6th Annual Christmas Thread

[pigletto]

Well I finally started my Christmas shopping. The seal has been broken.
I bought Disney Infinity for ds9 this morning. I also bought him 3 of the character sets and a stand alone Jack Skellington that came out today. Grand total was over $200. However, I will be farming the character sets out to grandparents because they are always looking for ideas and would much rather I shopped and they just reimbursed me. So I really only spent $80 or so on the starter pack.
I still would like to get him the Wreck it Ralph characters when they come out as that is his favorite Disney movie.
I haven't ordered my parents Adirondack chairs yet but my sister and I decided on the ones from Costco, so that's at least in the works.

 

[pigletgirl]

Got dd The Little Mermaid DVD. It was her favorite movie when she was little.

Thanks for mentioning this. I need to go get that.

 

[mom2t]

Well I finally started my Christmas shopping. The seal has been broken.
I bought Disney Infinity for ds9 this morning. I also bought him 3 of the character sets and a stand alone Jack Skellington that came out today. Grand total was over $200. However, I will be farming the character sets out to grandparents because they are always looking for ideas and would much rather I shopped and they just reimbursed me. So I really only spent $80 or so on the starter pack.
I still would like to get him the Wreck it Ralph characters when they come out as that is his favorite Disney movie.
I haven't ordered my parents Adirondack chairs yet but my sister and I decided on the ones from Costco, so that's at least in the works.

I buy presents for my DS and family members pay me back too. It is just easier for me to buy than them.

 

[100AcreWood]

After going through my daughters' clothes and toys this weekend, I am cutting way back! I hope to so the something you want, need, to wear, to read. We recently purchased land to build a house, so cutting back helps with money and clutter. Anyone so the 4 gifts only? I'll do a stoking too.

I don't follow the read/need thing but I do limit our gifts to 5 from Santa and 2-3 from us. They get so much from grandparents. One year I counted my dd received 23 gifts! We only bought 7 of those!

 

[Cinderelly5507]

I don't follow the read/need thing but I do limit our gifts to 5 from Santa and 2-3 from us. They get so much from grandparents. One year I counted my dd received 23 gifts! We only bought 7 of those!

Thanks! I'm going to have to do something. I enjoy giving, not only to my DDs, butt everyone. I also love getting deals. However, I'm tired of all the "junk." There's to many "things" in this house. I'm over it! Lol

 

[LilyWDW]

Got dd The Little Mermaid DVD. It was her favorite movie when she was little.

I bought it for myself today!

So, I did end up going to the outlets and I think it was just what I needed. It got my mind off my health and other stresses in my life. I spent a good 6.5 hours there (it is a huge outlet mall) and WAY too much money. Mostly on myself.

I got each niece/nephew a Disney tshirt. They are all done now.

I found a sweater for a step mom. She is now done.

Pretty much didn't buy any other Christmas gifts. I did not find the slow cooker I wanted in any of the stores there or a hat that my dad would have liked. So, tomorrow I will head to Walmart, Kohls, and a couple of other places to get dad some jeans and shirts and find the slow cooker. Then I will order dad's hat online when I get home.

So, after tomorrow I will only need 2 things; Dad's Hickory Farms Gift Box and a Steak and Shake Gift Card for the basket for my cousin and her husband. Both things I have to wait on.

 

[100AcreWood]

Thanks! I'm going to have to do something. I enjoy giving, not only to my DDs, butt everyone. I also love getting deals. However, I'm tired of all the "junk." There's to many "things" in this house. I'm over it! Lol

I'm with ya. Over giving takes away from the meaning of Christmas, the enjoyment of being with family not to mention feeling just as happy to give than to receive. My 3 are the only grandkids because dh and I are only children.

 

[luvmy3]

I'm with ya. Over giving takes away from the meaning of Christmas, the enjoyment of being with family not to mention feeling just as happy to give than to receive. My 3 are the only grandkids because dh and I are only children.

We started feeling the same way a couple years ago. We used to give to all the nieces and nephews but it got to be too much so we started picking names. After a few years of that it turned into pretty much a gift card or cash exchange. All us aunts decided to stop giving to the nieces and nephews and instead we make it a point to spend a lot of time together over the holidays. Its so nice and I love that we will al have such great holiday memories.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

We started feeling the same way a couple years ago. We used to give to all the nieces and nephews but it got to be too much so we started picking names. After a few years of that it turned into pretty much a gift card or cash exchange. All us aunts decided to stop giving to the nieces and nephews and instead we make it a point to spend a lot of time together over the holidays. Its so nice and I love that we will al have such great holiday memories.

That's a good idea! Takes the added stress off that we generally put on ourselves!!

Well ladies....

12 WEEKS TIL CHRISTMAS!!!

 

[Cobern]

Well I started wrapping presents yesterday . Almost a third of the way done wrapping

 

[luvmy3]

Wow 12 weeks! Its a good thing I'm on a roll now, that will go by before we know it.
I got some stuff for my 3 God dd's today. I got the 2 year old a Lady Bug Happy Napper, the 11 year old the rainbow loom kit and I ordered a Wreck This Journal for the 13 year old.
I usually get the older 2 some stuff from bath and body works and I just saw a $10 coupon in my email

 

[pigletgirl]

That's a good idea! Takes the added stress off that we generally put on ourselves!! Well ladies.... 12 WEEKS TIL CHRISTMAS!!!

that makes it sound so soon! I have lots to do and our October and November are crazy busy!

Well I started wrapping presents yesterday . Almost a third of the way done wrapping

wow!!! Good for you! Where do you find the space to hide the wrapped gifts?

 

[pixiedustmomma]

Well I started wrapping presents yesterday . Almost a third of the way done wrapping

I really want to start wrapping but I haven't seen any wrapping paper out yet.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Well I started wrapping presents yesterday . Almost a third of the way done wrapping

Good for you!! And my November is gonna be crazy too!

 

[Cobern]

that makes it sound so soon! I have lots to do and our October and November are crazy busy!
wow!!! Good for you! Where do you find the space to hide the wrapped gifts?

I hide them in my sons closet. At 17 months he really doesn't have a lot of clothes in there. I have everything in separate bags,but decided to wrap since I had to wrap a birthday present too.

I buy the wrapping paper the day after Christmas every year. Just have to find my labels and then those packages will be done.

 

[pigletgirl]

That is a smart thing to do. I know Costco has quite an assortment out right now along with hobby lobby. I'm sure target and walmart aren't far behind.

 

[100AcreWood]

Wow only 12 weeks! I have slowed down for now. October is an expensive month for us. I will place an order with American girl when the free shipping codes come out.

 

[kayrosek]

Well I finally have some lists nailed down. We are doing a few big family gifts this year. Our Xbox 360 broke so we are getting a new one with a kinect and a few new games. We have also decided to get season passes to the local waterpark/amusement park. Individually Each of the kids will be getting some cash, pjs, an ornament and a Wreck This Journal plus a few other gifts
DD17: DVD "The Dark Crystal"
Adam Lambert CD "Trespassing"
Art Supplies
Headphones
DVD "Labyrinth"
DD16: DVD "The Hunger Games
Android Phone
Earbuds
Can of chalkboard paint and a roller
Toy food truck (Shes obsessed with having her own food truck)
DD14: DVD "The Corpse Bride"
Sensi
Speaker for her tablet
Sleeping with Sirens CD
Superman poster
DS13: Dumbells
DVD "Zombieland"
Diablo II for PC (yes the older one)
Sculpting Clay
Zombie rubber ducks
The last thing on each childs list will go in their stocking with some other stuffers. Additionally we celebrate Epihany with small gifts in thier shoes so each kid will get a GC to thier favorite fast food place. The girls all want to learn to crochet so they will get yarn and a hook while DS will probably get a superhero movie or a craft kit.

 

[LilyWDW]

Cousin and Husband: All that I still need is a Steak and Shake Gift Card and some favorite candies

Neph 1: DONE

Neph 2: DONE

Grandma: Need some of her favorite candies

Neph 3: DONE

Niece 1: DONE

Neph 4: DONE

Niece 2: DONE

Neph 5: DONE

Aunt & Uncle 1: DONE

Aunt & Uncle 2: DONE

Dad: Need a Hickory Farm Gift Box

Step Mom: DONE

Now, a question for everyone. Should I start wrapping? Maybe the stuff that will go into boxes and not the gift baskets? I don't know what to do! I have no idea if I will be packing to move, moving, not even close... I have no clue. I will be up in Indiana for Christmas one way or another (either living or just going up for a week or so).

 

[Worfiedoodles]

Trying to decide what to do about my oldest DN. She got married at the beginning of the year and is due with her first child in Nov. I have three nieces. In the past I have always given them the same gift in different colors or patterns, usually a VB bag. I'm obviously sending a baby gift, which is a separate issue. I don't know whether to give her something completely different for Christmas, perhaps for her and her husband and a separate gift for the baby, give her the usual and try to come up with something for the baby and her dh, who none of us have ever met, or just not give her anything and skip right to the one month old -- who can't possibly need anything at that point.

I don't want to set a precedent we won't be able to keep up. DN is 24, her sisters are 23 and 14. We have continued to send bday $ and Christmas gifts, when other family members cut them off at 18. I would not have felt right doing that, they were all celebrating Christmas as a family and I wasn't going to send gifts to one girl and not the others, particularly since the older two are adopted -- and other family members have treated them as lesser which makes me crazy, as an adopted child myself.

Now the oldest DN will be in another state with her new family. To add to the complication, this is DH's family not mine. I'm an only child and I don't mind buying for these young women for the foreseeable future. We have 1 child, so I think we can keep up with buying for these three as well -- but I'm not sure if that would be weird? In my family we were cut off when we turned 18 on my mom's side. She was the oldest of 12 and I have more cousins than I can count. On my dad's side there were only 3 of us cousins, each separated by 8 years. I am the youngest, and my aunt will still send me somethng occasionally. I am not close to either of her kids. One never sent anything, one used to send things to my son but seem to have cut him off when he turned 13.

It seems like now is the time to decide how to proceed...My dh will do whatever I decide, he pays zero attention. He did comment that DN will be lucky to get anything at all for the baby from the rest of his family.

Can you tell this is all bouncing around in my head?

Maria