Changing Christmas traditions

As our family continues to grow (13 grandchildren and 1 on the way) there comes a time when you have to change traditions to keep things balanced and fair and workable. Our six children and their spouses have been really good about giving presents to each other in a way that doesn't overly burden any family. Each couple gives to one other couple with the recipient and givers changing each year in rotation. That also keeps them from returning their gift to the same couple they got it from the previous year.

However, giving to the couple AND their children becomes somewhat of a problem when some couples have no children and others have four. So it has been decided that this year we would start a tradition of the grandchildren drawing a name to give to.

Since you all couldn't be present for the drawing we took pictures so you'd know it really happened.

Grandma prepared the name slips and put them in a pie tin.

Then she drew the names while

Grandpa listed them on the computer and sent out an email for everyone to know who they were giving to and getting from.

It turned out really well this first time around with no one giving a gift to his/her sister or brother and no two kids giving to each other. We originally suggested $5 to $10 but the feedback we're getting indicates it should be more like $10 to $15. We're hopeful that it will work out well this way and the tradition can continue for a few years at least.