Tis the Season

This is the season that Ted and I hemorrhage money. I know that people spend too much money during this season, but we have extra expenses this time of year. The first cut starts around Halloween and doesn’t end until the fat man in the red suit is tucked into his bed.

We need to get three Halloween costumes, and depending on what they want to be, it can get costly (Last year the tiny pirate princess cost $40, it should come with its own treasure). This year I lucked out because I made the girls’ costumes myself, but that isn’t typical. Then all the candy we need to buy. Our neighborhood is a drop off point for Providence kids. How do I know this? Every year I have kids come to my door and they say, “Hey Mrs. Kraus, you live here?”

Then we move into November. Picture day is in November, two kids need to get their pictures done. Do you know how ridiculously priced they are and you don’t know how it looks until you get them. Luckily both kids looked good in them.

Teddy’s birthday is at the beginning of the month and he needs presents; then comes Thanksgiving.  Some years we go to someone’s house, but even when we do we need a turkey for leftovers. You can’t have turkey without the fixings, so I pretty much make a little feast. Of course, there is then Black Friday. I haven’t gone the past two years because the things my kids want aren’t a big enough deal. Besides when I go, I buy myself stuff.

December has arrived. Now here’s how this goes; the weekend after Thanksgiving we go and cut down our Christmas tree. With that I usually have to buy more ornaments and lights; the lights because on occasion, we throw them out with the tree and ornaments to replace the ones that broke when the tree fell the previous year.

Next comes Maizie’s birthday and she needs presents. This year we had one big party for the two of them. We didn’t do individual friend parties because of Stella’s soccer party, but we will have to next year (Teddy really wanted a friend party and I’m not sure if Maizie cared.)

During December there are activities we want to do. We go to Winter Wonderland at Slater Park every year (one of these years I’m going to have a display tree). Then there is Lasallette, the timing doesn’t work out most of the time, but I try every year. We must go to Bass Pro Shops to see Santa. They have the BEST Santas, I highly recommend it. We need to but all the presents and there are always last minute purchases.

I make a list for each kid and ask them over and over what they want so they can tell Santa the guaranteed items. Without fail every year, even though she will barely look at him and acts like a mute, Maizie will get a burst of courage and ask Santa for something that isn’t on her list and it’s usually something she has never ever mentioned. One year she wanted a Dora pillowcase and another year it was a tiara. Her last minute additions are not extravagant, just a pain in the ass. I wonder what it will be this year.

Happy holidays!!