tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29923895.post7200371165549673773..comments2024-03-17T17:03:49.854-07:00Comments on simply yin: How we do Birthdays and other GiftsYinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12411403555604850149noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29923895.post-91306995034951861212014-11-02T22:16:12.232-08:002014-11-02T22:16:12.232-08:00Always so nice to hear from you Rhadonda. Thanks f...Always so nice to hear from you Rhadonda. Thanks for the encouragement from like-minded friends like you!Yinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12411403555604850149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29923895.post-68340167042757330582014-11-02T20:47:23.699-08:002014-11-02T20:47:23.699-08:00I always love reading your blog. So funny about t...I always love reading your blog. So funny about the 20th bracelet. Better early than late right? Yes we are such a materialist society and it is hard to get away from that. Finally all our family agreed and are still working to even minimize that. A day out with family sounds like such a great idea!! Keep up the good work. Thanks for the reminder about the coupon!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05422283043581551545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29923895.post-46196962021452354982014-11-02T19:30:46.730-08:002014-11-02T19:30:46.730-08:00Oh yes it is not easy to have everyone on the same...Oh yes it is not easy to have everyone on the same page regarding gift-giving! Our family and our friends did not get to this point when the kids were younger. It was only after years of bringing home presents that we did not have space to store/were duplicates of what they already have/ were making them un-appreciative because they had way too many toys... that one of my sister in law bravely broached the subject, and soon we all agreed. It helps that as they grew older, there were less and less easy gift options. In fact my boys are hard-pressed for an answer when we now ask them what is that one gift they might want for Christmas (for gift exchange) haha!. It is indeed the hardest for grandparents who want so much to 'bless' the grandchildren. It helps that in chinese culture, it is customary for grandparents to give an 'angpow' or redpacket of a cash gift, so that really works for all :) All the best as you navigate this season as best as you can!Yinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12411403555604850149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29923895.post-18436318395761670112014-11-02T10:58:21.240-08:002014-11-02T10:58:21.240-08:00We have been talking a lot (dh and I) about how we...We have been talking a lot (dh and I) about how we have TOO much stuff -- especially toys. My family still wants everyone to buy for everyone, and on my mom's side of the family, that includes several aunts, uncles, and cousins. It's overwhelming, and I've had a meltdown over all the STUFF at least once every Christmas for the past several years. I tried to get everyone to draw names for Christmas gifts, but they didn't like it. I've tried to ask my step-mom to only get the boys one gift each, but she goes overboard every year. A couple of years ago, they had more presents to open at her house than they did on Christmas morning at our own home. After I had one of my meltdowns in front of her, she scaled it back a bit, but now instead of giving them ten different wrapped gifts, she just crams all ten in one sack. Christmas is very stressful for me because of all the gifts. It's not supposed to be that way. Sigh... Sorry to vent! I guess you hit a nerve. ;) You are right that it is a blessing to have like-minded friends and family.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16218766072752022234noreply@blogger.com