consumer whore-ish

I have been on a constant search for christmas presents for my kids and family.  I need the right things to make sure they know i love them or believe in the fantasy or something along that line.  I also just have to admit I am a consumer whore. I know its not hip to want to but things for your kids and what not but what can I say.  I love it when they have the stuff that all the  other kids have or want, when other kids are jealous over what my kids have.  I also love the thrill of the hunt.  I enjoy getting good deals and finding the toys that are impossible to find like the ellusive zhu zhu pet. 

The thing is i have had a blast searching for zhu zhu pets and what not.  I have spent way too many hours in front of stores in line waiting for doors to open and a tv or cameras or zhu zhu pets to be doled out.  I have made fantastic memories with my mom and best friend.

We went to get the new four pack of zhu zhu pets because well at this point we needed them.  Ava said she just wanted the pink one and so we sat and waited and waited.  Annike, my mom and I waited starting at eleven p.m.  We got situated with our chairs and starbucks and scrabble.  Toys r us had been bombarding the world with advertisements for zhu zhu pets and the paper had just done an article on them that morning. So we were prepared for a long wait and a long line.  We were the line...so far.  we set up our blankets and drinks and peed before the store closed at midnight.  People kept passing us and asking why we were there and making whatever comments they needed.  Some of those were ncouragimg some were snide none of them mattered we were having fun.  We bundled up in our snugglies that we bought while waiting in front of target for black friday, our comforters piled on top of that.  My mom had her scarf covering her head like an old polish grandmother. 

We three all bundled played scrabble for the rest of the night.  We played a total of three scrabble games alternating who won.  I actually win a game.  I know dyslexic me actually won a game.  The wind kept blowing us and the pieces but we managed.  Annike obsessed over how I could park the van to block the wind, which I did after she tried.  It helped, a little, well at least it made us think we were warmer and not focus on the smell of the trash can next to us.  I never realized how competative Annike was.   We could of finished at least two more games if we timed my mom and her.  They would take so much time trying to configure the perfect word for the most amount of points.  There is something deeply satisfying about beating them when I just don't care as much.  We finished our last game as a weird well very odd woman walked up at about 3 am.  We knew that we would never actually get up in time so staying up was a better option for us and way more fun.  I wish that woman would of stayed home longer.  Shortly after her two people that were much more like well hipsters came up and rolled there eyes with us at her.  The line started to build and the humor started to flow.  the doors opened and we all got what we needed. 

The thing is I have friends that think I am just plain bananas for doing all of this.  I do it for so many reasons.  I don't have a lot of money and want to be able to give my kids everything they want.  I shop around and start early to stretch every dollar.  I live for that moment of them coming down the stairs on christmas morning and cheer joy and excitement overwhelming them.  I love the squeals of glee that they can't control.  I also got to spend time with my mom and best friend without children where we just got to be and play and talk together.  It was fun, so if that makes me a consumer whore like the man driving around toys r us screamed st us from is van then fine I will whore it up next year too!