5th Annual Christmas Shopping Thread

[taylor3297]

I am always amazed how folks can get their shopping done early. My kids don't even know what they want. (Dd 9 (will be 10 in a month) and ds is 5 (will be 6 in a month)). I did score a preorder on the Wii U this past Wednesday.

Dd had mentioned she would like the Wii U. In the end if she doesn't want it, I can return it or sell it to someone else.

So, if anyone has some great ideas, I would love to hear them.

 

[100AcreWood]

I understand what you mean. My kids are already in the holiday mode with all the new toys out. But, I flipped this weekend when my dd who was nearly in tears wanting an AG doll said she changed her mind. Of course what she wanted was absurd but a perfect example of why I should save my receipts. I have a huge box full of AG I just ordered.

Today I bought her a smash book with the 50% coupon at Michaels. I'm hoping to be done with most of the kid stuff this week.

 

[prayx]

I scored some toys at toys r us this morning. Got my dd2 the doc mcstuffins doll and doctor bag, wheelies park toy, and Thomas the train rc car. I think I'm done with her, but now for the rest of the family!

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[BeckyEsq]

Well add me to the list of every year I say I will cut back and every year I fail! In my defense we went through so many tearful Christmas mornings wishing we had a little one when we couldn't so now that we do it's just hard not to go overboard.

I can relate to this -- we had 8 of those Christmases before we finally got our DD2. This is the first year she will really appreciate Christmas and I am so excited I've been shopping for weeks already.

 

[moonpie85]

I can relate to this -- we had 8 of those Christmases before we finally got our DD2. This is the first year she will really appreciate Christmas and I am so excited I've been shopping for weeks already.

Our daughter turned 2 in July. So we are in the exact same boat

 

[ladybug0506]

Our daughter turned 2 in July. So we are in the exact same boat

I can completely relate as well - we spent 6 Christmases wondering if it would ever be "our turn" And now, as a result, it is sop hard to show any sort of restraint. DS turned 2 in September I was just looking over the list of things to suggest to family members and the things I have already purchased for him and it is pretty insane. BUT as you mentioned, this is the first year that he will really understand what is going on. I personally think that it makes every day, especially Christmas, that much more special since we all know that there are still many couples out there going through the same heartbreaking struggles that we went through. We are now trying for number 2 are facing the same disappointing and difficult hurdles that we faced trying to get DS. Hopefully though, one day, there will be a Christmas morning where Carter will have a sibling

One thing I really do want to get him is the Little People Nativity set to start teaching him the real meaning of Christmas - if anyone happens to see a good deal on a set please let me know!

 

[Deffenm]

IOne thing I really do want to get him is the Little People Nativity set to start teaching him the real meaning of Christmas - if anyone happens to see a good deal on a set please let me know!

I saw the set at Kohls and they usually have a sale on their toys that I combine with their % off coupons and/or Kohls Cash. I don't usually think of Kohls as first place to get toys but I have gotten a good deal on some toys there.

 

[Pesky]

I am always amazed how folks can get their shopping done early. My kids don't even know what they want. (Dd 9 (will be 10 in a month) and ds is 5 (will be 6 in a month)). I did score a preorder on the Wii U this past Wednesday.

Dd had mentioned she would like the Wii U. In the end if she doesn't want it, I can return it or sell it to someone else.

So, if anyone has some great ideas, I would love to hear them.

so funny -- my niece is 9 and same kind of problem with just not knowing what she wants! For her, consider:
* airhunterz bow and arrow set -- local toy store says they can't keep them in stock.
* craft stuff -- for my niece, I am deciding between the Scientific Explorer spa science or scientific explorer magic for wizards; there are felted animal kits, beginning sewing or knitting or crochet, potholder looms and so on. Even just pens and paper!
* hexbugs -- you can get nanobugs or other hexbugs
* puzzle
* books and music
* movies
* ipieces -- little pieces with a downloadable app to turn your iPad into a game (provided you have an iPad willing to be used for such a purpose)
* games
* sport/outdoor stuff
* tickets to an event

DS:
* switch n go dinos
* legos -- my 5YO nephew is OBSESSED with legos. They have some pretty fun collections now
* playmobil
* puzzles
* books, movies, music
* sport/outdoor stuff
* into trains still? lot of that stuff around
* lots of cool action playsets around too

 

[Pesky]

Something I wouldn't have thought of -- my brother mentioned that his family would love tickets to see the local hockey team. Which takes care of 4 of them in one fell swoop! Woohoo!

 

[bas71873]

Something I wouldn't have thought of -- my brother mentioned that his family would love tickets to see the local hockey team. Which takes care of 4 of them in one fell swoop! Woohoo!

This I LOVE! I wish my DH's side of the family would get on board with stuff like this, but they like STUFF and it drives me crazy because I get a list with 1 or 2 "suggestions" for each family member and it's pretty much known that you are supposed to get them those suggestions. I"ve tried to suggest NOT exchanging anymore, but I get shot down every year. I may insist next year cause I"m just over it.

 

[ladybug0506]

I saw the set at Kohls and they usually have a sale on their toys that I combine with their % off coupons and/or Kohls Cash. I don't usually think of Kohls as first place to get toys but I have gotten a good deal on some toys there.

Oooh! I wouldn't have thought to look there. I will definitely check it out though. Thank you!

 

[BeckyEsq]

One thing I really do want to get him is the Little People Nativity set to start teaching him the real meaning of Christmas - if anyone happens to see a good deal on a set please let me know!

My DD was also 2 in September!

We got her that Nativity Set (and the 3 Kings) for her first Christmas. She played with it quite a bit last year but I know she will really enjoy it this year and learn from it. It's so cute and all the kids who visited us over the holidays loved it too. We got it from fisherprice.com -- I could be wrong but I think it may be exclusive to the site.

ETA: I think I am wrong about that, it used to be exclusive but now I see Walmart has it.

 

[susykt4]

This I LOVE! I wish my DH's side of the family would get on board with stuff like this, but they like STUFF and it drives me crazy because I get a list with 1 or 2 "suggestions" for each family member and it's pretty much known that you are supposed to get them those suggestions. I"ve tried to suggest NOT exchanging anymore, but I get shot down every year. I may insist next year cause I"m just over it.

I was the evil child/in-law who one year just flat-out refused to participate in ANY more gift exchanges for adults or for kids other than my nieces and nephews. The next year, many more families dropped out and now none of the EXTENDED families exchange gifts. I mean, it was completely ridiculous when at one extended family gathering we were doing $50 per person gifts and the vast majority of the adults would just exchange gift cards or even cash. This was costing me $200 that I would MUCH rather have spent on my kids at a time I was a SAHM. (By extended family, I mean aunts, uncles, cousins and their kids.) The extended family gatherings are now about food and fun and everyone seems MUCH less stressed.

 

[Pesky]

I was the evil child/in-law who one year just flat-out refused to participate in ANY more gift exchanges for adults or for kids other than my nieces and nephews. The next year, many more families dropped out and now none of the EXTENDED families exchange gifts. I mean, it was completely ridiculous when at one extended family gathering we were doing $50 per person gifts and the vast majority of the adults would just exchange gift cards or even cash. This was costing me $200 that I would MUCH rather have spent on my kids at a time I was a SAHM. (By extended family, I mean aunts, uncles, cousins and their kids.) The extended family gatherings are now about food and fun and everyone seems MUCH less stressed.

AMEN!!! I did this with my siblings and just said no more gifts, just the kids. I do send token gifts -- bottle of wine, joke gifts -- but generally that is it. This year with the tickets was an exception. Suggested this with DH's family and it was like WWIII does Christmas. Finally they have agreed to a name draw so at least it is more limited and this year my gift list is giving money to my SIL and BIL to help make a niece or nephew (IF struggles). Hopefully the rest of his family gets the hint!

 

[Manders77]

Hey girls!! Christmas is:

8 WEEKS & 2 DAYS


or

58 DAYS AWAY!!


So,...how many of y'all are decorating yet?!!! I am holding out for after Halloween....then I have a meeting here Thursday night so there is no way it's getting done before then...I am thinking that next Monday...the 5th...I will be cleaning like a crazy lady this week and next weekend anyway in prep for our VACATION!!! So,. Monday when my Hubs is at work, I will start!!! It will take most of the day to do the tree, but then I can do the other stuff the next day,...I will leave my fall wreath on the door while we are gone, and our pumpkins outside,but when we come back it'll all get changed out,...I just want all the Christmas stuff finished inside so I don't have to do ANYTHING with it when we get back! Thats when I focus on our goody-basket-baking prep and gifts for friends ...also, my ds will be 17 that first week of December, so I have to get him to decide what he wants to do....
Anyhoo....it's getting pretty chilly down here this weekend!! Hope all of you are warm and cozy. And those of you in Sandy's path be safe and keep us posted if you can!!!

Not decorating until Thanksgiving weekend. DH will not allow early decorating. I understand, can't push Christmas too early like the stores, but I shop all year round looking for deals.

 

[Disney2013]

Was thinking of getting my DS6 and DS9 either a Kindle Fire or a Nook for Christmas. They are constantly using my iPad to play games on. I also was told that they can use them to read their books that are associated with their accelerated reader program at their school. I don't know enough about either one of these to make a decision, can anyone suggest the best one and why!!!! Thanks so much!!!

 

[stacy76]

Was thinking of getting my DS6 and DS9 either a Kindle Fire or a Nook for Christmas. They are constantly using my iPad to play games on. I also was told that they can use them to read their books that are associated with their accelerated reader program at their school. I don't know enough about either one of these to make a decision, can anyone suggest the best one and why!!!! Thanks so much!!!

I have the nook and my mom has the kindle fire. I like the Kindle Fire better only because I found it to have more free apps available. I do not even use the nook anymore, I just loaded the kindle app to my iPad. We bought the Nabi tablet for my DS(6) & DD(4) and an iPad for my DS(9). I am hoping after Christmas I might actually get to see my iPad because they have their own tablets.

 

[moonpie85]

I can completely relate as well - we spent 6 Christmases wondering if it would ever be "our turn" And now, as a result, it is sop hard to show any sort of restraint. DS turned 2 in September I was just looking over the list of things to suggest to family members and the things I have already purchased for him and it is pretty insane. BUT as you mentioned, this is the first year that he will really understand what is going on. I personally think that it makes every day, especially Christmas, that much more special since we all know that there are still many couples out there going through the same heartbreaking struggles that we went through. We are now trying for number 2 are facing the same disappointing and difficult hurdles that we faced trying to get DS. Hopefully though, one day, there will be a Christmas morning where Carter will have a sibling

One thing I really do want to get him is the Little People Nativity set to start teaching him the real meaning of Christmas - if anyone happens to see a good deal on a set please let me know!

Totally agree. Feel so blessed now. It's painful to watch others go through and they try to put on a happy face and you know they are just a mess inside.

About the nativity...all I can recommend is don't get the one off toysrus.com. It's not the same set they have in Target. The Target set is by far better. I was so disappointed to receive the toysrus.com one last year. It had fewer pieces and came in a plain white box. No presentation to it at all. I think I even gave it a bad review on the website.

 

[ladybug0506]

Totally agree. Feel so blessed now. It's painful to watch others go through and they try to put on a happy face and you know they are just a mess inside.

About the nativity...all I can recommend is don't get the one off toysrus.com. It's not the same set they have in Target. The Target set is by far better. I was so disappointed to receive the toysrus.com one last year. It had fewer pieces and came in a plain white box. No presentation to it at all. I think I even gave it a bad review on the website.

Sadly, my son's godparents are going through it right now and it is just so hard to watch knowing how desperately they want a child of their own.

Thank you for the tip about the set at tru! The box isn't as big a deal but the fewer pieces thing is a dealbreaker!

 

[ehough]

I so wish we could convince the ILs to draw names or only buy for the kids! It is so stressful, buying for them, and expensive. The expectation is at least $50-75 per adult! After a few years of me picking up things here and there that I thought they'd like- and them being rude/silent when they opened them- I swore I'd never buy anything they didn't ask for again. So it has turned into such a GIMME GIMME thing- they make a list of expensive things, we buy them. I don't get it, where's the fun? But that's just how they are, apparently MIL used to take a young DH and his sister (at about 8 years old) to the store, they'd pick out their own xmas toys, and she'd wrap them and put them under the tree. That's not what Christmas is about for me.

In other news, I ordered a Hexbug Nano- for my cats! It gets great reviews as a cat toy, and I think the kids will think it's hilarious to watch. Santa brings for the furry ones here, too.