8th Annual Christmas Thead

[Ceryssa]

What a great thread! I love Christmas and am firmly of the opinion that it's never too early to start planning for it So far I have NOTHING done for this year which is a bit distressing since I usually at least have an idea of what I'm getting people by now! My girls are 9 and 7, so they're growing out of the "toy" phase a little. I'm not even sure where to start. Maybe I can find some good ideas from you guys!

 

[weluvjasmine]

I just ordered a few things from Amazon: Kikkerland If I Only Had a Brain Crank Music Box, Kikkerland Pink Panther Crank Music Box, Wreck This Journal, Emoji Stickers, and Emoji Poop Face Pillow (weird I know but that's my daughter's favorite Emoji).

 

[chocolateavocado]

Glad to have found this thread We have a WDW trip planned for over Thanksgiving, so I'd like to get a start on things for Christmas now so I don't have to worry and rush so much after vacation. I don't have any shopping done yet, but started jotting ideas down for ds as he mentions and sees things he really wants or likes. I'll start buying a little at a time once he goes back to school at the end of the month. I don't want to order while he's home & have the pkgs show up and ruin the surprise. But I do know I need to start soon so it does stress me out worrying about $$$ all at once and trying to get everything done. I'd love to have most of stuff bought before we go so we can have a most relaxing vacation. We don't use credit cards at all, so it's easiest to do a little at a time and not have any bills to worry about afterwards.
This weekend we are going shopping for back to school supplies & khakis/shoes - He goes to a Catholic school so we'll buy the uniform stuff next week at the school sale. While we're out I'm going to look for stuff I can pick up for people on our Christmas list- besides ds & dh...
Looking forward to following this thread

 

[Pesky]

What a great thread! I love Christmas and am firmly of the opinion that it's never too early to start planning for it So far I have NOTHING done for this year which is a bit distressing since I usually at least have an idea of what I'm getting people by now! My girls are 9 and 7, so they're growing out of the "toy" phase a little. I'm not even sure where to start. Maybe I can find some good ideas from you guys!

My DD just turned 8 so right there with you. DD is into music so we got a rock band for the kinect 360 off of eBay for both kids. Also, getting stuff for her room -- Harry Potter poster mounted on foam board, owl statue, lamps for her vanity, and a necklace tree to hang her necklaces. She gets the usual -- games, books, and the fun stocking stuffers plus some GCs like iTunes. Also think about bath and bodyworks stuff too -- sanitizers are awesome and the balsam smells like a Christmas tree. Just got my niece who is 12 a hilarious looking little bust of a Victorian figure with the dignified head of a pug for her room on sale at Aaron Bros. for about $2 after all my coupons. Craft stuff can be good too and lessons can be a good experience gift.

 

[Ceryssa]

My DD just turned 8 so right there with you. DD is into music so we got a rock band for the kinect 360 off of eBay for both kids. Also, getting stuff for her room -- Harry Potter poster mounted on foam board, owl statue, lamps for her vanity, and a necklace tree to hang her necklaces. She gets the usual -- games, books, and the fun stocking stuffers plus some GCs like iTunes. Also think about bath and bodyworks stuff too -- sanitizers are awesome and the balsam smells like a Christmas tree. Just got my niece who is 12 a hilarious looking little bust of a Victorian figure with the dignified head of a pug for her room on sale at Aaron Bros. for about $2 after all my coupons. Craft stuff can be good too and lessons can be a good experience gift.

Those are good ideas Our Wii just bit the dust so thinking about upgrading to the Wii U for Christmas (yeah, we're behind the times lol). An iPod might be a good idea too, for my oldest. She does like music. We're in the process of setting them up a more "grownup" playroom for them, so something like Rock Band might be good for in there, too. Hmm, some things to think about!

 

[InStitchesinNE]

Is anyone planning to make any gifts this year? I'm working on a few projects have my kids. For my 4 yo son, I'm making a mustache disguise kit, a felt car mat (with different locations for him to use is Hot Wheels on), bow ties, teepee,

How are you making a teepee? This sounds like such a fun and awesome fall project to do with my kids!

Emoji Poop Face Pillow (weird I know but that's my daughter's favorite Emoji).

I think my DD10 would love this too

 

[weluvjasmine]

How are you making a teepee? This sounds like such a fun and awesome fall project to do with my kids!



I think my DD10 would love this too

I'm going to look on Pinterest and use fabrics in my son's favorite colors.

 

[InStitchesinNE]

My girls are 9 and 7, so they're growing out of the "toy" phase a little. I'm not even sure where to start. Maybe I can find some good ideas from you guys!

This is our DD10. Last Christmas she received a sewing machine, a bunch of fabrics and patterns/instructional booklets from youcanmakethis.com so she can make herself stuffed animals. She LOVES it! She's really into cooking this year, so I'm thinking a nice kids knife set, some cute cake pans, decorator tips, etc. Can't wait for AC Moore's/Michael's black friday sale!

I'm going to look on Pinterest and use fabrics in my son's favorite colors.

Please update with your progress! This sounds fun!

 

[Ceryssa]

This is our DD10. Last Christmas she received a sewing machine, a bunch of fabrics and patterns/instructional booklets from youcanmakethis.com so she can make herself stuffed animals. She LOVES it! She's really into cooking this year, so I'm thinking a nice kids knife set, some cute cake pans, decorator tips, etc. Can't wait for AC Moore's/Michael's black friday sale!

My daughter has the Sew Cool one and loves it. Cooking stuff is great! Make 'em earn their keep

 

[LilyWDW]

So when I was at the state fair this past weekend, I found a few possible gifts. I'm going back today so will pick some of them up.

For my younger two nephews I saw these customizable art boxes. They can hold supplies and one side of the lid is a chalkboard while the other side is a dry erase board. They were only $20 a piece and then those two kids are done!

For my best friend I saw some jewelry that I think she would really like. Plus, it was quite inexpensive which helps the budget, especially since I am sending a nice gift basket from some place like Harry and David to her and her family as well.

 

[Gabisgramma]

Thanks for this thread. I was wondering if anyone has adult children in their 20's (or even if you don't), what you would say is an appropriate amount to spend on the adult "kids" Our 2 daughters both have spouses and we have 3 grandkids to buy for. We usually help the one daughter and her husband out with Santa stuff as they are the ones with 3 kids so money is tight for them. Last year we ended up giving the adult kids/spouses 100.00pp on a giftcard of their choosing. Between grandparent gifts,Santa gifts and wrapping paper we also spent about 800.00 between all 3 grandkids. Just wondering if we are out of line either way. Thanks for any help.

 

[PrincessKymm]

When I was in my 20's and a single mom my parents would spend about $150-$200 on me, at Christmas, usually on clothes and shoes that I would neglect to buy for myself or couldn't afford. One year I did receive a digital camera which was my favorite gift. They would spend a lot more on my DS but he was (and is) their only grandchild. I guess if you have the money and want to help give whatever you are comfortable with. I was always grateful for the presents that were really their way of helping me out when I needed it.

 

[InStitchesinNE]

Thanks for this thread. I was wondering if anyone has adult children in their 20's (or even if you don't), what you would say is an appropriate amount to spend on the adult "kids" Our 2 daughters both have spouses and we have 3 grandkids to buy for. We usually help the one daughter and her husband out with Santa stuff as they are the ones with 3 kids so money is tight for them. Last year we ended up giving the adult kids/spouses 100.00pp on a giftcard of their choosing. Between grandparent gifts,Santa gifts and wrapping paper we also spent about 800.00 between all 3 grandkids. Just wondering if we are out of line either way. Thanks for any help.

This depends on your finances and what you can spend comfortably. I would personally spend more on the daughter without children than the one who you are helping with Santa gifts for the grandkids, just to try to keep things a little more even. I will say that once I had a career I really didn't want my mother to spend much on me (asking her to buy nothing would never work). But I am financially much more stable than my mother, and it would make me feel guilty for her to spend money on things I could buy myself.

 

[Gabisgramma]

This depends on your finances and what you can spend comfortably. I would personally spend more on the daughter without children than the one who you are helping with Santa gifts for the grandkids, just to try to keep things a little more even. I will say that once I had a career I really didn't want my mother to spend much on me (asking her to buy nothing would never work). But I am financially much more stable than my mother, and it would make me feel guilty for her to spend money on things I could buy myself.

I do agree that the daughter without the kids does get the short end of the deal too much, however we are in the same boat and they make twice what we make so I think she feels bad too. It is still not a reason for me to short her, and I need to do a better job. The "squeaky one" needs less oil and a push towards independence.

 

[InStitchesinNE]

I do agree that the daughter without the kids does get the short end of the deal too much, however we are in the same boat and they make twice what we make so I think she feels bad too. It is still not a reason for me to short her, and I need to do a better job. The "squeaky one" needs less oil and a push towards independence.

If the more independent daughter doesn't mind than I wouldn't worry. I will say that I personally feel that $100 pp for grown children when you are also buying for grandchildren is generous .

 

[100AcreWood]

I'm not getting notifications from this thread. I unwatched and clicked watched again to see if that would fix it.

I ordered a few things from American Girl for Christmas. It's a good start!

 

[LilyWDW]

Got 5 of the 7 kids in the family DONE today! Grabbed them each a book from Half Price Books. Next month with get a book for each of the other 2 kids and I will be finished with them all. *happy dance*

That said, I am most likely adding 2 people to my list and possibly 3. The third sort of depends on how things go...

 

[Pesky]

I think $100 for the adult kids is generous and totally fine. FWIW, while all of my siblings and myself are self-sufficient, my DH and I make more than the other two and my sister has 3 kids as well. I've told my mom before that she can short me in favor of the others. She doesn't but I doubt your daughter would mind.

Figured out what to get my hard-to-buy-for tween niece. Also figured out why she is hard to buy for -- we never asked her directly or took her to stores to say, see if you see something you like. I got a huge long list of things! One of the things she wants are cow posters (she worked on a farm this summer and loves cows). So I'm getting a pic from her dad of the cow she cared for and putting it on a canvas for Christmas. And I know she has to soak her feet after dancing in Epsom salts so the kids are going to make some bath salts with rosemary for her. If I can get the pic from BIL soon, I can have her done and bought for in no time with my super-duper coupon savings and free shipping!

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

4 months until Christmas!!!!!

 

[LilyWDW]

Alright. After talking to my cousin I have a couple more ideas.

For my grandmother I am going to get her a cross word puzzle calendar. My cousin usually gets it but is doing a photo blanket this year instead. So she asked if I could do it as grandma always looks forward to it. And I am very happy to get it.

For my cousin she said she wanted one of those small grilled cheese makers or a milk frother (the kind that heats up the milk). I will talk to her husband and then get one of those for her.

Next month I hope to get my youngest two nephews finished up, my cousin, and my grandmother.