Giving and Getting, part I

The part of the Christmas season that gives me the most anxiety is the "getting" part, particularly for our children. Around this time of year even strangers are quick to ask them: "What do you WANT Santa to bring you?" or "What did you GET from Santa?" Call me Scrooge, but all of the emphasis on wanting and getting in a society where there is already so much excess is truly nauseating to me. Also, the past couple of Christmas mornings I have been disappointed to hear my children ask, with wildness in their eyes: "Are there any more presents for me?" and to watch them melt down with frustration over a toy or fight with each other over a coveted gift. I know they are only children, and "spoiling" them a little bit won't hurt them, but all the same, my Christmas anxiety is there.

To remedy this anxiety, this year we tried to put a little more focus on the "giving" part of the holiday. Early in December, we got to participate in the elementary school's giving tree. It was humbling to see the very basic needs that were listed on many of the tree's wishes, and I think it helped all of us recognize how blessed our family is. 

Forest and Ramona getting ready to play their bell part at Marian's Christmas party

Ramona's last day of school before Winter break

Forest, Paca, and Mika getting ready to visit Ramona's class party

In another effort to limit some of the excess of "getting," back in November I refurbished a couple of old dolls at our house, turning them into Elsa dolls from the beloved Frozen movie. Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without, right? . . . at the risk of appearing a little crazy.

Project #1: Turn Angel Barbie into 12" Elsa doll.

Step One: Use nail polish to turn her green eyes blue.

Step Two: Use more nail polish to give her eyelids a little purple shadow.

Step Three: Give her a messy braid.

Step Four: Superglue scrap fabric to her arms and torso to create the sleeves and bodice of her dress.

It is acceptable to cut up an old baby doll outfit for this endeavor.

I might suggest adding a layer of sparkly fabric on top if you have some lying around.

Step Five: Sew a removable skirt using more scrap fabric and a hair elastic.

Project #2: Turn mini bald Cinderella into mini Elsa doll.
Step One: Steal some white-ish blonde hair from another dolly, make a messy braid and superglue onto Cinderella's head.
Step Two: Put her in a sparkly blue dress.

Step Three: Give her a little purple eye shadow with nail polish, and a little eye liner with a sharpie.

Final products:

I made Ramona and Mika use their chore money to get both Elsas from my store. Then I just notified Santa that similar items were unnecessary for their Christmas lists. This worked out great, because then I got word that he had a surplus of Anna dolls in his workshop that he would be happy to drop off for the girls if they could be nice.