Definition of:
Contain
1. have or hold (someone or something within)
2. control or restrain (oneself or a feeling)
Let’s deal with the first definition – holding something.
The Wrights give Christmas boxes, each year, to close family.
It’s a really simple idea.
Each person is allocated a box – typically a decorated recycled shoe box like this one:
(I decoupage Birthday boxes also…)
The boxes are filled with consumables and an experience.
A miniature bottle of wine, or a tin of hot chocolate and some form of sweet treat. Then depending on who the recipient is, maybe a book, DVD, gift or experience voucher.
Easy to pack and store (and send to Santa!).
I’m currently compiling this season’s boxes. This starts once our Operation Christmas Child boxes have been deposited at the drop-off point. Which are also…yes…gifts in boxes.
As you would expect, this process has evolved since I first started it in 2011. I pack less boxes and in those fewer boxes, less is contained.
Which brings me onto definition 2 – to control or restrain oneself, and ones feelings.
It’s very easy to get swept up in the spirit of Christmas. It’s also very easy to get caught up in the man-made consumerism of the season.
Our simple approach to Christmas is gaining momentum at Chez Wright.
Giving gifts still plays a part. After all, Santa still shimmies down our chimney.
However the priority is to spend time with the family, to enjoy one another’s company and create memories. Gift shopping isn’t a priority. This is the greatest gift I can give my children at Christmas.
I’d rather spend my time, as the big day approaches, making gingerbread house biscuits.
And I’m sure the Kids would too.
Which is what we are going to do, here at Chez Wright. Along with lots of other creative activities and fun experiences.
Want to come along for the (sleigh) ride?
I thought I was being original! I’m doing this same thing for 2 of my little male relatives. There’s a DVD out soon that they want, (and I’ll buy)so I’ve been around the supermarkets finding little tid-bits with the same theme as the DVD – bubble bath, stickers etc.. I’ll probably make my own colouring books on the theme using Google. I’m going to wrap it in a box in themed Christmas paper. I thought I was being original!
Love the colouring book idea! I recently purchased an “adults” colouring book. Nothing untoward. Just complicated patterns. I may make a colouring book for others.
As for being original…. Great minds think alike!
I thought I was being original! I’m doing this same thing for 2 of my little male relatives. There’s a DVD out soon that they want, (and I’ll buy)so I’ve been around the supermarkets finding little tid-bits with the same theme as the DVD – bubble bath, stickers etc.. I’ll probably make my own colouring books on the theme using Google. I’m going to wrap it in a box in themed Christmas paper. I thought I was being original!
Love the colouring book idea! I recently purchased an “adults” colouring book. Nothing untoward. Just complicated patterns. I may make a colouring book for others.
As for being original…. Great minds think alike!
It would help narrow down what to get people, if we limited it to what would fit in a shoe box. For some of our adult relatives, it’s always a problem of coming up with a gift for them.
That’s a very good point about the size. It’s a limited container so you can only fit so much in. It’s a good way of reducing what is purchased!
It would help narrow down what to get people, if we limited it to what would fit in a shoe box. For some of our adult relatives, it’s always a problem of coming up with a gift for them.
That’s a very good point about the size. It’s a limited container so you can only fit so much in. It’s a good way of reducing what is purchased!
So glad you started your Christmas series early 🙂 I have done almost all my Christmas shopping already! (And almost all of it from http://www.bookdepository.co.uk…I have a family of bookworms! The benefit of ordering from overseas is that it has to be done early! But I have once again missed the economy post date for my overseas presents…sigh…maybe next year?) Santa will be delivering a small stack of books tied up with fancy string to each of my kids, and a couple of little extras (small lego project, a game, the all important club penguin membership!) and it all has to fit well inside the pillowcase that each child puts out under the tree. I still love the shoebox idea for the extended family, but I have found some things (like photobooks, which are a regular gift for grandparents) don’t fit! So I use the shoebox contents idea, but wrap the present instead 🙂 Very much looking forward to helping my kids with their baking and crafting projects that they have planned. My big girl is desperate to plan the dessert menu for Christmas day and just to bake in general and has pipecleaner candycanes lined up for everyone! I actually think Christmas activities get more fun as the kids get into the middle childhood years as they are so much more interested in planning and being involved (at least, mine are!). Keep up the Christmas posts! 🙂
Sounds lovely Clare – and all ‘wrapped up’! haha! Love the pillow case idea. It’s amazing what fun you can when you limit what you do, rather than going crazy! Your kids will remember their pillowcases for sure x
So glad you started your Christmas series early 🙂 I have done almost all my Christmas shopping already! (And almost all of it from http://www.bookdepository.co.uk…I have a family of bookworms! The benefit of ordering from overseas is that it has to be done early! But I have once again missed the economy post date for my overseas presents…sigh…maybe next year?) Santa will be delivering a small stack of books tied up with fancy string to each of my kids, and a couple of little extras (small lego project, a game, the all important club penguin membership!) and it all has to fit well inside the pillowcase that each child puts out under the tree. I still love the shoebox idea for the extended family, but I have found some things (like photobooks, which are a regular gift for grandparents) don’t fit! So I use the shoebox contents idea, but wrap the present instead 🙂 Very much looking forward to helping my kids with their baking and crafting projects that they have planned. My big girl is desperate to plan the dessert menu for Christmas day and just to bake in general and has pipecleaner candycanes lined up for everyone! I actually think Christmas activities get more fun as the kids get into the middle childhood years as they are so much more interested in planning and being involved (at least, mine are!). Keep up the Christmas posts! 🙂
Sounds lovely Clare – and all ‘wrapped up’! haha! Love the pillow case idea. It’s amazing what fun you can when you limit what you do, rather than going crazy! Your kids will remember their pillowcases for sure x
Kudos for spending time with children instead of going mad shopping, etc! That’s the way to do it.
Kudos for spending time with children instead of going mad shopping, etc! That’s the way to do it.