6th Annual Christmas Thread

[pigletgirl]

I just found this thread. It is so awesome!

This will be DS's second Christmas. He will be 17 months when the big day rolls around. So far, he is getting a little car that, for now, we can push, but as he gets bigger, he will be able to pedal.

I am a huge fan of Christmas! Growing up, we always had the biggest display in the neighborhood, and I have kept up the tradition. I have three rules for Christmas (they apply to decorating, gift-giving, and food) in order of importance:

1. Everyone gets what they want.
2. More is always better.
3. No blue decorations (just a weird preference that no one else really gets)

This year will be a little different just because of DS's age-- he is in to everything, so I won't be able to cover the whole inside of the house in garlands and lights and other decorations like I usually do. I plan to deal with this by putting the tree and a lot of lights and decorations on the porch-- we live in Florida, so weather is a non-issue. This will put a sliding glass door between DS and most of the decorations. Hopefully, rather than him pulling down garlands, we will only have to worry about finger prints on the glass.

Looking forward to getting caught up on this thread. An early Merry Christmas to you.

Hope you never need to have a lean Christmas. Quite the humbling experience.

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Anyways:
- I STILL haven't finished with DH yet. He keeps changing his mind on what he would like and I'm just totally.. I think I'm going to stick with an iPod and a giftcard for clothing.

- Nothing has been bought for my parents or inlaws.

-I haven't even touched stocking stuffers yet. Most of those will be mailed.

It's almost Nov 1st and I feel as though NOTHING is accomplished! I really need to sit here and think (and perhaps have a glass of wine).

 

[poohfriend77]

Thanks, but my DD is WAY to messy for that. I need this stuff contained

OK. So DD threw at me this morning a few things out of the AG catalog. UGH! So I have a sizing question. How to the PJs run for girls. She wants matching Julie PJs and the largest size is a "L". My DD is 5'1", weighs about 90 pounds, wears a size 12, sometimes 14 for length from Justice. Any thoughts on how these PJs might fit??

By the way, for those looking, AG has free shipping right now until 11/26. Code is PF39358 when you spend at least $100.

My DD10 is a tall girl too. She's 5'2" and probably more like 105 lbs, size 16 girls. She has two pairs of AG pajamas (not Julie's, though). One is a Large, and it fits size-wise but the pants are starting to get short. The other pair is an XL, and they are still a little bit big (not falling down, but she can definitely wear them for a while still).

I would think if your DD can still wear 12 or 14 at Justice, she'd be OK in the Large.

 

[CrAzY4DL]

Hope you never need to have a lean Christmas. Quite the humbling experience.

This feels a little mean and snarky, what brought that on? I bet she also hopes she never has a lean Christmas.

 

[bas71873]

My DD10 is a tall girl too. She's 5'2" and probably more like 105 lbs, size 16 girls. She has two pairs of AG pajamas (not Julie's, though). One is a Large, and it fits size-wise but the pants are starting to get short. The other pair is an XL, and they are still a little bit big (not falling down, but she can definitely wear them for a while still). I would think if your DD can still wear 12 or 14 at Justice, she'd be OK in the Large.

Thanks! Still deciding between Julie's pjs and the polar bear ones. I think those are cute

 

[pigletgirl]

This feels a little mean and snarky, what brought that on? I bet she also hopes she never has a lean Christmas.

It is also a bit weird and offensive, at that to pop on here and "one up" other posters. It would be one thing to say, "our family loves Christmas and therefore we tend to buy quite a bit" versus, "everyone gets what they want and more is always better" .. It just came across as a nah-nah-nah-boo-boo. Completely unnecessary.

 

[100AcreWood]

I asked my mom if there is anything they would like for Christmas. Last year I came up with my own ideas. They don't do much of anything. Mostly sit around and watch TV! They don't read but they do puzzles. I know I will buy them several puzzles to keep them busy this winter. I'm thinking maybe some gift cards so they could go out or get take out. My mom doesn't like to cook. Retired parents are tough to shop for!

 

[luvmy3]

Anyone have any experience with the My Twinn babies vs. American Girl? How about the accessories? DD would love a baby doll carseat!

I would go with an AG doll over the My Twinn. The quality is the same but the MT are a little bigger so it may be hard to find non-brand clothes and accessories for her. You can find so much non AG stuff at reasonable prices. Also, the MT doll doesn't have the blinking eyes and it always creeped my dd out a little. She kept her up on her closet shelf, but all her AG dolls were left out in her room

It is also a bit weird and offensive, at that to pop on here and "one up" other posters. It would be one thing to say, "our family loves Christmas and therefore we tend to buy quite a bit" versus, "everyone gets what they want and more is always better" .. It just came across as a nah-nah-nah-boo-boo. Completely unnecessary.

I didn't take it like that at all. I think she was just excited to find this thread and share what she does for her family's Christmas.
She doesn't come across as rubbing anything in anyone's faces

We are all sharing what we are getting for our family, some people are buying more expensive gifts than others, do you feel that we are all trying to one up another? Disney Mommy has been doing this thread for years, its just a way to share our excitement and ideas with eachother.

 

[luvmy3]

I asked my mom if there is anything they would like for Christmas. Last year I came up with my own ideas. They don't do much of anything. Mostly sit around and watch TV! They don't read but they do puzzles. I know I will buy them several puzzles to keep them busy this winter. I'm thinking maybe some gift cards so they could go out or get take out. My mom doesn't like to cook. Retired parents are tough to shop for!

Do they have a favorite puzzle, you can have it framed.
What about one of those mats that you can roll up that keeps the puzzle together so you can store it while you aren't working on it?
3-D puzzles?

My dad is retired, has been for years. I usually get him something golf related but I think through the years I have gotten him pretty much everything. Every year it gets harder to think of things for him.

 

[AmyKat]

It is also a bit weird and offensive, at that to pop on here and "one up" other posters. It would be one thing to say, "our family loves Christmas and therefore we tend to buy quite a bit" versus, "everyone gets what they want and more is always better" .. It just came across as a nah-nah-nah-boo-boo. Completely unnecessary.

I had the same gut reaction. Then I thought, she has a 17 month old. She has no idea what "everyone gets what they want" and "more is always better" truly means. With 3 1/2 kids (stepson lives with us part time) we learned really quickly that "more" is worse and giving them too much makes them never satisfied so they never even know what they really want. We limit presents and make sure they really think about what they would like to ask for. We don't have room for every kid to have everything they think they want. And, if they have too much, they become ungrateful, spoiled brats. Plus, they can only play with one thing at a time. They really don't have time in their day to play with every toy imaginable.

Okay - back on topic. My mom is joining us for a WDW trip in February. This is her first trip in almost 20 years, I think. She mentioned this weekend that she would really like to have a fanny pack for the trip. I thought I would try to find her a good one and put things in there that she might want for her trip (advil, bandaids, etc). Any ideas on where to find a nice fanny pack? Any suggestions on what to put in there?

 

[luvmy3]

I had the same gut reaction. Then I thought, she has a 17 month old. She has no idea what "everyone gets what they want" and "more is always better" truly means. With 3 1/2 kids (stepson lives with us part time) we learned really quickly that "more" is worse and giving them too much makes them never satisfied so they never even know what they really want. We limit presents and make sure they really think about what they would like to ask for. We don't have room for every kid to have everything they think they want. And, if they have too much, they become ungrateful, spoiled brats. Plus, they can only play with one thing at a time. They really don't have time in their day to play with every toy imaginable.

She mentioned that she was speaking about presents, decorations and food. So her "more is always better" may not have even meant presents, maybe it was about decorations or food.
As far as everyone gets what they want, she didn't say they get everything they want. I've always made it a point to get my kids what they want, not things they have no interest in

 

[Cinderelly5507]

I would go with an AG doll over the My Twinn. The quality is the same but the MT are a little bigger so it may be hard to find non-brand clothes and accessories for her. You can find so much non AG stuff at reasonable prices. Also, the MT doll doesn't have the blinking eyes and it always creeped my dd out a little. She kept her up on her closet shelf, but all her AG dolls were left out in her room

Hahaha thanks for the info! DD6 has picked out one of the AG dolls that looks like her. I'm thinking about the MT baby doll carseat and carrier for my DD2. She would love those and they are difficult to find (online anyways).

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Hey ladies!! I appreciate the feelings on both sides of the argument we have going, but I have addressed it and I think at this point we should let it go...We all have different ways of expressing what we think is 'enough' at Christmas and we shouldn't feel threatened by anyone else~If someone goes bankrupt buying things for their family, it's not really our business..remember, our focus on this season is what it is all about anyway! And how we express that individually within our family/friends circle.... Thanks for understanding!

 

[lindsey]

Thanks to all on this thread. I've gotten several ideas for Christmas!

 

[Deffenm]

I wrapped the first 2 gifts this weekend! I finally bought something for the boys. I found a jacket for DS14 and a zip up hoodie DS12 wanted at Target for 50 & 70% off.

Big Gift Ideas for kids
DS12 wants a punching bag
DS14 will most likely get PS3
DD9 will be getting new bike

DH is getting a new pick up truck next month so his big gift (well besides truck) will be cover for the bed of truck.

Here are their list as of today. We made a wishing box and everyone has been writing their holiday wishes on paper and putting them in the wishing box. We will open the wishing box on Thanksgiving morning and I will use those ideas to finish the shopping list and plan my attack for Black Friday Shopping.
DS12
Punching Bag
Zip Up Hoodie
Athletic Boxers
Xmas Eve PJ's
Fedora Hat
clothes from Pacific Sun
Roller Blades
DVD Movie
stocking stuff

DS14:
PS3
Games for PS3
jacket he wanted
Electric Blanket
Athletic Underware
Elite Socks
Xmas Eve PJ's
Old Navy Clothes
DVD movie
Stocking Stuff

DD9:
New Bike
Sweaters/shirts from justice
skinny jeans
teen beach dvd
Black beauty book
rainbow loom
softest stuffed animal
xmas eve pjs
stocking stuff

I will be buying majority of gifts on Black Friday.

 

[100AcreWood]

Do they have a favorite puzzle, you can have it framed.
What about one of those mats that you can roll up that keeps the puzzle together so you can store it while you aren't working on it?
3-D puzzles?

My dad is retired, has been for years. I usually get him something golf related but I think through the years I have gotten him pretty much everything. Every year it gets harder to think of things for him.

Oh a puzzle mat sounds perfect! Thanks! I may get them one 3D puzzle and see if they like it.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Thanks to all on this thread. I've gotten several ideas for Christmas!

Yay!! We have been successful! I always pick up a new idea or two here...

 

[CrAzY4DL]

We made a wishing box and everyone has been writing their holiday wishes on paper and putting them in the wishing box. We will open the wishing box on Thanksgiving morning and I will use those ideas to finish the shopping list and plan my attack for Black Friday Shopping.

Umm wishing box sounds crazy amazing, totally stealing that for next year!

 

[LilyWDW]

Umm wishing box sounds crazy amazing, totally stealing that for next year!

I may steal it for my nieces and nephews!

Thinking I may wrap tomorrow. Semi laid up after a diagnostic procedure. Everything came back normal, but I am hurting a bit. Don't feel like doing much of anything! Playing WoW today and hopefully tomorrow I will be good enough to wrap some gifts.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I will say that I love the wishing box too!

 

[Graciesmom77]

I ordered Catty Noir from Toys R Us for my DD 10 and placed an order at the disney store. My dd 12 loves Jasmine and Cindrella so I ordered her the 12 inch Cindy and Jasmine and dolls and the Animators doll of Jasmine. She can display the small ones in her room and play with the Animators doll with her AG dolls. I also ordered dd10 a Minnie nightgown and a Jessie nightgown for dd 4 that she is going to go crazy for!

We are at disney right now so I am trying to limit my Christmas spending! Lol