What Is A Balloon Christmas?

One year, we were struggling to make ends meet and I wondered what could we do without Christmas money? Without money, there was no hope for gifts and Christmas decorations. I didn't know what to do to make Christmas special. Making a difference is something I enjoy, especially if it makes someone else happy. In the case of my family, I really like changing things up a bit. We've had some curious an' interesting celebrations by using this method.

Lemme' tell you 'bout that one Christmas. You've pro'lly had the same kinda' Christmas, at one time or another. Finances were short. Supplies were short. An' in my case, talent was short. Although I try many things, crafts are something that I don't often rely on for gifts because I am sooo bad at 'em.

Temporarily, I longed for the days when I could have put things on lay-a-way an' paid a little at a time, until my gifts were paid off. Then, I remembered that finances had been tight for quite awhile an' I wouldn't have been able to pay even a little at a time. *sigh*

Image: graur razvan ionut / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Have you ever given a balloon as a gift for Christmas? Perhaps you can tell that I was beginning to get desperate for an answer to how to get Christmas gifts, eh? I searched the nether-reaches of my mind for ANY ideas that might help me create a memorable Christmas for my grandies. For awhile, there seemed to be only vacant halls in my mind, as I traveled from empty room to empty room, finding only cast-off chores an' sparkly cobwebs, everywhere.

Eventually in my mental travels, though, I happened on the room that stores all things Out of the ordinary an' found an idea that jus' screamed Memories. Immediately, I began acting on this new plan an' it was definitely a memorable Christmas.

[For the record, whenever I start getting too many cobwebs on the brain, I jus' spray 'em gold an' call 'em lace. That way, they're at least fun to look at.]

Image: Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I wanted my balloons to be an amazing display for my grandchildren. As it got closer an' closer to Christmas I spent a lotta' time worrying. Fortunately, I had enough money to buy bags to put gifts in, but the gifts that had a'ready been purchased were the limit of what would be given. Now, you may be thinking what a silly person I am to go out an' buy gift bags, when money was scarce, but that's where the whole picture starts to change.

As soon as I could, I bought three bags, one for each grandchild who was living nearby. The bags were relatively inexpensive an' I was able to get three solid colors. After that, I went skipping my way home again with a light heart. My gifts for the grandies would at least be presented in a way that would be remembered.

On Christmas Eve the real fun began. Did I mention that the bags I bought were those big plastic gift bags that can be used for wrapping a bicycle? Yeah; an' that was the key to everything. When we began preparing the gifts for display, some were a'ready wrapped in paper an' others were left without the wrappings.

We opened the large gift bags an' put all of each child's gifts inside a different bag. As I said, there were three, so it worked out perfectly. When the gifts were arranged the way we wanted 'em, we then used the vacuum cleaner to blow air into each of the gift bags. Did you know those bags are H - U - G - E ? ! ? Our living room was filled to the ceiling with king-sized balloon bouquets. It was AWESOME!

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On Christmas morning, we were very excited for our grandchildren to see the colors of Christmas balloon gift holders we had created. I don't think they will ever forget how balloons played an important part in Christmas for our family.

Our living room was at the back of the apartment, so everyone arrived an' was able to remove hats an' coats long before seeing the gifts displayed inside gigantic balloons. When our very small grandies walked into the room, though, everything got silent.

The oldest of the three grandchildren was five years old, with the next one being three an' the little one being not much more than one year old. Their first reaction was caution, as they each backed up against the nearest adult. It only took a few minutes of explaining, though, for the children to un'erstan' that those king-sized balloons were for them.

Soon, three little kids were having the time of their lives, ripping an' tearing into the biggest balloons they had ever seen. Unfortunately, my camera was on the fritz, so I can't show you how much fun it was. Take my word for it, though; we had a ball. If you wanna' make a memory at your house this Christmas, buy some large plastic gift bags that say they will hold a tricycle. Place your gifts inside an' see how the family comes alive when it's time to open those gifts.

For sure, a Balloon Bouquet is the way to make a Christmas Memory.

Until the next time, keep a hug on.

~ Yaya

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