Christmas Piles

[DVCLiz]

Well, that could mean anything, couldn't it?? In this case, though, it means -

Do you compare the overall size of the separate pile of gifts for each of your children? Do you feel you have to even things up? Tonight was my annual "drag it all out, see how big each pile is, and even it up with a few additions/subtractions". This year it all evened out pretty nicely - I thought DD13 had a much bigger pile, but DD18 has pulled even with the addition of some clothes all wrapped individually.

I like our piles to look even, even if I don't spend the same amount of money on each child. It just has to "feel" equal to me, know what I mean?

 

[luvmy2sams]

I blame this on my mother. She always (and still does) makes sure that everyone has an equal amount of presents and that a comparable amount of money has been spent. I do this, too, especially since DD7 must count her presents and make sure she has at least as many as DS3 has. I actually called my mom from WalMart the other day and told her she was running me into the poor house. I found a football for DS and DNephew, so I had to get one for DD7 so she wouldn't feel left out and the balance would be maintained.

It's exhausting!

 

[disneymama73]

Yep, I always make sure all 3 DDs have the same amount of presents. Believe me, DDs 5 and 7 keep track.

 

[Alice28]

Yep, my boys are starting to keep track. I know I spent within $10 of each other, and I think they have the same amount of gifts from DH and I. About 6 plus stockings. I think I spent about $25 more on DD, but that's cause I got her an outfit from Gymbo- I don't think my boys will be complaining they didn't get an outfit. I am now having that last moment of panic where I want to go out and each get them one more thing, but I have spent all the $$ I allotted, so I guess I'm done. I *think* my Aunt and then my BIL might send them a gift card, so if it comes before Christmas, I will go out and buy the last things on their lists. We shall see.

 

[JennaTX]

Thanks for reminding me! I still need to compare the number of gifts for the kids! Tomorrow night is wrap night. I hope they equal out!!!!

 

[dreamcometrue]

I have the same amount of gifts for both kids. I haven't figured it out money wise, but I'd say they are probably pretty even. The $$ doesn't matter to them, as long as they both get the same amount of presents

Which brings up another question...do you all make "piles" for each child under the tree or do you mix the presents up and spread them randomly under the tree? I put them out randomly, the kids have so much fun Christmas morning seperating the gifts!

 

[KerriSue]

Everything under the tree is hodge podge. No piles at all. Ive said all along that with my kids ITS QUANTITY NOT QUALITY Spoiled kids.

Merry Christmas Everyone
Kerri

 

[irishbosoxfan]

Here each child has the same amount of presents as the other--that way on Christmas morning they each open one at the same time---We also just toss stuff under the tree in no particular order so DH sits there like "Ok we got one for Boo lets find one for Rina" then when they each have one in hand it's go time---It makes the unwrapping time last a little longer!!

 

[disneygals]

Yes, Santa and Mom try to make things even visually and $$$$. The gifts are randomly placed, but the piles can be compared after opening.

When my 3 girls were little, Santa would bring 3 of everything! They'd be opening a gift and eyeballing their sister's and saying where's mine like that!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Oh yea..we got the girls stuff out and sorted it. Still have to wrap it.

 

[U2_rocks!]

We give each child 1 present from us, 1 from Santa and 1 from the dog. The rest are from other people. The gifts are scattered under the tree in no particular order. The kids take turns opening gifts.

Our kids won't have the same number of gifts overall though, because there are a few gifts from school friends, and this year Katie got more gifts from friends than Logan and Dani did. Dani also got a gift from Santa at her preschool party that the others didn't get, though she left it at school - that reminds me, I have to call and arrange to come and pick it up from the school!

In terms of gift value - I try to do roughly the same per child. I don't count the cost necessarily, but if one kid is getting a bike or something special like that, I try to make sure that the others get a special gift too, not just something small. This year my parents are giving the big gifts - they have more money to spend this year than we do!

 

[jrmasm]

Nope. They get what they get and they better love it!

 

[golfgal]

We try to get an equal number of gifts but don't really spend an equal amount necessarily. They usually get on "big" gift and a few smaller ones. One year DS11 wanted a nerf hoop, that is all he asked for, he got 2 of them and thought that was great. DS14 that same year got a couple big lego sets and thought it was great. I think this year the prices are pretty close though.

DS14 will get some smaller sized gifts then the twins but I will use deceptive wrapping and his pile might LOOK bigger.

 

[noodleknitter]

My older kids want more expensive items, and thus have smaller piles. My 2 youngest are still into legos...they have big piles!

We go by cost rather than number. No one seems to mind if the have gotten their heart's desire, anyway. They are just happy with what they received. We do try to shoot for that one gift that is the true desire, and the rest is just fluff. Such as the 9 lazor guns so that they can run around shooting at one another...what was I thinking...?

BTW, kinda' glad the this isn't a thread about reindeers on the roof....

 

[DVCLiz]

My older kids want more expensive items, and thus have smaller piles. My 2 youngest are still into legos...they have big piles!

We go by cost rather than number. No one seems to mind if the have gotten their heart's desire, anyway. They are just happy with what they received. We do try to shoot for that one gift that is the true desire, and the rest is just fluff. Such as the 9 lazor guns so that they can run around shooting at one another...what was I thinking...?

BTW, kinda' glad the this isn't a thread about reindeers on the roof....

Isn't it funny how people do such different things??

At my house, Santa wraps each girl's gifts in different paper and puts them in the two chairs in front of the fireplace, one chair for each girl. This is a direct holdover from my childhood, when Santa did the same thing for my brother and me. The overflow of gifts is on the floor, and the stockings, which are too heavy filled to stay hanging by the chimney with care, and laid on the hearth. The gifts under the tree are family gifts to each other, and my brother's gifts to each of us, plus the gifts to me from the girls and to the girls from each other, fill that space entirely.

Oh, and Santa doesn't put tags on his gifts at my house. Each girl knows her traditional chair very well!!!

 

[noodleknitter]

Oh, and Santa doesn't put tags on his gifts at my house. Each girl knows her traditional chair very well!!!

my in-laws are similar! They wrap in different wrapping paper and everyone has a box of treasures. And it is a free-for-all.

We were one at a time openers.

It is funny how each of us does what is special in our own families. I love reading what other's do!

 

[PixiePop]

I only have one child, so I don't have to worry about it. But, my mom has always and still does gets each person the same number/cost of gifts.

 

[TheGoofster]

Lets see.
Same number of presents? - yep
Seperate piles under the tree - yep
Same amount spent - nope (my son always wants more electronic stuff,
which of course costs more, so we usually get a couple of cheap dollar
store stuff to make up the difference)
Do we open one present at a time - yep
Do the kids keep track - yep, yep, yep!!!!
Am I guilty of not teaching me kids it doesn't matter - yep (although I could
probably pass some of the blame on to my mom, who got me started on
doing it this way by doing the same to my brother and I)
Does it bother me? - nope. Bring on Christmas!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mickeyboat]

Same number of gifts? yes

Same dollar value? yes, pretty much

Almost the same gifts for each? yes - but this year I didn't stick to the two of everything rule. The girls are really developing their own little personalities, and are starting to espress their likes and dislikes better, so they are getting several things not the same.

I uaually let the kids unwrap their presents from their grandparents on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, they get their presents from Mom and Dad and Santa, which are all spread out under the tree. The stockings are usually laying on the couch. Santa's paper is different than Mom and Dad's, and all gifts have a tag.

Denae

 

[binny]

Am I guilty of not teaching me kids it doesn't matter - yep (although I could
probably pass some of the blame on to my mom, who got me started on
doing it this way by doing the same to my brother and I)
Does it bother me? - nope. Bring on Christmas!!!!!!!!!!

I do the same number of presents for each child.
presents are scattered under the tree
Santa doesnt wrap, in fact one of "Santa's helpers" writes the tags so they cant recognise the writing.
Same amount spent: very close to it
Kids open one presesnt at a time we go in a circle and even parents take a turn and EVERYONE says thank you to the person who sent it. We also call the far away relatives at the end so we can thank them.
Do the kids keep track? The older one, probably, though that isnt my first concern.