I fortunately only made my kids "piles" of Xmas presents a short lived thing. 2 years and I learn't my lesson that I would be setting myself up for disaster. Now the kids don't ever expect a huge pile of gifts and just appreciate what they get.

That being said, here's something funny. My kids both did their Santa letter last week...the final neat copy to mail. My daughter who is nearly 12 put some suggestions down for Santa. LOL 51 items to be exact hahaha I was gobsmacked and couldn't believe it. I asked her if she thought this was polite and maybe Santa would think she was a little selfish. SHe said, read the letter properly then mum, they are siggestions I know he can only bring me a few things. lolol 51 suggestions though?!?!? bloody hell, he's gonna be spoilt for choice. My son, who is 10 on Xmas Eve asked for a bookshelf full of books for his mum awwww my cutie.

I think that Xmas means different things to different people. Being English and not celebrating Thanksgiving it's more like that for me. In Canada we have Thanksgiving dinner but not being raised with Thanksgiving, the real meaning isn't engrained in me. At Xmas, we are thankful for each other. It's about spending time as a family together and enjoying the prescious moment's together that we take for granted so easily. I take extra time off work so I can really emerse myself in my children and husband. Sometimes when we are eating dinner and talking or watching a family movie, or taking a walk, I just look at them and feel eternally thankful to my core. That's what Xmas means to me.

This year, will be our first year actively volunteering in the community as a family. Over the course of 3 days, as a family we will be packing Xmas Hampers for the needy and delivering them. My kids are old enough to see it for what it is rather than sugar coating it by just doing a shoebox for the Salvation Army, even though that is still equally as important. Instead they will get to deliver them, see the people and realize how much of a difference this makes in their lives and that they should never take what we have for granted. The reality of seeing this with their own eyes will take this life lesson a step furthur than just being told how bad some people have it. In a few years when they are old enough, we plan to take time out of our Xmas celebrations to serve dinner to those who would normally go with out. I hope these are some new traditions that will be carried on with their children.