Christmas comes but once a year....thankfully.

[battymum]

I love Christmas too - love the tree, the food, the family, just hate hate hate the shopping -

Good on you Ms Shuttergirl for being so organised and shopping early. Where I live you see so many people shopping when those big shops have their annual toy sale in July (why is it always in school holidays???) - its usually the ones who look like they have no money and their kids just need a pair of shoes and a bath, with loaded trolleys full of plastic junk, that usually ends up all over their yard in January, the kids dont value it.

I had quite a debate with someone I work with last week, my kids have never missed out on things they want at Christmas - but I also wrap up underwear, pyjamas, socks,clothes, pencil cases, lunch boxes - basically stuff I would have to buy them anyway - this lady, who has a 13year old, told me I was so mean and stingy giving my kids stuff like that and her son would "throw them at her" if she gave him underwear for Christmas - So now I am asking everybody,

Pretty sure I am not alone in giving my kids this stuff - I even know someone who gave school uniform, which might be taking it a little far - but it was for a kindy starter and Santa was bringing him the new clothes for big school.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Yep, I always give socks and undies, pyjamas, pencil cases, drink bottles, all that stuff. They usually make up alot of the "stocking fillers".

The uniform is perhaps going a little far lol but I totally think it's ok to slip these things in.

 

[australiankaren]

hey

reading these posts brings back so many memories of when my kids were at home....value the time, it goes so quickly.

My sob story :
this year, #1 son and his family [3 grandkids] are spending it with his in- laws, my parents are with my brother in another state, and #2 son is with his girlfriend and her family, sil & her family are with her in-laws.....so we catch up on boxing day.
So a lonely day for DH, minnie moo [our new puppy] and myself...oh well.

Last year I hired a jumping castle, and had 23 people over for xmas day, so a bit of a change.

So any suggestions on what we could do xmas day that will include a needy 13 week old mini schnauzer ???



I remember staying up xmas eve doing the gifts, setting the tables etc til at least 4 am xmas morning, then up at 7am [dh had a rule, no earlier than 7 am xmas morning]...then breaky with one family, fully cooked, then lunch with my family, and dinner with dh's. All meals were at my place with DH doing the cooking. Those were the days......caos, mayhem and noise.

ok, i've depressed myself now.....

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

We have never gotten to spend Christmas in our own home. We moved interstate when our daughter was 1 and so we have felt obligated to travel home every year. Actually we did get one Christmas in our own home about 4 years ago.

Next year, we have decided to be in NYC. That will show em all

 

[battymum]

Karen you can spend Xmas with us !

On another note - just spent 30mins on the phone to the lovely Simone at Vodafone - they agreed to credit my account $646.30 !!!! As we should have been alerted when the charges were at 4 x the monthly average ($280)

The bad news, my son has a $280 phone bill, that should only be $29!!!! - Might think about buying him a xmas present now, but he is still mowing my lawn!!!!!!!!

 

[australiankaren]

Karen you can spend Xmas with us !

On another note - just spent 30mins on the phone to the lovely Simone at Vodafone - they agreed to credit my account $646.30 !!!! As we should have been alerted when the charges were at 4 x the monthly average ($280)

The bad news, my son has a $280 phone bill, that should only be $29!!!! - Might think about buying him a xmas present now, but he is still mowing my lawn!!!!!!!!

thanks for the offer

re phone bills, my #2 son racked up $700 home phone bill ringing mobile numbers before we realised it could call them......talk about shock..
telstra said stupidity was not an excuse so DH had to bite the bullet and pay. Lets just say #2 son was not popular for a while.
he also downloaded many things, rang those stupid 1800 numbers and his mobile bill was huge for a few months...him being 14 at the time was an issue...couldnt sell his kidney, underage

so i feel your pain

 

[BecBennett]

I'm putting my hand up as another person who loves Christmas... Don't have a bad thing to say about it. I started getting up about 4-5am on Christmas day when I was a youngen and I still do it now. I love everything about it!

I'm one of those crazy people, who although all my shopping and everything is done, I'll still go to the shops Christmas Eve just to enjoy the feel of it!

- its usually the ones who look like they have no money and their kids just need a pair of shoes and a bath, with loaded trolleys full of plastic junk, that usually ends up all over their yard in January, the kids dont value it.

Yeah I see these people too, they're also usually the ones who get eviction notices for not paying their rent during Christmas, and what's their excuse?!? "I had to buy presents for my kids!"

I had quite a debate with someone I work with last week, my kids have never missed out on things they want at Christmas - but I also wrap up underwear, pyjamas, socks,clothes, pencil cases, lunch boxes - basically stuff I would have to buy them anyway - this lady, who has a 13year old, told me I was so mean and stingy giving my kids stuff like that and her son would "throw them at her" if she gave him underwear for Christmas - So now I am asking everybody,

Pretty sure I am not alone in giving my kids this stuff - I even know someone who gave school uniform, which might be taking it a little far - but it was for a kindy starter and Santa was bringing him the new clothes for big school.

I do that too, almost anything that's purchased after October becomes a Christmas Gift That's something else that was instilled in me as a child. It all goes under the tree!

 

[WAMUMOF4]

I had quite a debate with someone I work with last week, my kids have never missed out on things they want at Christmas - but I also wrap up underwear, pyjamas, socks,clothes, pencil cases, lunch boxes - basically stuff I would have to buy them anyway - this lady, who has a 13year old, told me I was so mean and stingy giving my kids stuff like that and her son would "throw them at her" if she gave him underwear for Christmas - So now I am asking everybody,

Pretty sure I am not alone in giving my kids this stuff - I even know someone who gave school uniform, which might be taking it a little far - but it was for a kindy starter and Santa was bringing him the new clothes for big school.

Normally our kids get all those things in there stocking they are things i would buy anyway and they love unwrapping the extra things we dont do the school stuff in there though. But since they all got a years supply of sock undies etc and clothes in the USA i am at a loss on how to fill there stockings

 

[australiankaren]

hey

just thought I'd share my theme for our boxing day family lunch...

each male [ages 4 - 45], is getting a nerf gun [SIL lives next to a reserve]..so they can go shoot each other to their hearts content.....

the 2 granddaughters [ages 2 & 3]will have their hands full with disney princess dolls etc..

thought it should be cool...until we are all sitting in sutherland hospital emergency due to a "nerf incident"

yes, i am a wicked grandmother

 

[battymum]

Sounds like fun Karen -

Last year when my twins turned 13 we took eight boys camping up at Glenbrook and had a trailer full of nerf guns - they had a blast

 

[Aust]

I'm jealous of those of you who've finished shopping, I'm finding it difficult to buy the kids' presents this year as I'm working full time for the first time since I had kids, I have sneaked to the shops 2 lunchtimes, and this Thursday night have my last chance at Thursday night shopping when I have to get it all finished. Then Sunday will be a fun-filled day to get the rest of the family presents done with a 3 year old in tow (was going to leave him at home and just take the 7 and 10 year olds but now my husband is working).

And I thought Christmas Day was all sorted - spending it at my cousin's farm a couple of hours drive away with husband, kids, sister, brothers and their kids - but I didn't check my husband's roster and he is working Boxing Day, starting at 6am, so he can't stay at the farm and doesn't want to drive there and back in one day - so unless he can change shifts he said he will stay at home!! not happy.

 

[hjd0411]

I'm another Christmas lover, too! I also guess I'm lucky (in a way!) no kids!!!!
But I also work shifts and most years I have had to work Christmas Day. This year I have it off, but have to work Boxing Day at 430am! So I really don't have much planned at all for Christmas Day! I guess it will be a quiet one!
As for those difficult to buy for in-laws etc - what about a donation to their favourite charity on their behalf? I have thought about that for a couple of people I need to buy for who have "everything"!
Hope it all works out for everyone! I'm sure it will - don't forget the amazing Disney planning skills everyone has!!!!

 

[battymum]

Bombshell!!!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

I love Christmas too - love the tree, the food, the family, just hate hate hate the shopping -

Good on you Ms Shuttergirl for being so organised and shopping early. Where I live you see so many people shopping when those big shops have their annual toy sale in July (why is it always in school holidays???) - its usually the ones who look like they have no money and their kids just need a pair of shoes and a bath, with loaded trolleys full of plastic junk, that usually ends up all over their yard in January, the kids dont value it.

I had quite a debate with someone I work with last week, my kids have never missed out on things they want at Christmas - but I also wrap up underwear, pyjamas, socks,clothes, pencil cases, lunch boxes - basically stuff I would have to buy them anyway - this lady, who has a 13year old, told me I was so mean and stingy giving my kids stuff like that and her son would "throw them at her" if she gave him underwear for Christmas - So now I am asking everybody,

Pretty sure I am not alone in giving my kids this stuff - I even know someone who gave school uniform, which might be taking it a little far - but it was for a kindy starter and Santa was bringing him the new clothes for big school.

I normally get some socks and undies and put them in as stocking stuffers. DH might actually get some as well this year. DS also needs a new pencil case and a drink bottle for school next year. So, those are going in as stocking stuffers as well.

Karen you can spend Xmas with us !

On another note - just spent 30mins on the phone to the lovely Simone at Vodafone - they agreed to credit my account $646.30 !!!! As we should have been alerted when the charges were at 4 x the monthly average ($280)

The bad news, my son has a $280 phone bill, that should only be $29!!!! - Might think about buying him a xmas present now, but he is still mowing my lawn!!!!!!!!

Excellent news!

hey

just thought I'd share my theme for our boxing day family lunch...

each male [ages 4 - 45], is getting a nerf gun [SIL lives next to a reserve]..so they can go shoot each other to their hearts content.....

the 2 granddaughters [ages 2 & 3]will have their hands full with disney princess dolls etc..

thought it should be cool...until we are all sitting in sutherland hospital emergency due to a "nerf incident"

yes, i am a wicked grandmother

Just make sure that you make a target board, like darts or footy....that way, when the boys get tired of shooting at each other, they will have something else to shoot at....other than you or the girls.

 

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Bombshell!!!!

hehehe

 

[BecBennett]

I've actually done the majority of my shopping online this year. Which has been good because I don't like shops, but on the down side I'm still waiting for the majority to turn up... So my tree is looking a little bare...

 

[OziJo]

I love Christmas too - love the tree, the food, the family, just hate hate hate the shopping -

Ditto, ditto, ditto ditto ditto

I had quite a debate with someone I work with last week, my kids have never missed out on things they want at Christmas - but I also wrap up underwear, pyjamas, socks,clothes, pencil cases, lunch boxes - basically stuff I would have to buy them anyway - this lady, who has a 13year old, told me I was so mean and stingy giving my kids stuff like that and her son would "throw them at her" if she gave him underwear for Christmas - So now I am asking everybody,

Pretty sure I am not alone in giving my kids this stuff - I even know someone who gave school uniform, which might be taking it a little far - but it was for a kindy starter and Santa was bringing him the new clothes for big school.

Absolutely. I would probably fall short at wrapping up the school uniform but everything else you mentioned are traditional Christmas presents . The kids are quite happy to unwrap these things on chrissie morn.

This year my kids won't be getting much. I will plan to buy them a good back pack which will double as their carry on bag and their school bag for next year. Then I will fill it with some odds and ends to take away, including undies and pj's. Every year I buy them a calender. They are always so much cheaper the day after Christmas but I buy them before anyway.

I also have to buy for all my nieces and nephews (total 16 between both sides of the family). I enjoy this. I set a limit ($25-$30) and think hard about what each child would like. I don't spend much so that if they like what I buy then that's great. If they don't then they are all spoilt anyway so at least I haven't spent too much on something they might throw away. I get things like boardshorts for the boys and thongs, books for the book worms, girls all like jewellery and funky nail polish and Smiggle is always popular. I'm half way through this job. I think I can knock all my shopping off in another 2 days.

 

[battymum]

My DH collects old bmx bikes and is often buying bits and pieces off ebay - Last year a package turned up a week or so before Christmas - so I wrapped it and put it under the tree for him! ....Shopping done!!!

What I didnt know was, in the meantime he was complaining to the seller about his package not turning up!!!

 

[WAMUMOF4]

DH fly's out in the morning and wont be home till the 23rd so we went shopping today and i am happy to say we got almost everything today the kids will not be happy no playstation3 we keep telling them its not on the list but they just wont listen. I must say the shops were so busy and It's starting to feel a lot like Christmas I think my Christmas spirit has finally flown in Happy shopping

Battymum that is sooo funny i hope the ebay seller had a sense of humor

 

[australiankaren]

hey

3 little words...

My Little Pony

so off to the shops at lunchtime...wish me luck

baaaaa humbug