7th Annual Christmas Thread

[bitty246]

Oh, I just LOVE this thread! IMO, it's never too early to think about the "Big 3" Holidays!

I've been MIA from Disboards since our May trip. I just needed to disengage... was feeling a bit overstimulated. I'm just starting to ease back into it (danger! danger! Must. Not. Plan. Trip. Can't. Afford.) and what do I see? Ah, the glorious Chrismas thread. We've have some unusually Fall like weather in my neck of the woods lately. It has me craving Pumpkin... haha! I'm struggling internally to remind myself to relish these last few weeks of sun and tropical fruit drinks, but the Fall and Winter thoughts are creeping in. I may just lose myself completely.....

No ideas so far for my three little darlings. The 2yo will be easy. My 5yo DD and 8yo DS will be tricky. They still want everything they see, but have so much already. We've done a lot of work over the last year to help them understand how blessed they are to have so much and they understand on some levels, but kids are kids. They are still "believers" so we'll play that up again, but it's getting harder as my son almost busted me last year! I wait to bring out presents until they are in a deep sleep... say midnight. Not 15 min after I finished, I hear his door open, so I had to pretend to be asleep on the couch and I was "astonished" that Santa Had come and I didn't even wake up. I let him have his stocking, and that was really special to have that 1:1 time with him. He was delighted... and wired! I sent him back to bed, but he was not going to sleep. I had to doze on the couch all night and shoo him and the then 4yo away from the tree about 6 times between 1:00am and 6:00am. Whew... that was work.

So I'll be checking in frequently to hear everyone's adventures and mis-adventures as we approach the Holidays. Cheers everyone!

 

[gracie1]

Glad to see this thread!! I have been waiting for it and kept checking back the past few weeks!!
Christmas at our house is probably going to be scaled back this year. My mom retired in April of this year and only works casual (two days a week) and I actually left my job in April that I had been at for 15 years and am now working just 7 months a year - so the budget is very, very tight on me. I guess you could say my Christmas gift to myself was getting out of a horrible and stressful work environment!
I did book a cruise for myself, mom and dad for March 2016 (yes, along ways!) on the new Royal Caribbean ship - which is a cruise to nowhere, and we planned on each paying our way. But I have been going back and forth in my head that maybe I will pay for the cruise and that will be their Christmas, birthdays and next years Mothers & fathers Day gift I would rather do something like this than just buy more things that they may not need.
So I was actually thinking of making them each a calendar for a Christmas gift from my furbabies (doing an 18 month one) and then marking on the day that we leave for the cruise something like Leave for Cruise - Merry Christmas.
Any thoughts?

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Oh, I just LOVE this thread! IMO, it's never too early to think about the "Big 3" Holidays!

I've been MIA from Disboards since our May trip. I just needed to disengage... was feeling a bit overstimulated. I'm just starting to ease back into it (danger! danger! Must. Not. Plan. Trip. Can't. Afford.) and what do I see? Ah, the glorious Chrismas thread. We've have some unusually Fall like weather in my neck of the woods lately. It has me craving Pumpkin... haha! I'm struggling internally to remind myself to relish these last few weeks of sun and tropical fruit drinks, but the Fall and Winter thoughts are creeping in. I may just lose myself completely.....

No ideas so far for my three little darlings. The 2yo will be easy. My 5yo DD and 8yo DS will be tricky. They still want everything they see, but have so much already. We've done a lot of work over the last year to help them understand how blessed they are to have so much and they understand on some levels, but kids are kids. They are still "believers" so we'll play that up again, but it's getting harder as my son almost busted me last year! I wait to bring out presents until they are in a deep sleep... say midnight. Not 15 min after I finished, I hear his door open, so I had to pretend to be asleep on the couch and I was "astonished" that Santa Had come and I didn't even wake up. I let him have his stocking, and that was really special to have that 1:1 time with him. He was delighted... and wired! I sent him back to bed, but he was not going to sleep. I had to doze on the couch all night and shoo him and the then 4yo away from the tree about 6 times between 1:00am and 6:00am. Whew... that was work.

So I'll be checking in frequently to hear everyone's adventures and mis-adventures as we approach the Holidays. Cheers everyone!

Glad to see you here!!! It is hard to get back from Disney and not want to plan another trip!!!

Glad to see this thread!! I have been waiting for it and kept checking back the past few weeks!!
Christmas at our house is probably going to be scaled back this year. My mom retired in April of this year and only works casual (two days a week) and I actually left my job in April that I had been at for 15 years and am now working just 7 months a year - so the budget is very, very tight on me. I guess you could say my Christmas gift to myself was getting out of a horrible and stressful work environment!
I did book a cruise for myself, mom and dad for March 2016 (yes, along ways!) on the new Royal Caribbean ship - which is a cruise to nowhere, and we planned on each paying our way. But I have been going back and forth in my head that maybe I will pay for the cruise and that will be their Christmas, birthdays and next years Mothers & fathers Day gift I would rather do something like this than just buy more things that they may not need.
So I was actually thinking of making them each a calendar for a Christmas gift from my furbabies (doing an 18 month one) and then marking on the day that we leave for the cruise something like Leave for Cruise - Merry Christmas.
Any thoughts?

Glad you are here too!! the cruise idea sounds great! I would consider very carefully if you could afford paying for their part~maybe you could just pay for half of what they owe? That might be easier on all of you. And congrats on getting out of a stressful job…that can kill ya!

 

[Mom22beans]

Our Christmas will be one that throws tradition out the window. My mom passed away 5 1/2 years ago, when I was pregnant with our oldest. My family is the only one with kids on either side so we have always been "THE" Christmas destination.

Our family is definitely in need of a break from life. We were going to go to WDW this summer but couldn't justify spending the $$ to go from heat to heat. (read that as MOmma Bear is NOT a fan of summer!)

So, got WDW for the same- yep the SAME- price as we were going to go this summer- thanks to FreeDIning

That means though, that our 5 and 3 year old will not have our small families with us to celebrate; will not have the traditional cutting down the tree; will not have snow (at least REAL snow?)

WDW IS their present.... as far as un-enthusiatic hubby knows. I am planning to send a tree (small) and our stockings so Santa can find us. I really wanted to do the Candlelight Processional but feel that our children would not do well with all the stimulation and excitement of WDW to sit still and allow others to enjoy themselves! Maybe NEXT time- yes, there will be a next time!

Can't believe that there are so few days until we leave. Still need to return to work, and survive until Christmas- which will be much easier having something to look forward to!

 

[sarahk0204]

That means though, that our 5 and 3 year old will not have our small families with us to celebrate; will not have the traditional cutting down the tree; will not have snow (at least REAL snow?)

WDW IS their present.... as far as un-enthusiatic hubby knows. I am planning to send a tree (small) and our stockings so Santa can find us. I really wanted to do the Candlelight Processional but feel that our children would not do well with all the stimulation and excitement of WDW to sit still and allow others to enjoy themselves! Maybe NEXT time- yes, there will be a next time!

Can't believe that there are so few days until we leave. Still need to return to work, and survive until Christmas- which will be much easier having something to look forward to!

We haven't done CP with our kids yet, and they were 9 on our last holiday trip!

The Epcot Storytellers may be a better idea for your kids for this trip.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Our Christmas will be one that throws tradition out the window. My mom passed away 5 1/2 years ago, when I was pregnant with our oldest. My family is the only one with kids on either side so we have always been "THE" Christmas destination.

Our family is definitely in need of a break from life. We were going to go to WDW this summer but couldn't justify spending the $$ to go from heat to heat. (read that as MOmma Bear is NOT a fan of summer!)

So, got WDW for the same- yep the SAME- price as we were going to go this summer- thanks to FreeDIning

That means though, that our 5 and 3 year old will not have our small families with us to celebrate; will not have the traditional cutting down the tree; will not have snow (at least REAL snow?)

WDW IS their present.... as far as un-enthusiatic hubby knows. I am planning to send a tree (small) and our stockings so Santa can find us. I really wanted to do the Candlelight Processional but feel that our children would not do well with all the stimulation and excitement of WDW to sit still and allow others to enjoy themselves! Maybe NEXT time- yes, there will be a next time!

Can't believe that there are so few days until we leave. Still need to return to work, and survive until Christmas- which will be much easier having something to look forward to!

Hi!!Glad you are here!! Sometimes you just gotta break out and do something different!! I know you all will love it…WDW is gorgeous and magical at Christmas!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Is anyone else's ticker off? I looked at mine 3 days ago and it said 2 months, 28 days, today it says 2 and 27…and that isn't right either!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Hello peeps…well, we dropped our oldest off at college yesterday. Actually we went over Wed night and got a hotel because we had to be there in the morning and we are about 3 hours away, so we thought it would be better to spend the 'last night' in a hotel. Great idea. Kept it fun and like an adventure! Had we been home and left it would have been more emotional. It was a busy and long day, for us and for him…lot's of meetings and such for incoming students…ANYHOO…with all that going on I missed posting what I was going to post on yesterday. So, lets pretend it's still Thursday shall we?! Just this once.



18 WEEKS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!!!!

 

[amberdl28]

Im so happy to find this site. I am so excited about Christmas. I have to buy for our son (5) niece 1 (13) niece 2 (11) niece 3 (5) and niece 4 (3), my 2 sisters and their husbands, bil, inlaws and dad and the baby I nanny for who will be 10 months old.

For DS I already have spent 1/3 his budget and got 1 DS game, 2 wii games, 1 puzzle, 3 board games, wolverine action figure, Jesse from Toy Story, moon in my room, a ninja turtle figure, leap pad game, a sklyanders set, a few movies and a wind up robot kit. I bought a lot on a facebook site and the rest for really good prices. I still want to get him turtles figures (real turtles not ninjas lol), art supplies, another DS game, Zurg, a science kit, planets to hang from his ceiling, and a few more movies. It sounds like a lot but its all in my budget so im happy.

Niece 3 & 4 are getting movie baskets (epic and rio on sale) w/ candy and popcorn in a popcorn basket. Then I think tutus with a learn ballet dvd.

Niece 1 & 2 I have no idea. Probably movie baskets and something else

No idea for sisters and bils

Something DS makes for my in laws and dad

I cant wait for the season. the music, decorations, food....woot!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Im so happy to find this site. I am so excited about Christmas. I have to buy for our son (5) niece 1 (13) niece 2 (11) niece 3 (5) and niece 4 (3), my 2 sisters and their husbands, bil, inlaws and dad and the baby I nanny for who will be 10 months old.

For DS I already have spent 1/3 his budget and got 1 DS game, 2 wii games, 1 puzzle, 3 board games, wolverine action figure, Jesse from Toy Story, moon in my room, a ninja turtle figure, leap pad game, a sklyanders set, a few movies and a wind up robot kit. I bought a lot on a facebook site and the rest for really good prices. I still want to get him turtles figures (real turtles not ninjas lol), art supplies, another DS game, Zurg, a science kit, planets to hang from his ceiling, and a few more movies. It sounds like a lot but its all in my budget so im happy.

Niece 3 & 4 are getting movie baskets (epic and rio on sale) w/ candy and popcorn in a popcorn basket. Then I think tutus with a learn ballet dvd.

Niece 1 & 2 I have no idea. Probably movie baskets and something else

No idea for sisters and bils

Something DS makes for my in laws and dad

I cant wait for the season. the music, decorations, food....woot!

So glad you are here!!!!! And to the Dis boards too!!! I love all your gift ideas~ I would do the movie baskets for all the kids..for the older two girls put a small manicure set or a cute nail file and a small hand lotion or a bottle of Sally Hansen 4 in 1 clear coat. It's like $10 and is a great little extra. That's always a good go-to for me when I can't think of something else and I need one more thing..or I don't know what they like….

 

[kayrosek]

Ooooooh I am so excited to see this thread again. I have already started shopping this year, although I have two October birthdays to finish up so I cant do a lot yet. I have bought a Christmas Movie for DS13 as well as a stuffed duck (he is obsessed with ducks) for Christmas and I have most his birthday gifts done. For DD 15 I have a Led Zepplin tshirt that I bought tonight. She has asked for CDs and band tshirts almost exclusively. DD17 Also got her first gift bought tonight with a bottle of perfume she fell in love with when we were shopping together the other day. I have nothing for our 2nd. DD17 (nearly eighteen) and only one birthday gift, a very beautiful watch. I really need to get going with her stuff.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Ooooooh I am so excited to see this thread again. I have already started shopping this year, although I have two October birthdays to finish up so I cant do a lot yet. I have bought a Christmas Movie for DS13 as well as a stuffed duck (he is obsessed with ducks) for Christmas and I have most his birthday gifts done. For DD 15 I have a Led Zepplin tshirt that I bought tonight. She has asked for CDs and band tshirts almost exclusively. DD17 Also got her first gift bought tonight with a bottle of perfume she fell in love with when we were shopping together the other day. I have nothing for our 2nd. DD17 (nearly eighteen) and only one birthday gift, a very beautiful watch. I really need to get going with her stuff.

glad to have you here!! I think the watch is a good idea! I always love to find someone a perfect watch!

 

[kayrosek]

glad to have you here!! I think the watch is a good idea! I always love to find someone a perfect watch!

Thank you. This really is the neatest watch I have ever seen. Its actually a bangle bracelet with a large oval abalone locket. Inside the locket is the watch. I think our oldest will absolutely love it and I am so excited to give it to her that I very nearly spoiled the surprise tonight. I also got it on sale for a fabulous deal so that helps my excitement. I love finding deals.

 

[Aliceacc]

OK, let me run an idea by you guys:

Each of my daughters has a phone, but not an iphone. (My son bought his own, so I imagine he's out of this particular discussion, but let me know if I'm wrong.) Each of the kids has a tablet they got from Santa 2 years ago.

I was thinking of getting each of the girls an Ipod Touch from the Apple store. They could use them on the bus or on vacation, or other places where the tablet is too big.
For refurbished models, I can get 32 GB at $199 or 64 GB at $239.
For brand new, I can get 16 GB for $199, 32 for $249 or 64 for $299.

As far as I can see, the only realistic difference between new and refurbished is that the new ones can be engraved. I ordered Ipod shuffles from the Apple store years ago, and the kids were very happy with them.

What do you think? Which would you get? I was thinking maybe the refurbished 32 GB.

And can you think of some sort of comparable technology gift for a 16 year old boy?

 

[Aliceacc]

OH, just remembered:

I wanted to post my favorite gift from last year, one I'm happy I thought of:

I went online and found a local beauty school. I emailed them about the possiblity of my then 13 year old daughter taking a class on how to apply makeup.

I spoke to a number of people at work, and 4 of us got together on it. Since the school charged only $15 per girl, we allowed each of our daughters-- who don't know each other-- to bring one friend.

We ended up agreeing on a night during February break. The class lasted about an hour and a half. They were great about teaching the girls how to apply makeup so it looked natural, and about suggesting brands like Maybelline and Cover Girl instead of high end cosmetics.

The girls had a great time, learned a lot, and the gift was a huge hit.

Another favorite gift: in 2012, anticipating that summer's WDW trip, I got my husband an IOU for Lunch with an Imagineer. He LOVED it!!

Anyone have any other stand out gifts they want to suggest?

 

[bas71873]

OK, let me run an idea by you guys:

Each of my daughters has a phone, but not an iphone. (My son bought his own, so I imagine he's out of this particular discussion, but let me know if I'm wrong.) Each of the kids has a tablet they got from Santa 2 years ago.

I was thinking of getting each of the girls an Ipod Touch from the Apple store. They could use them on the bus or on vacation, or other places where the tablet is too big.
For refurbished models, I can get 32 GB at $199 or 64 GB at $239.
For brand new, I can get 16 GB for $199, 32 for $249 or 64 for $299.

As far as I can see, the only realistic difference between new and refurbished is that the new ones can be engraved. I ordered Ipod shuffles from the Apple store years ago, and the kids were very happy with them.

What do you think? Which would you get? I was thinking maybe the refurbished 32 GB.

And can you think of some sort of comparable technology gift for a 16 year old boy?

I think our plan is to upgrade DDs current Ipod Touch too this Cmas. Hers is old and slow and no longer does the most recent updates. I am going to wait though until the 6th generation comes out (supposed to be in October after the Iphone 6 is released in September) and then compare the 6th gen to the 5th gen, price shop and go from there. I will say, going with the 64GB was THE best decision we made when we first bought the touch. DD uses every ounce of space with all the stuff she has on there, the videos she and her friends make, etc.

OH, just remembered:

I wanted to post my favorite gift from last year, one I'm happy I thought of:

I went online and found a local beauty school. I emailed them about the possiblity of my then 13 year old daughter taking a class on how to apply makeup.

I spoke to a number of people at work, and 4 of us got together on it. Since the school charged only $15 per girl, we allowed each of our daughters-- who don't know each other-- to bring one friend.

We ended up agreeing on a night during February break. The class lasted about an hour and a half. They were great about teaching the girls how to apply makeup so it looked natural, and about suggesting brands like Maybelline and Cover Girl instead of high end cosmetics.

The girls had a great time, learned a lot, and the gift was a huge hit.

Another favorite gift: in 2012, anticipating that summer's WDW trip, I got my husband an IOU for Lunch with an Imagineer. He LOVED it!!

Anyone have any other stand out gifts they want to suggest?

Oooh, I like the make up class idea. I need to file that away for the future. DD is only 11 right now.

I don't know how fabulous this gift is, but if you have a Go Ape Adventure Park near you, I gave DD and my nephew each a gift certificate for that and took them over Spring Break. I bought myself one too and we had the best time.

This year I'm buying us all tickets to the Harlem Globetrotters. They always perform here on the afternoon of New Year's Eve Day and I think our whole group here in the neighborhood is going to go to the show and then come back to someone's house, order pizza and ring in the new year.

I have found that I prefer to give "experiences" rather than more stuff as the years go on....

 

[KimP5]

We'll be at WDW for Christmas this year. Have never gone anywhere over the holiday before since we've had kids, so not sure how we'll handle it.

oldest DD is 14, middle is 11 and youngest is 4. I've always made a point of refusing point blank to have the "no santa" talk. If asked, I reply, "If I were you, and I wanted gifts, I wouldn't chance not believing." or when they say their friends say it's parents, I reply, "Hm. I wonder if Santa will bring them anything then?" LOL! I don't know why I do this.

That being said I'm assuming the 14 yo had figured it out by now! LOL! I suspect the 11yo has as well. She asked the other day and we asked her what she *wanted* to believe. (in regards to tooth fairy). She said she wanted to believe she was real. We replied, "well, believe then."

My thought though is that Disney trip *is* the gift this year. I think the oldest gets this, though she said she'd love a few new books. Middle will want something as well - she's on the Lego bandwagon. And I think youngest is small enough to not notice if she only gets a few items.

Oldest suggested we bring stockings to hang in our room at Wilderness Lodge, and gifts are whatever fits in those. Debating if Santa will stop at our house while we are gone or not. I'm leaning toward not. I usually go way overboard on gifts, and I'd like to reverse that trend.

What have others done when staying at WDW? How does one handle Santa visits? I think I'd like to do something, but keep it reasonably small, and then give them spending $$ while on the trip.

 

[4 Ears]

So happy to see this thread as well.
Within the last few days I have started my list as well.

DH- rolling 4-wheel luggage, new ear buds(both would be super handy on our trips back to Maine), flag pole and flag (this is something he has asked for)

DS 24- beard trimmer, food store GC, shower curtain (when we were there a few weeks ago I nearly bought a new one LOL)

DS20-beard trimmer, GC to Labonvilles (out door clothing store, he is an outdoors guy so wool socks, gloves, boots he can put it towards)

DGS 3- thinking a gift certificate to Santas Village in NH for the Christmas season with gas and food money (they live in ME)

DGS 7months- a toy box with a couple of toys

DIL- cook/bake ware

My Mom and SF- no idea

My real father and SM- Last year we started going out for a meal with each other; they don't need anything and really neither do we.

What do I want?... Thinking some fish and/or a special tour in Disney

Happy list making and shopping

 

[kayrosek]

We'll be at WDW for Christmas this year. Have never gone anywhere over the holiday before since we've had kids, so not sure how we'll handle it.

oldest DD is 14, middle is 11 and youngest is 4. I've always made a point of refusing point blank to have the "no santa" talk. If asked, I reply, "If I were you, and I wanted gifts, I wouldn't chance not believing." or when they say their friends say it's parents, I reply, "Hm. I wonder if Santa will bring them anything then?" LOL! I don't know why I do this.

That being said I'm assuming the 14 yo had figured it out by now! LOL! I suspect the 11yo has as well. She asked the other day and we asked her what she *wanted* to believe. (in regards to tooth fairy). She said she wanted to believe she was real. We replied, "well, believe then."

My thought though is that Disney trip *is* the gift this year. I think the oldest gets this, though she said she'd love a few new books. Middle will want something as well - she's on the Lego bandwagon. And I think youngest is small enough to not notice if she only gets a few it

Oldest suggested we bring stockings to hang in our room at Wilderness Lodge, and gifts are whatever fits in those. Debating if Santa will stop at our house while we are gone or not. I'm leaning toward not. I usually go way overboard on gifts, and I'd like to reverse that trend.

What have others done when staying at WDW? How does one handle Santa visits? I think I'd like to do something, but keep it reasonably small, and then give them spending $$ while on the trip.

We do Great Wolf for Christmas every year. Gifts arent as large because we put money into the trip. We bring a small tree and gifts are what Santa leaves under that and in stockings,but the kids also look forward to getting home to see what Santa has left there while they were gone. It started one year with jars of pickles and has included full size bags of thier favorite chips or boxes of the cereal I wont buy. No more gifts just fun food that puts a smile on thier face and gives them something to snack on when we get home. Just thought Id share that idea.

 

[kayrosek]

Oh and Santa always brings something (piggy bank, wallet, purse) with spending money in it.