Seattle Trip--Christmas Celebration

My sister Shari and I arrived at my daughter's in Bothell, WA (a suburb of Seattle) on December 5th. Our return flight was booked for December 20th.  My grandchildren were to fly to Illinois to visit their father on the 24th to Jan. 1st, and my daughter and son-in-law had vacation reservations that would take them to Canada from the 24th to the 31st.  Thus, we had to fit a Christmas celebration in there, somewhere.

As flyers, Shari and I could not carry Christmas presents in checked bags.  I placed some orders online and had them shipped to Bothell and did my best to come up with things that people wanted. Still, we were aware that we needed to do some shopping while there.  One day, Meg took us to a mall.  Another time, Denis took us to a big box store.  In the process, we came up with a whole bunch of stocking stuffer thingies.

My granddaughter is a fan of all things Japanese.  While at the mall, we came upon a store called Daiso Japan, which is a sort of Dollar Tree for Japanese ware (much of which is made in China) where most things are cheap, cheap, cheap.  In there, I came up with a ton of stuff that I thought Robin would like in her stocking, and some for Ryan...and the grand total at the cash register came to just slightly more than $20.  Yeah!  Normally, I spend twice that per stocking, with no real appreciation for what's in there.  I heard Robin say, however, that this was her best Christmas stocking ever.  I'll take that!

Megan claimed going into the week that she had nothing for anyone for Christmas.  Ooookay.  Shari and I had stockings full of nice Microsoft stuff, from coasters to pens that serve as computer styluses to yummy candies, etc.  I got what I had asked for--night wear--and Shari, who wasn't expecting a thing, got a nightgown with an owl on the front with the text, "Owl always love you."  (Shari collects owls.  It was perfect!)  Meanwhile, the things I got for everyone weren't so secret because they had been requested...but one of them was requested while I was there...as an afterthought.  I didn't say anything but went about the business of getting it from Amazon and having it shipped to Bothell.  On the day of our "Christmas", Meg said, "This seems too heavy for a cheese slicer."  Ouch!  It WAS a cheese slicer, but with a marble base instead of wood.  I wanted to strangle her!

I got Denis a Seattle Seahawks hoodie on a whim, and a gaming mouse that he had requested.  There have been several vacation pictures with him wearing the hoodie, so I think that was a good idea.  Ryan got more hoodies.  Robin got money.  I feel bad about that because there is no way of knowing what she will spend it on, etc...but she is a picky one.  I'm not into buying things for people that they won't use or want.  Ugh!

As discombobulated as all of this sounds and felt, it was also liberating.  Christmas is all about togetherness.  Presents?  Yeah...those are nice...but not the reason for the season.  God provides!