Morten is ready to roll. He had some constructive criticism regarding my wrapping style. What can I say? Wrapping isn’t my thing – at least not in large quantities. Bet you didn’t know that round thing down below is a basketball!
OK, you probably did know that was a basketball. Each kid ended up with about 8-10 gifts and each Mom got a gift as well. The Moms didn’t ask for gifts, but some nail polish, lip gloss and a pair of earrings go a long way when you’re a little blue.
I ended up with 4 kids. Three girls and one boy. That’s a lot of Barbie (and Hot Wheels) action. I expect to see Mattel’s stock spike this week as a result. One of the little girls is only 4 so her Mom wrote her Dear Santa letter. The little girl drew books. She drew books!
Cheyenne is getting Morten and A LOT of books…as well as a Grover stuffed animal, crayons & coloring books, hair doodads, Cinderella chapstick, a teddy bear purse and a letter from Santa. Santa even handwrote it. I watched him.
Now that you’ve read that and cried. Go adopt a shelter kid of your own. Playing Santa is a good time. I promise.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:39 am
Aw … *virtual hugs* to you from one Santa to another. You’ve definitely done more than your share and it’s going to make the holiday so special for someone!
We’re about to kick off our program here (which I head up) and it’s always a serious high for me (that even my drugs of choice — caffeine and sugar — can’t compete with) when the gifts come rolling in.
December 1st, 2009 at 12:05 pm
This is why you rock my world.
I love that the little girl wanted books. I love reading and have a wall full of bookshelves stuffed with books in my home office. I’m sure it came from all of those trips Mom took me to the library as a kid. Yay books!
I’ve been buying toys here and there, throughout the year. We’re going to drop them off at the Toys for Tots drive this weekend.
December 1st, 2009 at 12:49 pm
My eyes teared up reading what you put together for that dear little girl and her mom. Bless you and Merry Christmas!
December 1st, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Thanks all! It doesn’t take much. Basketballs are $6 and change at TRU, Barbie’s are $5 and change. Find a few cute outfits ($2-$5 each). Coloring books at the dollar store, box of crayons – you’ll make a kid happy. Morten, as awesomely cute and big as he is was only $7. Go for it.
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:08 am
I do this every year and the number of families always grows by 1 it seems. I ALWAYS get more than I give.
ps. have you seen this site for what to do with the old ties?
http://www.etsy.com/shop/slightlyaskew
December 2nd, 2009 at 7:25 am
You were right. Reading that letter did make me cry. I’ll definitely need to do some research in my area. What a nice thing you’ve done.
December 2nd, 2009 at 10:05 am
From someone who works in non-profit (at an org that does a lot of ecomonic justice and anti-poverty work [greyston.org, if I may plug a worthy cause]), THANK YOU. Please know this: you made a huge difference.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:36 pm
“Playing Santa is a good time. I promise.”
Amen. It is the best feeling to give more than you think you can. My Salvation Army people think I am stalking them with my dollars and handfuls of change, and I have filled many, many bags with groceries for the food pantry this year. I take great pleasure in feeding my family a few cheap meals a week to allow for more of our budget to go to the food drives. And you know what?, my family hasnt even noticed the difference.
You have made Christmas wonderful for some very needy children. It doesnt get better than that!!
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:18 pm
That letter…::sniff::