Christmas?! I Own Your Butt.

OMG. I am so excited.

I've been seriously plagued by the "I don't know fairies" this year. Annoying little fockers. That's what happens when you have teenagers who aren't the 'gimme gimme' kind of kids. They've been poor. Real poor. But at this time in our lives we're not rich, but we're not poor either. Thank you God.

I tried to eliminate the "I don't know faries" by offering to take the kids on their first plane trip. My boys are 20, 20 and 18 and have never been on a plane. So, I suggested instead of buying a crapload of 'stuff', that we get up Christmas morning and go to the airport and go have an adventure.

We could set a budget, google cheap last minute fares to anywhere, pick a destination that was in our budget and go have an adventure. We could fly to Washington DC for lunch then come back home. Fares were less than $200 round trip. Christmas fun for 4 people costing under $1,000. Not only doable, but a damn fun idea. Or so I thought.

2 sons said "Sure!" They were game.

But alas, boys will be little boys... and one lone voice said, "But will there be presents under the tree Christmas morning? I like the way we always have Christmas. We have our traditions." le sigh. What to do when you have a child that's still a kid at heart? You go shopping and buy crap.

And then 2 days ago, their Dad stepped up. Last year he gave them I.O.U.'s. This year he gave them each $300 to shop and ME money too. But by that time, I had already spent part of my budget buying presents. Now, with the extra cash we could now swing the trip, but talk about excess! No. I decided I it was financially smarter to continue with the usual presents idea and now I would still have money left over in the bank after Christmas. Wow. Wouldn't that be novel.

But that meant I was back to battling the "I don't know fairies."

Yesterday the words "Creative Zen" (better than iPods the kids say) were heard. Do you know how hard it is to find one of those this year? I found 3. Woohoo! They cost more than the friggen plane idea. 80% of the budget on one gift for each child.

And then, while whining about the "I don't know fairies" to a guy at work, a fantastic present fell into my lap.

I mentioned I saw pool tables for sale under $500 at Sports Authority but they were sold out.

He mentioned he had a regulation pool table in perfect condition sitting in his basement that he wanted gone.

I'm taking it off his hands for $50.

Oh yeaaaa! Take that you blasted "I don't know fairies." I own your asses now.