Experiences.

While arguing with Elisabeth about why picking up your things in your bedroom is important because your parent falling in your room over random toys, clothes, more toys and more clothes is not a great thing, I had a thought...

When I was hanging up all of Julia's 3T clothes, packing away her too small 2T clothes, and getting the boxes of 4T clothes ready for a sudden growth spurt, I had a realization...

My kids are very blessed with an over abundance of clothes and toys.

While I am appreciative of all of the things my girls have been gifted or given, they really just have too much. Way too much.

Elisabeth's birthday is in less than 2 months and then Christmas right after it. I emailed my family and told them that Julia by no means needs any more clothes forever and ever. Amen. And while Elisabeth will need more clothes when she moves into the next size, she by no means needs any right now.

While talking to Evan about what I could suggest for birthday ideas for Elisabeth to our families, it hit me--I would rather money be spent on an experience than more material things.

I would rather take Elisabeth horse back riding like she always talks about then buy her another Barbie. I'd rather take the girls to see plays and concerts than spend money on toys they will play with 3 times before forgetting about them. I would subscribe to magazines that they will happily anticipate every month then wander through the Target dollar aisle because I just can't think of anything else to get them. I would rather have a membership to the zoo then another set of Little People that I have to clean up off my living room floor.

The more I thought about this, the more excited I got. So, I have decided to email my family members and tell them what we would appreciate as gifts for the girls. This is what I plan on saying:

We'd appreciate gift cards to their favorite restaurants since we never go out to eat anymore. The girls love getting their own "money" to take to restaurants and paying for themselves. Since we've decided that going out to eat should be more of a treat than a routine, getting to go to McDonald's is a very big deal in our house. We barely go once a month.

We'd appreciate memberships to zoos or a month of dance lessons or tickets to museums and aquariums. We love love love going to these things more than barbies and stuffed animals!

We'd appreciate time with you. We like when you visit and we like to visit you. We love to see you and you're so far away. We'd rather you and us buy a tank of gas to see each other than receive a video game.

I'm really excited about this idea. I'm hoping that my family will be excited about this too. I want to incorporate this in the way I give gifts too. Because, what it all boils down to is this--my girls are going to remember trips to zoos and vacations and visits from family members to whatever state we're living in more than they are the material things they receive. I remember trips to Iowa to visit my Grandma every summer more than I remember my baby dolls. I remember the look on Elisabeth's face the first time she road a train (to Chicago!) more than what I bought her for her 3rd birthday.

It's the experiences more than the material items that matter in life. I want that for my girls, so I need to start practicing it.