Cousin Exchange

As I went visiting teaching this past month, I got some pretty cool ideas from my companion about Christmas gift exchanges between large families. I thought I might throw them out now...now that I came upon these photos from several years back and saw the registered joy on the faces of little people exchanging gifts. (which, by the way, with the setting, hair cuts, and sweaters I could have easily mistaken this photo for some of us with our cousins at a young age)

I am not certain of all the arrival/departure dates at the cabin but I think there will be a bit significant overlap that all cousins would be able to exchange gifts in person with little or no mailing (except to/from Hawaii). Here's the idea - that they draw names between cousins and then make a homemade gift for that cousin. Low cost, yet very meaningful.

My companion was naming of such simple things as a box of handmade paper airplanes, decorated picture frames with pictures of the cousins together in them, painted ceramics, etc. Even up to an older cousin and sewed a dress for a younger cousin that she refused to take off for days. She reported such excitement about planning and creating gifts for cousins that instilled a great sense of giving. If we choose to do a kiddo gift exchange at all - this is my vote.

Likewise, to perhaps throw a little more meaning into the family draw - we could theme it from year to year. Par example: create a gift around the families' favorite movie, book, food, or sport, make the gift specific to a time period - 80s, 90s, 50s, or even perhaps around a favorite temple, Gospel principle, family home evening event. Just throwing out some ideas. I think it would help make the gifts a bit more thought full and personal.

However, I do not want to be throwing any more holiday pressure on already filled occasions and requirements. I still have plenty time to work with my kids on such projects and plenty of wandering mind time to come up with themed things. So, if you think this is a direction in which our gift exchanges to move ---leave a comment and let's get a dialogue going pretty quick here; even with my abundance of time I still like getting Christmas gifting figured out before Thanksgiving. ;)