Hanukkah - that's a wrap!

The 8th and final night of Hanukkah.  All candles lit.
We have a gazillion Menorahs.  Each year the kids pick the ones they want to use.
The Menorah on the left is all shoes, given to Sam by Grandma & Grandpa Toppall.
The Menorah on the right is a plane, given to Ian by Mom-mom and Pop-pop Jim Velicoff.

Hanukkah came so early this year.  It was hard to achieve a high level of anticipation and excitement waiting for the holiday to arrive.  And with all the hoopla of Thanksgiving being the 2nd night of Hanukkah, before you knew it, our 8 nights were over and done with.  It came and went in our Toppall house with a small roar.  By the time Christmas hits, Hanukkah will be a distant memory.

Unfortunately my plan to do a small family getaway (at some point during the coming months) instead of getting the kids presents for each of the 8 nights did not happen.  I had a dream of going to New York City for 2 nights during the Teacher work days at the end of January.  I absolutely love NYC and am very eager to show the kids what a magical place New York can be.  I put more value in the family doing some kind of experience/trip together than getting them things they will lose interest in after a few weeks.  And I hate the idea of getting them something just because you have to get them something.  I much rather bring home surprises throughout the year when I see something they would love to have.  However, when I priced out going to NYC, it was more money than Jeff and I felt comfortable spending. 

With no trip in lieu of gifts happening, I had to hit the stores and come up with some things for the kids to open.  I carefully selected a few presents for each of the kids and made a very concentrated effort to not go overboard.  Between the grandparents (3 sets!), Aunts/Uncles (another 3 sets!), and the gifts Jeff and I came up with the kids made out pretty well.

The night before Hanukkah began Jeff whispered to me, "Let's be the 'fun parents' and let the kids open a gift now."  He was having a hard time seeing the pile of wrapped gifts and not letting the kids start opening them.  Mind you, the kids were fine with it.  Jeff, however, can't keep anything under wraps.  I said "Sure."  The kids each opened a gift and was very happy.  Jeff was ready to let them open all of the presents right then and there, but I had to put an end to the madness.  We needed to leave something for the holiday. 

The kids loved everything they got.  My dad, stepmother and sister Meghan gave Ian money.  He really wanted to get some collectible baseball cards and used the money to pick them out. Ian was so giddy seeing all the great players' cards he was able to purchase.  The manager of the store was extremely impressed with Ian's knowledge of baseball (both current and very old school teams) and offered him a job when he turns 16.  He said he's never seen a kid of Ian's age have this much knowledge.  That alone made Ian's day.  He tells everyone he sees now that he has a job waiting for him. 

Ian with 2 of the many baseball cards he was able to get.
Please don't look at the hair, we he is still growing it out. :)

And just like that, Hanukkah is in the rearview mirror and we are driving towards New Year's.