6th Annual Christmas Thread

[Disney Mommy 3]

I am DONE!!!! I ordered my last two gifts last night online. Now I need to find a day to wrap! I was trying to get done by Halloween so I could focus on paying for our January Disney trip. Success!

WAY TO GO!!!

 

[OhStuffandFluff]

Anyone have info on the lego mindstorms sets? My DS9 is interested in robotics and was wondering if this would be a good fit. The sets look very expensive, so not sure if they are worth it. Thanks for any advice you can share!

 

[gracie1]

I am DONE!!!! I ordered my last two gifts last night online. Now I need to find a day to wrap! I was trying to get done by Halloween so I could focus on paying for our January Disney trip. Success!

Way to go!! I have taken a little break. But, it looks like my mom and I are going to book a cruise for next year so now I can get her a giftcard for the cruise ship for Christmas! And Mother's Day next year! Lol

 

[Egdisney]

I have a few things bought, fleece to make blankets for all 4 kids, a smash book for dd9, a Barbie for all 3 DDs and a couple of small things for mom and sister. My problem is stopping. I have held off on buying a lot of things 1. Because we are going to Disney next week! 2. Because while I may stay out of the stores if I feel I have enough, I always have a tough time skipping online deals!
This year I am at a loss for ideas. We are going to disney, everyone has iPods, etc. my mom is getting the older girls 2!!! American Girl dolls and dd3 is getting bitty baby from her. How is Santa to compete?? And I have NO idea what to get my DS 1. I am sick of stuff, with 4 kids it accumulates quickly.

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

I have a few things bought, fleece to make blankets for all 4 kids, a smash book for dd9, a Barbie for all 3 DDs and a couple of small things for mom and sister. My problem is stopping. I have held off on buying a lot of things 1. Because we are going to Disney next week! 2. Because while I may stay out of the stores if I feel I have enough, I always have a tough time skipping online deals!
This year I am at a loss for ideas. We are going to disney, everyone has iPods, etc. my mom is getting the older girls 2!!! American Girl dolls and dd3 is getting bitty baby from her. How is Santa to compete?? And I have NO idea what to get my DS 1. I am sick of stuff, with 4 kids it accumulates quickly.

Yeh, we only have 2 and the stuff tends to accumulate. I want to get things my girls will actually play with or use and am having a hard time. They are 6 (almost 7) and 8 1/2. The older one really doesn't "play" too much. She does like to make bracelets and build with Lego's (but she likes the bigger ones, not the little ones that come in the Friends sets). She likes to write so I always get her journals and notebooks, fun pen's, colored pencils etc. She also likes to play Mario and other games on the DSi. I really don't know what to get her! And the younger one wants a Lalaloopsy Mermaid to play with in the tub so that is cool. But what else? Ahhhhhhhh!

 

[Pesky]

Yeh, we only have 2 and the stuff tends to accumulate. I want to get things my girls will actually play with or use and am having a hard time. They are 6 (almost 7) and 8 1/2. The older one really doesn't "play" too much. She does like to make bracelets and build with Lego's (but she likes the bigger ones, not the little ones that come in the Friends sets). She likes to write so I always get her journals and notebooks, fun pen's, colored pencils etc. She also likes to play Mario and other games on the DSi. I really don't know what to get her! And the younger one wants a Lalaloopsy Mermaid to play with in the tub so that is cool. But what else? Ahhhhhhhh!

I hear you! I will say this is a reason we are scaling back a bit this year. Less is more, you know? I got DD6 another Creativity for Kids Enchanted Storybook -- this is where they write and illustrate their own story. A nice memento for them to have later! This will be DD's 2nd and I hope to get her ones throughout the year so she can compare. Thought about card games or board games? I picked up some Disney versions of games on sale a while ago. You can look at a DSi game; we're getting DD a tablet with some company points I have saved up. Other ideas for smaller gifts:
* music interest? maybe a harmonica or recorder (I found one for $5 on Amazon) and a little book to learn
* face painting instruction book
* craft stuff -- potholder loom, rainbow loom, Creativity for Kids make your own headband, etc.
* outside interests? DD is in dance class so she is getting legwarmers and a dance bag.
* kinetic sand
* puzzle
* books
* movies -- think old school too like Pollyanna, Herbie or The Ugly Dachshund.
* scooter, bike, pogo stick -- other kind of "outdoors" stuff
* pocketdisc -- these are awesome. Crocheted frisbees.

 

[Egdisney]

Love the creativity for kids books! I will definitely get those for my 2 older girls. I already have bought them a pack of 36 colored pencils that were on clearance with the back 2 school stuff and was going to get a "professional"sketch book with them. This will go nicely. I also got my dd3 several crayola dry erase items. We do "preschool"at home. She will love these. I struggle bc I remember the excitement of seeing what seemed like a bazillion toys under the tree for my siblings and I. But If bet it wasn't as much as I think it was, although we always got too much! I could wrap each thing individually but I hate wrapping! Santa usually doesn't wrap cause his elf is too tired.

 

[100AcreWood]

Has anyone seen a free shipping code for American Girl yet? I haven't received an email yet. That will finish off a lot of my shopping. On a separate note one of my friends on FB commented about how she would never buy an AG doll (citing they were overpriced and no better than the target version). A lot of other moms chimed in about not buying such an overpriced doll. I hate no idea moms hated them. I know they cost a lot but gee what did the doll do that is so bad?

 

[luvmy3]

Has anyone seen a free shipping code for American Girl yet? I haven't received an email yet. That will finish off a lot of my shopping. On a separate note one of my friends on FB commented about how she would never buy an AG doll (citing they were overpriced and no better than the target version). A lot of other moms chimed in about not buying such an overpriced doll. I hate no idea moms hated them. I know they cost a lot but gee what did the doll do that is so bad?

This was posted in the budget board. Its a code for free ship on orders $100 or more
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3187473

 

[100AcreWood]

This was posted in the budget board. Its a code for free ship on orders $100 or more http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3187473

Awesome, thank you so much! Dh and I figured out what Santa is bringing from the many many items my girls circled in the catalog. So now I just have to place my order!

 

[chellewashere]

I had taken my dd out shopping for a dress and since I had to bring my dses I bribed them with a stop to Game Stop and Toys R Us. It defintely helped give me ideas and I was feeling a little better about things. Then I get home and dh throws a monkey in the wrench and says he is thinking of getting dirt bikes for him and the boys These wouldn't be for Christmas, just something that they can do together. (He wants to get used ones that need work and they all fix them up together) I said no way is he just going to go out and buy dirt bikes, if that is what he wants to do then it will have to be for Christmas. They will all need protective gear too so that will be it, no way are they getting other stuff.

*I am not happy about the idea of my dses riding, but dh is a hick and grew up in the country doing that stuff at a young age. I trust him to make sure my dses are safe*

My daughter has been riding a dirt bike since she was 4, it was her Christmas gift from her daddy (think he might secretly wants a boy) he painted it bright pink with Monster High stickers on it..so she still gets to be a girl. I was nervous at first but she rides that thing like a champ and now she wants a better one that goes much faster..she is 7. Im sure they will be be very safe

 

[luvmy3]

My daughter has been riding a dirt bike since she was 4, it was her Christmas gift from her daddy (think he might secretly wants a boy) he painted it bright pink with Monster High stickers on it..so she still gets to be a girl. I was nervous at first but she rides that thing like a champ and now she wants a better one that goes much faster..she is 7. Im sure they will be be very safe

Thank you! They have been out riding several times and doing great. They have each had a couple spills, one I witnessed and I think it took a few years off of my life!. I vowed not to watch them while they are still in the learning stage I'm amazed at how many people I've talked to who have kids that ride, and so young like your dd was when she started. It gives me comfort knowing that so many do it too!

 

[chellewashere]

Thank you! They have been out riding several times and doing great. They have each had a couple spills, one I witnessed and I think it took a few years off of my life!. I vowed not to watch them while they are still in the learning stage I'm amazed at how many people I've talked to who have kids that ride, and so young like your dd was when she started. It gives me comfort knowing that so many do it too!

I didnt go to her first "riding lesson" cause I figured I would be yelling and screaming too much and she would be afraid. I just made sure I got her a great helmet, the pants and coat with the padding and good googles. Then I decide hey she can ride it so can I..yelp crashed it first time on it

 

[chellewashere]

OK so happy almost done with all my shopping.

My dd is 7 (turns 8 end of November) is into everything and anything Monster High so that is the majority of her presents..all the new stuff that is and has been coming out. Her grandpop got her an ipod touch (wish he would wait till closer to the holidays to get this stuff but he wants to make sure he gets her what she wants) so I got her a cool system to go with it that has a DVD player/charger and radio in it.

DH is getting his first DSLR camera and a bunch of accessories to go with it. Then some hunting things that he has been dropping hints about.

Me I just want a GC to use on our trip next year for Disney and some new books that came out by Koontz and King

What I still need to get is a hoodie with headphones built in for my daughter (to go with her iPod) iTunes gift cards for her, rainbow loom bands for her stocking, and the new 13 wishes game when it comes out.

I saw someone posted about Nightmare before Christmas monopoly game I think I might NEED to get that

 

[McKelly]

Does anybody have any inside info or recall when the best video game sales were last year? I know I just missed Toys R Us, but the ones I need haven't been released yet anyway. I just don't want to miss it! Doesn't Target and Amazon have some sales usually?

 

[LilyWDW]

Does anybody have any inside info or recall when the best video game sales were last year? I know I just missed Toys R Us, but the ones I need haven't been released yet anyway. I just don't want to miss it! Doesn't Target and Amazon have some sales usually?

Amazon often has great deals... but it is usually their lightening deals once the big Christmas push starts.

 

[McKelly]

Amazon often has great deals... but it is usually their lightening deals once the big Christmas push starts.

Great - do you know when those lightening deals start? November? Or do they not start until Black Friday?

 

[LilyWDW]

Great - do you know when those lightening deals start? November? Or do they not start until Black Friday?

They are doing mini ones daily now, but they are only okay. The good ones start around Cyber Monday, but keep an eye on the site.

 

[LilyWDW]

6 gifts DONE (either in gift bags or decorative boxes).

26 gifts either in their boxes and labeled or that are the right shape to just be wrapped. So, 26 items to be wrapped.

4 gift baskets to make look pretty and wrap in cellophane.

I think I went a bit crazy...

 

[luvmy3]

I didnt go to her first "riding lesson" cause I figured I would be yelling and screaming too much and she would be afraid. I just made sure I got her a great helmet, the pants and coat with the padding and good googles. Then I decide hey she can ride it so can I..yelp crashed it first time on it

Right now they are riding in an open field. Next spring they will be reading for trail riding so for Christmas they are getting all their gear.
Dh has a vision of all of us riding, but I told him that I'll gladly come along on their trips when they camp but there is no way I'm riding, I'm too old to learn!

I was the one who got the NBC monopoly. Unfortunately I couldn't find it locally so I had to order it and it was almost $40. We do family game night every week so I figure if my almost 16 year old is still willing to play games with the rest of us, that alone is worth the price. I didn't open the box but I can't wait, the pieces are so cute.

I haven't made much progress shopping this past week. I only managed to get a Minecraft foam sword and pickax for my youngest ds. TRU had them on sale for $15 each and I had a $5 and a $10 coupon so I got both of them for $15. I also found an iphone case at Target for $8 and its pink like dd wanted so I grabbed that. I wasn't searching for any of those things, but the price was right! When packing them away I found fuzzy bright pink slipper boots that were supposed to go to dd last Christmas. Bonus for her this year

My youngest ds mentioned that he wants the newest generation ipod touch. Actually he said he wants an iphone but since I told him there is no way he is getting one he said okay how about a new ipod. I just got the one he has last year and there is nothing wrong with but its the 4th generation and it can't be updated to ios7 and it doesn't have Siri. I don't know what to do, I don't normally buy electronics so that we can have the latest and greatest, but he isn't really asking for anything else. His riding gear will be on the expensive side but its something he needs so its not like he's all excited asking for it. And he'd get it either way, I'm just wrapping it and putting it under the tree and calling it Christmas presents because that is easier for me.

My oldest ds still hasn't given me any ideas, its so frustrating

You guys with your shopping and wrapping done are awesome! I hope some of your awesomeness rubs off on me soon