Older kids and Christmas/Santa overseas

[shushh]

I don't actually have anything helpful to add....
Just wanted to share that when we were in NYC, DH did the stereotypical thing. He went late at night to Toysrus on Christmas Eve to buy gifts for the children. We had small things prepared but he resist. He loved the experience! The cold, the decorations the atmosphere the lines... All made it that much more special for him!!!

[battymum]

Following on from the skype idea,

I dont know the tech specs or expense involved - but some people have motion sensor security cameras linked to their wifi and video is recorded if their is movement in the room and sent to an email.

Would be pretty cool if you caught Santa "in the act" at home.

Remember the 14hr time difference. Check in on the morning of Xmas eve to see what is happening overnight at home. (or whatever it is, daylight savings confuses me)

As an aside, all my kids have been too smart and skeptical for their own good - I dont remember them ever truly believing since they were very little. But we still humor each other - although I get a bit slack - a few years ago I bought huge gift boxes for each one, I put the presents in them, not even wrapped, then when I am done, I store the christmas decos in them and they come out again next year!

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Originally Posted by shushh

I don't actually have anything helpful to add....
Just wanted to share that when we were in NYC, DH did the stereotypical thing. He went late at night to Toysrus on Christmas Eve to buy gifts for the children. We had small things prepared but he resist. He loved the experience! The cold, the decorations the atmosphere the lines... All made it that much more special for him!!!

Hehehehe, I actually think that would be really fun as well. I'm going to re-read your TR soon, just to get me in the spirit of things.

Originally Posted by battymum

Following on from the skype idea,

I dont know the tech specs or expense involved - but some people have motion sensor security cameras linked to their wifi and video is recorded if their is movement in the room and sent to an email.

Would be pretty cool if you caught Santa "in the act" at home.

Remember the 14hr time difference. Check in on the morning of Xmas eve to see what is happening overnight at home. (or whatever it is, daylight savings confuses me)

As an aside, all my kids have been too smart and skeptical for their own good - I dont remember them ever truly believing since they were very little. But we still humor each other - although I get a bit slack - a few years ago I bought huge gift boxes for each one, I put the presents in them, not even wrapped, then when I am done, I store the christmas decos in them and they come out again next year!

Battymum, I just feel like I have put so much time and effort into "keeping the magic alive" for as long as possible. IN some ways it will be a relief when they both know, but at the same time for me it will come with much sadness as well. Believing in something as magical as Santa is a wonderful thing and it will be over all too soon so I want to do the best I can while I still have him "on the hook" hehe.

[Beee]

we've had this issue every second year since DD was little - all my family live in Aus so alternate years we go to Australia for Xmas, compounding this is we usually go for a month so we're also there for DD's birthday 3 weeks after Xmas. Taking both Xmas & Birthday presents is not practical so she gets giftcards from us and something small/light weight from Santa and we've often done the letter from Santa saying your present is waiting for her at home, for birthdays she mostly gets experiences otherwise its "stuff" overload. An experience would be an awesome present from Santa while you are away - anything they desperately want to do while you are away? Otherwise it could be an experience for when they get home, we've given things like a year's art tuition, a guitar (waiting at home obviously!) and lessons...Do something fun and give a few little things to unwrap and they will I'm sure not even notice the lack of big presents.

This year I'm sort of off the hook as we miss xmas day, leave Hawaii on the 24th and arrive home on the 26th but she knows disneyland is her xmas present this year (Santa will have something waiting for her at home too).

[Sugarglider]

Originally Posted by battymum

Would be pretty cool if you caught Santa "in the act" at home.

I could go to your house on Christmas Eve, Ms. Shuttergirl.