6th Annual Christmas Thread

[mom2t]

I would love to hear more about your cabin in Pigeon Forge. That is next on my list of places I want to visit.

I rent privately from a friend sorry. We are in Wears Valley. It is quiet but just a 10 minute drive back to PF. Will not go Black Friday shopping too crowded. Love the huge rock fireplace and the hot tub. We did it last Thanksgiving and are returning this year. We just read, ate and watched TV and attended a Christmas śhow.

 

[ah1126]

If you don't mind saying, where did you order it from? I saw the directions on how to do it but can't find it anywhere now. I wanted to do this for my kids with their grandmothers recipes but didn't know where to get the fabric.

Sure! I ordered from Spoonflower. I can't wait for it to come, so I can see how it turned out. This is the tutorial that I used, http://blog.spoonflower.com/2012/07/turn-recipes-into-tea-towels.html

 

[pigletto]

I haven't posted in awhile but I am getting closer and closer to done. As I posted earlier I really want to be done decorating, shopping and wrapping by December 1st so we can get ready for our Disney trip on the 13th.

I still have to buy for BIL (but I know what I am getting), SIL, and Nephew, my MIL and FIL, and my 2 brothers. The kids are *almost* done. I still want to get a Lego set or two for ds, and a some make up, gift cards, and a wallet for dd. Of course I haven't even started stockings. I guess I am not quite as close as I thought.

Dh and I had agreed not to exchange gifts because we don't particularly need anything and this big Disney trip is our gift. But we'll still help the kids get something for one another and do stockings.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

My neighbor across the street put up a Christmas wreath and door decor at her house today… I will probably start all that in the next two weeks or so..we are very busy and I haven't had a whole day to drag all the Rubbermaids out and get busy…it takes me all day from start to finish…then I am worn out! But, I am ready to start!

 

[bas71873]

It took me 7 hours to spread the limbs out and decorate it.

That's the part of tree trimming I HATE the most. Spreading out the limbs. UGH!

My neighbor across the street put up a Christmas wreath and door decor at her house today… I will probably start all that in the next two weeks or so..we are very busy and I haven't had a whole day to drag all the Rubbermaids out and get busy…it takes me all day from start to finish…then I am worn out! But, I am ready to start!

Same here. I plan to start dragging them down this week. We spent all day yesterday cutting grass, raking leaves, putting some of the deck furniture away and cleaning out the garage since the weather was so nice. I plan to be 100% decorated before Thanksgiving since we leave for Disney on 11/30.

 

[jacksmomma]

You can get 30% one toy at Yoyo.com using code TOY30Y
I don't know if they carry that one but I know they carry Playmobil stuff.

Thank you for the suggestion. Unfortunately they don't carry the hotel.

 

[jacksmomma]

DH and I are talking about getting a new tree this year. I have been looking at realistic ones over the basics in the big box stores. Does anyone have any suggestions for sites or specific trees?

 

[luvmy3]

I've officially taken care of my dses big gifts They both decided they wanted the 5th gen Ipod touch so that is what I got them.
I know everything else I want to get them, its just a matter of waiting for deals which I hope happen before or on Black Friday.
I got my God dd's their BBW stuff so they are officially done.
I also added a baby and a toddler to my list but they will be pretty easy. I like to get the little ones the Kohls Cares books and matching stuffed animal. I think its Snoopy and Woodstock this year.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

DH and I are talking about getting a new tree this year. I have been looking at realistic ones over the basics in the big box stores. Does anyone have any suggestions for sites or specific trees?

I got the last one that was pre-lit at Hobby Lobby, they frequently run good sales. It was a great tree..had it for 6 years.. I am getting a new one this year..

 

[Cobern]

I've officially taken care of my dses big gifts They both decided they wanted the 5th gen Ipod touch so that is what I got them.
I know everything else I want to get them, its just a matter of waiting for deals which I hope happen before or on Black Friday.
I got my God dd's their BBW stuff so they are officially done.
I also added a baby and a toddler to my list but they will be pretty easy. I like to get the little ones the Kohls Cares books and matching stuffed animal. I think its Snoopy and Woodstock this year.

Target has a deal this week on the iPods. A gift card back plus a cartwheel coupon

 

[luvmy3]

Target has a deal this week on the iPods. A gift card back plus a cartwheel coupon

I ordered refurbished ones from Apple for less than I could have gotten them at Target. I have purchased almost every ipod we have in this house that way because they are like new and have a 1 year warranty.

 

[Deffenm]

I bought DD the softest stuffed animal in the world that she wanted from Toys R Us this past weekend and DS12 a punching bag he wanted.

If anyone shops on Black Friday, Toys R Us ad has been leaked on bfads.net. They are opening at 5 PM on Thursday and some of their hot items are only on sale from 5-9PM and in store only. DS12 wants the Disney Infanity and Toys R Us will have that and the Swap Force for 50% off. However we will be getting ready to eat dinner so I won't be able to snag this deal. Hopefully Amazon will have a deal on it as well.

 

[Dvcmbr09]

I think it horrible that toys r us will be opened 5pm on Thanksgiving!!! Whatever happened to spending time with family and friends on the holidays!!

 

[lecach]

I got a new fake tree today at Garden Ridge. If you have a smartphone download the Google Offers App and there is a 15% off coupon. It's only good in certain markets but luckily it worked in Concord NC. I saved $50!

 

[LilyWDW]

I think it horrible that toys r us will be opened 5pm on Thanksgiving!!! Whatever happened to spending time with family and friends on the holidays!!

If customers didn't demand it, the stores wouldn't open. They do it to make money, not lose money. So the demand has to be there.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

If customers didn't demand it, the stores wouldn't open. They do it to make money, not lose money. So the demand has to be there.

True…but I guess maybe after the mom's and all the 'cooker's ' on Thanksgiving have cleaned up the mess, and the rest of the family is watching football, maybe they want to get out and shop. I personally like to do nothing after that! LOL

 

[Egdisney]

I think it horrible that toys r us will be opened 5pm on Thanksgiving!!! Whatever happened to spending time with family and friends on the holidays!!

It is disgusting, in my opinion.

 

[luvmy3]

True&but I guess maybe after the mom's and all the 'cooker's ' on Thanksgiving have cleaned up the mess, and the rest of the family is watching football, maybe they want to get out and shop. I personally like to do nothing after that! LOL

I was actually thinking I'd go out and shop while everyone else was cleaning up the mess

I don't have a problem with any business being open on Thanksgiving, there have been non-essential business open that day for as long as I can remember. I used to go to the movies Thanksgiving night when I was a teen way back when.
Thanksgiving isn't the same for our family as it was in past years. We ususally get together with dh's side over the weekend because one family goes away, and one lives too far to travel because she always has to work on Friday.
My side sometimes get all together on Thanksgiving day, but some years a few of the families go to WDW so Thanksgiving is celebrated some time before the actual day.
My dad comes to visit us and that is it and he is usually asleep in the chair with football on after dinner

ETA I do hope that the stores that are open at least ask for volunteers before they make the schedules.

 

[in2013]

i think it's safe to say that i'm over the moon in love with the fact that we are visiting disney at christmas. this will be our very first disney trip ever - and likely the last. well, we'll SEE about that! haha.

we've been talking about disney for years and finally decided to bite the bullet this year. my husband was granted vacation from november 30-december 17. we are heading to orlando and staying in a seaworld hotel from dec 3-8, and then hopping over to pop century where we are staying from dec 8-13.

a few months ago, we asked the kids...if we went to florida would you like to do disney or would you like to do seaworld? they both said, SEAWORLD! DOLPHINS!! so i went ahead and booked that. then i said to my husband...i've always wanted to see disney at christmas. i'd kick myself in the rear so bad if i came back home having skipped disney when i was RIGHT THERE!

so we are doing a day at discovery cove, a day or two at seaworld, a beach day, if weather permits, a shopping day, and disney days.

the 'problem' with this trip at christmas is the sheer magnitude of price. it is an incredibly expensive trip and while i don't mind spending the money on a once in a lifetime experience at all, it will definitely cut into our 'santa' gift money so i'm going to make the most of our florida days and tell the kids santa played a hand in it

i have booked a few little extra special experiences at disney that are early christmas gifts, essentially. one is a trip to bibbidi bobbidi boutique (man, that is a hard one to type!), haircuts at harmony barber shop, tomorrowland dessert party, and a holiday sleigh ride at fort wilderness. aside from that, we are keeping our trip relatively simple and not doing much shopping. i'm giving the kids each a bit of spending money to choose their own gifts.

one of my daughters celebrates her birthday the week we are in orlando, so it's a double whammy for her - christmas and birthday in the happiest place on earth. my girls are 8 and (to be) 10.

as for under the tree gifts, i'm thinking of doing up family photos in albums for each of the girls from our vacation as a special gift from mom and dad. i'd really like to get them each a cheap camera for the trip and call it a christmas gift..but i'd be too worried that they'd either a) lose the cameras or b) break them, at their ages.

two things i'm excited for the absolute most:

christmas decorations at the grand floridian
osbourne lights

my kids are going to go bananas when they see both.

 

[LilyWDW]

Getting ready to order baskets from Harry and David for 2 people who have done a lot for me this year. Harry and David allows you to set up a delivery date for closer to Christmas even if you order now. Plus, Harry and David is a 5% cash back merchant for my Discover card.