6th Annual Christmas Thread

[BigMomma49]

I also have a hard time buying for my dad. I am going to give him a book of giftcards this year as his main gift and thought about getting him a good pair of binoculars. He has no hobbies at all but likes to look in the field at the deer.
I just ordered my mom a pair of gold hoops off of Macy's. they were $360 on sale for $99 and I also got her and I tickets to an Elvis show and some bath and body works. I am we'll on my way with her.

Same here on difficulty buying gifts for my dad. I usually just give him money so that he can buy what he wants. He loves bowling, but he's really picky.

On a side note, my mom just usually tells me what she wants It makes my life easier!

 

[ah1126]

Every year I get stuck on what to get my dad. I admittedly don't see him that much, maybe 10 times a year. One of those times though is a week at Wildwood NJ. He mentioned this year that he just realized he has been coming to Wildwood for 50 years. So in my early planning stages here, I am wondering if getting him something Wildwood related would be wierd. My best idea is buying a brick for the sidewalk at the historical society. Backup ideas would be a book or dvd or something. Wierd or okay? We live about 4 hours from Wildwood but they go down a few times a year. I really don't have a lot of ideas for him and usually get him stuff that sounds great but in reality probably never gets used. Along the same lines, I think I'm adopting a terrapin for my girls. Or a horseshoe crab. They'll love it but I doubt my dad would be impressed with sealife adopted in his name.

I think this is a cool idea! It must mean something to him if he mentioned that it has been 50 years.

 

[4 Ears]

How about a bench with his name on it?

 

[ehough]

I just got my kiddos a joint gift of a Plasma Car (well, its equivalent) from Zulily. I'd been thinking about one, and then they were on Zulily for $27.99! With their 15% off deal and shipping it was $33 which is a steal.

 

[Deffenm]

Over the weekend the kids made a wishing box. I saw the idea posted on a christmas forum I visit. The idea is to have a wishing box/jar and the kids write on slips of paper their wish when they think of it. So the kids & DH have until Thanksgiving Day to write down their wishes and place in the box. I will open the box on Thanksgiving to see what they have asked for and begin making my list from there. Some items I already know, like DS wants PS4. It will help me out because they usually throw ideas at me and I forgot to write them down, now I can just tell them to put in the wishing box.

 

[kandazak]

That last post reminded me of something we did several years ago for both sets of parents. We did a "memory jar". I gathered fond memories from DH and his brother, as well as their kids, typed them and cut into little slips. We placed the slips in a jar (I made a pretty label for the jar). We had 52 memories in the jar and my in-laws were to pull one slip of paper from the jar each week. Each slip started with "one of my favorite memories about mom (or dad, etc) was when........ Well, they liked it so much, the family gathered around the table and they opened every one of them that Christmas night. They still say that was the best gift they've ever gotten. The jar is still opened and read often. And it was very inexpensive. It's a gift for someone who has everything!

 

[bas71873]

Over the weekend the kids made a wishing box. I saw the idea posted on a christmas forum I visit. The idea is to have a wishing box/jar and the kids write on slips of paper their wish when they think of it. So the kids & DH have until Thanksgiving Day to write down their wishes and place in the box. I will open the box on Thanksgiving to see what they have asked for and begin making my list from there. Some items I already know, like DS wants PS4. It will help me out because they usually throw ideas at me and I forgot to write them down, now I can just tell them to put in the wishing box.

what is this Christmas forum you speak of?

 

[holden]

Every year I get stuck on what to get my dad. I admittedly don't see him that much, maybe 10 times a year. One of those times though is a week at Wildwood NJ. He mentioned this year that he just realized he has been coming to Wildwood for 50 years. So in my early planning stages here, I am wondering if getting him something Wildwood related would be wierd. My best idea is buying a brick for the sidewalk at the historical society. Backup ideas would be a book or dvd or something. Wierd or okay? We live about 4 hours from Wildwood but they go down a few times a year. I really don't have a lot of ideas for him and usually get him stuff that sounds great but in reality probably never gets used. Along the same lines, I think I'm adopting a terrapin for my girls. Or a horseshoe crab. They'll love it but I doubt my dad would be impressed with sealife adopted in his name.

Check Etsy for Wildwood themed stuff. I bought two hand painted Ocean City NJ coffee mugs from a guy who lives in Germany. He used to live in the US and had a soft spot for OC, so he started painting the boardwalk on these mugs. They are so nice!

Good luck!

 

[beck02]

My best idea is buying a brick for the sidewalk at the historical society.

I think that's a cool idea. We have bricks outside our local zoo for our daughter. Every so often we'll spend time finding it. Granted, my daugher is 5 so maybe gets more of a kick out of it, but that brick will be there forever.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Over the weekend the kids made a wishing box. I saw the idea posted on a christmas forum I visit. The idea is to have a wishing box/jar and the kids write on slips of paper their wish when they think of it. So the kids & DH have until Thanksgiving Day to write down their wishes and place in the box. I will open the box on Thanksgiving to see what they have asked for and begin making my list from there. Some items I already know, like DS wants PS4. It will help me out because they usually throw ideas at me and I forgot to write them down, now I can just tell them to put in the wishing box.

That last post reminded me of something we did several years ago for both sets of parents. We did a "memory jar". I gathered fond memories from DH and his brother, as well as their kids, typed them and cut into little slips. We placed the slips in a jar (I made a pretty label for the jar). We had 52 memories in the jar and my in-laws were to pull one slip of paper from the jar each week. Each slip started with "one of my favorite memories about mom (or dad, etc) was when........ Well, they liked it so much, the family gathered around the table and they opened every one of them that Christmas night. They still say that was the best gift they've ever gotten. The jar is still opened and read often. And it was very inexpensive. It's a gift for someone who has everything!

I like the idea of both jars!! Very unique!!

what is this Christmas forum you speak of?

Do tell.....

 

[Monny2AE]

I love the ideas for those jars!!! I'm always stuck for gift ideas for my MIL and I think we will make one for her this year! Thanks for the idea.



Still. Haven't. Even. Made. A. Christmas. List. Yet.

 

[LilyWDW]

Just talked to my aunt and she suggested that I spend more on clothes for nieces 1&2 and nephews 4-5 and less on toys this year. Too many of the toys are getting "lost" by their mom. That is so sad. I feel so bad for them.

And she thinks getting a Barnes and Noble gift card for Nephew one and then he and I going to the store to pick stuff out is a GREAT idea. Yay!

 

[100AcreWood]

Just talked to my aunt and she suggested that I spend more on clothes for nieces 1&2 and nephews 4-5 and less on toys this year. Too many of the toys are getting "lost" by their mom. That is so sad. I feel so bad for them.

And she thinks getting a Barnes and Noble gift card for Nephew one and then he and I going to the store to pick stuff out is a GREAT idea. Yay!

Wow. Is she selling the toys or returning them for money?

 

[LilyWDW]

Wow. Is she selling the toys or returning them for money?

No one knows for sure. Some she just left behind when they moved from place to place. However, we are pretty sure she has taken anything worth any money and has sold them. Most likely for drugs, a fancy phone, and clothes. It is really sad. My aunt and uncle tried to take the kids and keep them but it just did not work. It meant they ended up with 8 people in their house (my grandmother lives with them). It was really impacting the physical health of my uncle (who had a heart attack) and my grandmother (who is like 86). Plus, some of the kids were stealing things from others (jewelry of my aunt's). We are pretty sure they got that from their mom as well...

Sorry to be a downer lol... it just sucks because those kids miss out on so much. Right now all by the oldest boy (nephew 3) is back living with their mom. Nephew 3 threatened to run away or hurt himself if he was made to go back so he is still with my aunt and uncle. Apparently he is really blooming with this set up!

 

[pigletgirl]

Hi there! May I join? I LOVE holiday shopping!

With that being said, I recently had my first child, a DD in May of this year. She'll be 7 months at the time of Christmas. She already has LOADS of clothes and toys and she really doesn't need anything. The only beneficial thing that would be nice, would be something along the lines of a savings bond so that we can put it away for her college education. This is the only year she won't care if she doesn't open anything.

I know the family (both sides) would like to go hog wild, but we don't have the room for any more things! What is the best way to talk to family about this? An email perhaps?

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Hi there! May I join? I LOVE holiday shopping!

With that being said, I recently had my first child, a DD in May of this year. She'll be 7 months at the time of Christmas. She already has LOADS of clothes and toys and she really doesn't need anything. The only beneficial thing that would be nice, would be something along the lines of a savings bond so that we can put it away for her college education. This is the only year she won't care if she doesn't open anything.

I know the family (both sides) would like to go hog wild, but we don't have the room for any more things! What is the best way to talk to family about this? An email perhaps?

Of course you may join! Glad to have you! And congrats on a little daughter!! I would do email to everyone as a group message if you can...express what you just said and say that there will be plenty of time for gifts she can open, but at this time please adhere to the wishes of you and your husband..

 

[Monny2AE]

Hi there! May I join? I LOVE holiday shopping!

With that being said, I recently had my first child, a DD in May of this year. She'll be 7 months at the time of Christmas. She already has LOADS of clothes and toys and she really doesn't need anything. The only beneficial thing that would be nice, would be something along the lines of a savings bond so that we can put it away for her college education. This is the only year she won't care if she doesn't open anything.

I know the family (both sides) would like to go hog wild, but we don't have the room for any more things! What is the best way to talk to family about this? An email perhaps?

Of course you may join! Glad to have you! And congrats on a little daughter!! I would do email to everyone as a group message if you can...express what you just said and say that there will be plenty of time for gifts she can open, but at this time please adhere to the wishes of you and your husband..

You could make it cutesy as if it was written by your daughter so no one is offended.

 

[ah1126]

Hi there! May I join? I LOVE holiday shopping!

With that being said, I recently had my first child, a DD in May of this year. She'll be 7 months at the time of Christmas. She already has LOADS of clothes and toys and she really doesn't need anything. The only beneficial thing that would be nice, would be something along the lines of a savings bond so that we can put it away for her college education. This is the only year she won't care if she doesn't open anything.

I know the family (both sides) would like to go hog wild, but we don't have the room for any more things! What is the best way to talk to family about this? An email perhaps?

Experience gifts work for this age too! We have an "Art School" in town that offers classes starting at 12 months. My daughter loves to go, but we don't have the extra money to go very often. She has used birthday/Christmas money to pay for classes. My parents also gave her money to go towards her swim lessons this summer.

At least this would give people an option.

 

[gracie1]

Well I was able to purchase another gift for my mom today. The coach outlet online was running an awesome sale, and I found a bag I thought she would like so I took a picture and sent to her and told her I was thinking of ordering this bag for me. She really liked it so I ordered it for her Christmas gift. So far for my mom she is getting a coach purse, gold hoop earrings and bath and body works. I have made a big debt in her gifts! Just some smaller ones to get and she is done!

For my dad I have gotten him 2 gift cards so far. I purchased a business card holder book and going to fill with small giftcards to all the places he likes to eat and shop. He is so not tech savy but thinking of getting him a cheap DVD player and the box set of the sopranos since he loves their show. All he watches are the reruns but I am pretty sure he hasn't watched from the first episode through! Hmmm. .... Still have to think on this one!

 

[ehough]

Picked up a few things now that Kohl's has a 30% coupon code out! I got Playskool Busy Gears for my nephew who will be 6 months, for $14. Then I also got DD a nightgown with a matching gown for her doll- $9.

I'm trying to hold off for a bit now, I only have a few more things for my kids so I'd like to wait until closer to xmas to get a better idea of what would be best. The problem is I'm in shopping mode NOW, and I can't buy for any adults until they give us lists (too incredibly picky). So I'm stuck!