6th Annual Christmas Thread

[luvmy3]

A part of me is NOT looking forward to the holidays in general (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years). It is going to be really dang hard to stay cheerful when I am missing my mom and our traditions. Things just won't feel right. I am trying so hard to look at the bright points about spending them with my family in Indiana but at times... at times it is nearly impossible to think about enjoying them.

I do have to say that I have an amazing family. They are trying to get me involved with the plans and everything. They are really trying to make me feel included and a part of the celebration. For Thanksgiving my cousin and I are going to try to do rolls from scratch!

I know it sounds very cliche but being together with family is definitely what helps us get through the Holiday without our loved ones. It seems every year we are missing someone but being together eases that pain a little.

Ok girls… I am headed to Disney in the morning!!! Y'all hold the fort down for me while we are gone!!Keep motivating each other to get going and stay calm!

Have a great trip!

 

[mom2t]

Ok girls… I am headed to Disney in the morning!!! Y'all hold the fort down for me while we are gone!!Keep motivating each other to get going and stay calm!

Have fun and make memories

 

[AZMermaid]

I was cleaning out the closet and found a Northwestern (Deadliest Catch) Cars 2 die cast that I bought for my husband God knows when and hid. Guess what he's getting for Christmas!

 

[LilyWDW]

Did my yearly salvation army angle tree today. Got a 5 year old girl who loved Disney princesses! Spent a bit more then I had planned, but that is okay.

 

[100AcreWood]

Out of curiosity (I know everyone's spending habits are different and based on many things) but how much do you spend on your parents?

Every year my parents say, you did too much! You have three kids to buy for and it's ridiculous to spend a bunch of money on us. So I decided to cut it back this year.

 

[LilyWDW]

Out of curiosity (I know everyone's spending habits are different and based on many things) but how much do you spend on your parents?

Every year my parents say, you did too much! You have three kids to buy for and it's ridiculous to spend a bunch of money on us. So I decided to cut it back this year.

This year I spent about $100 or so on my dad.

I usually spent more on my mom then I do on my dad. I lived with my mom so we did things a bit "bigger" lol. On average, with the stocking (yes, I did a stocking for my mom), I used to spend around $250 on her.

 

[mom2t]

$30 on each. We do only for the kids in school in our family and focus on being together and not all the presents. The gifts to my parent are from my DS.

 

[Dallas_Lady]

$30 on each. We do only for the kids in school in our family and focus on being together and not all the presents. The gifts to my parent are from my DS.

Somewhere in that range. We only do gifts for the kids pretty much, but we get DH's mom something each year, usually no more than $50.

I don't exchange gifts with my parents. I very rarely see or talk to them. Sometimes they send the kids something, sometimes they don't.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

We are in the sad position of being down to one living grandparent, my dad. We probably spend about $300 on him -- which includes his AAA membership, gifts, and his stocking. We also pay his airfare to come to Boston from the Midwest. He considers that his present, but I want him to have things to open on Christmas morning. My father is retired and on a limited income. Some of his presents, like the AAA, are for my piece of mind. We also only have one child to buy for -- so it's not a budgetary issue for us.

Maria

 

[100AcreWood]

$30 on each. We do only for the kids in school in our family and focus on being together and not all the presents. The gifts to my parent are from my DS.

This is where I would like to be. I think between 30-50 per adult is enough considering everyone is spending money on the kids. I would love to cut everyone's expenses and just enjoy the time. I'm planning to reduce my parents to $75 each. I told dh he could decide on his parents. My parents can't think of one thing they even want.

Thanks for everyone for responding.

 

[Deffenm]

Got a couple more items marked off the list. I don't plan to buy much more til BF shopping. I will pick up DS the Planes movie this week when it comes out but that is about it.

We usually spend between $50-100 per parent. We have my husband parents, my mom, my dad and step mom. Plus my grandmother and DH's grandmother. We spend a lot on our family. I still buy for 2 of my brothers and sister as they are younger and not married. We also have 5 nephews and 1 niece.

I love the holidays but I am glad when all of the shopping is done, or should I say my bank account is glad.

 

[LilyWDW]

So... I adopted a cat for my other cat for Christmas. Okay, not really but that is how it feels. I did want a second cat and decided to do it now so my other kitty wouldn't be alone in the house while I was gone for the holidays (my dad is coming over daily still though). So now I have a little 3 month kitty named Oliver Milo to join my 7 month kitty Austin O'Malley. Yes, my cats have middle names .

 

[Dallas_Lady]

We also pay his airfare to come to Boston from the Midwest. He considers that his present, but I want him to have things to open on Christmas morning.

That's really great that you fly him to see you. I'm thinking of starting to do that with my parents. They don't have the money to fly to come see us, and buying them two tickets is cheaper than having the 4 of us go to see them.

 

[100AcreWood]

The thread has been quiet for a few days. Everyone must be waiting for black friday! I have one thing to buy at Target on Thursday but I'm hoping it will be online so I don't have to visit the store.

I did buy a few gift cards for teachers. Still more to go. I'm thinking itunes gift cards will be on sale soon so I'm waiting for that.

 

[4 Ears]

Youngest DS is done.
Oldest DS I do need to buy 1 more gift for but know what it is. Just need to hop up to Disney and grab it.
GS is done

My Mom and SF- ugh I still have NO idea

Christmas Cards? Decided I am going to wait and send ones to those that send to me this year

DH, we will do more day trips, no gifts

 

[AZMermaid]

I went and scoped out where the doctor kits are for Black Friday at TRU. They had a huge pile of them in a middle spot, so I am thinking that's where they will stay. I don't really want to be in the mad rush at opening, thinking I'll go like 2 hours later, so I'm hoping they are still there.

 

[Cinderelly5507]

I went and scoped out where the doctor kits are for Black Friday at TRU. They had a huge pile of them in a middle spot, so I am thinking that's where they will stay. I don't really want to be in the mad rush at opening, thinking I'll go like 2 hours later, so I'm hoping they are still there.

Are these the same doctor kits that Walmart already put on sale?

 

[luvmy3]

I haven't been doing too much shopping except for returning the Disney Infinity I got and getting Skylanders swap force instead.
I picked up some other video games too.

My youngest ds recently had a birthday and decided to buy an Ipad mini with his own money so I told him if he did that I wasn't going to get him the Ipod touch for Christmas. He said he'd rather the mini so now I'm getting him some very expensive sneakers, and an under armour hoodie as his big gift. I know I can get the hoodie on sale at Dicks on BF but I don't think I'll find the sneakers on sale anywhere. Oh well, both things will still be less than the Ipod was so at least I'm saving some money on him

 

[AZMermaid]

Are these the same doctor kits that Walmart already put on sale?

ooooh thanks! There is limited stock at my local Walmart. I am going to head there after bedtime and check it out! I have a Walmart gift card to use and everything!

 

[Manders77]

I loved this thread last year and decided to post to this one now too. I try to do year round shopping but my DD5 is just about finished. She wants a Pet Dragon (like Crackle from Sophia the First), and since Disney doesn't make one yet, I found a blue dragon on yoyo.com for her. Now she added a barbie house to her list.Seeing if we can score the one at Walmart on Black Friday would be perfect since I don't want to spend $150 on the townhouse. On Friday I picked up Leappad 2's for DD and DS3. Also got DD Leapreader on Amazon. Both are getting some Leapfrog games as well I got on Amazon.

Now DS I have to get some more Thomas the Train trackmaster sets. DH saw a Thor Lightning Hammer at TRU he said would be cool for DS. Also got him Disney Planes movie and a Jake DVD. DD got Sophia DVD as well. GOt deals on those movies with coupons and gift card deals at TRU.

DH and I aren't doing major gifts. We need new phones so we are just doing those. I want the Iphone 5s and He wants the Samsung Galaxy S4. Probably get the accessories with them and we are all set.