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My Kids’ 2023 Christmas Gifts

3-Gift Christmas

I was asked to share the gifts that we got our kids for their 3-gift Christmas, so here’s a quick run-down of those!

If you’re lost, see this post on what a 3-gift Christmas is.

I work really hard at getting meaningful things for everyone on my list. I keep a note in my phone through the year and write down ideas that come to me based on what they say or what I hear from other people.

So by the time Christmas rolls around, I usually have a pretty good idea of what we’re going to get for them.

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3 Gift Christmas

Part 1

When I was a brand new mom, I knew I wanted to keep Christmas simple. I knew the more children we had, the crazier it could get. And our family goal for Christmas was to always keep Jesus as the reason for the season.

When it becomes all about the gifts and the buying, it is easier to lose sight of that.

So, I saw a suggestion in a magazine (remember when we used to get those in the mail?) for implementing a 3-gift-Christmas. We started with our first child on her first Christmas, so it’s all our four kids have ever known. It has really simplified our Christmases as a family, and I’m so glad it’s the way we do things.

Each child gets 3 gifts, just like Baby Jesus. Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

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A Change With How I Post My Kids

Giving them privacy

Over the holidays, Barry and I watched a movie that really made me start thinking about how much I show my children online. Then I started down the train of thought: how do people perceive them? It’s only from MY point of view – I’m not giving them the privacy they deserve or the ability to be their own people.

I started online as an outlet for me – my kids didn’t choose to be public figures (that’s so weird to call myself that). They were kinda dragged into this gig just because it was my job.

So I’ve decided to pull back on how often you see them online – their faces and how often I put them in videos. Of course, I’ll still talk about them and share stories, but I want them to be able to choose their own path, make their own stories – on their own.

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When You Get Traumatized…

Why I’m back to blogging

In November 2021, our family experienced a business loss that left us shell-shocked. If you’ve ever gone through a tramatic event, you know it changes how you view things.

At the time, I couldn’t see it, but God orchestrated those things and actually led us down that path for our good. We wouldn’t be as strong as we are now, or as close, if not for hard times to push us there.

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Relationships and Money: 5 Things Every Couple Needs to Know

A lot of you are new around here, so I’ve been spending some time recapping some of my favorite content written since Humorous Homemaking was born in May 2010.  One of the ways I’m determining which content is best to share with you anew, I consider the most frequently asked questions I get via email, Facebook, etc.  By far, the most common set of questions falls under the heading of relationships and money or marriage and money.

I get TONS of questions on how to get husbands and wives to agree on money.  Why? Because I firmly believe when you said “I do” you made a commitment for life. Unfortunately, the reason that commitment is most commonly broken is due to money problems.  When I started providing financial counsel, I quickly learned I often provided a lot of marriage counseling too.

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Keeping Christmas Simple

Everywhere we look, it seems like we’re inundated with things to do for Christmas:

  • Beautiful trees
  • Crafts
  • Fancy desserts
  • BIG gifts
  • Trips
  • Parties

Is there anything wrong with any of that? Absolutely not! Those are all wonderful things!!! The problem is, when those things stress us out, and keep us from enjoying our time with family, we don’t really need them.

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Trashy Pizza Date Night

It’s really easy to make excuses for NOT going on a date night with your spouse. No one argues whether or not it is important, but there seem to be all these “reasons” to not make it happen:

  • It costs too much money.
  • No one can watch the kids and babysitters are expensive.
  • There’s nothing to do around here.
  • No one can watch the kids and babysitters are expensive.
  • We don’t have the extra time.
  • No one can watch the kids and babysitters are expensive.

If it’s important, you’ll find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse.

–Ryan Blair
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The Snack Basket

(Saving Mommy’s sanity since 2018)

I’m not sure about you, but the NUMBER ONE question my kids seem to ask is: Can I have a snack? I’ll be honest – this question drives me bonkers. “You just ate like 5 minutes ago. How can you be hungry again? You haven’t even finished chewing that last bite.” The snack basket idea has officially saved my sanity.

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Why We Choose to Homeschool

Without exception, a common question that Barry and I get every single school year is: “Why did you guys decide to homeschool?”

When we first started out, we didn’t articulate our answer all that well, but the answer hasn’t changed. Simply put, we don’t believe you can separate God and education. Ever. This is our sixth year homeschooling, and we believe this now more than ever.

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