the sad part is she did not care for any of the toys, her only interests were the wrappings and my CELLPHONE (which happens to be the same cellphone that had so much spit in it, it would not turn on for two days straight prior to Christmas Eve). I am happy to say the outcome was a very good one, but am I looking forward to next year NO. Next year I will try to be a bit more proactive and start shopping in October, forget a Christmas list. I have come to the understanding that children want to open as many gifts as possible with a few of the gifts being what they really wanted. I will no longer be a slave to the holidays hottest items because I will be a Master to the craft of creativity.