Christmas Shopping '09

[Mndisneygirl]

Well, I baked my first batch of Christmas cookies for the freezer today. Snickerdoodles. Still debating what else to make. I like things that I can freeze.
Any suggestions???

I finally got DD6 to tell me what she was going to ask for from Santa - a Littlest Pet Shop "house type thing" . They have the Adoption Center on sale at Target this week, so I guess I'll be heading there on my lunch break tomorrow. The girls are almost done. I have about two more things each for them.

 

[SCHBR'smom]

I was very excited yesterday. TRU had the Imaginarium musical activity table on sale for $29.99, $10 off! The baby will love it!

 

[klacey1]

Those look WONDERFUL!

Those are adorable!

We always host Thanksgiving dinner and in the past I've always been the only one that ends up eating dessert . So I will make a traditional pumpkin pie for me and a chocolate pie (just jello pudding in a graham cracker crust) for the kids.

Thanks! They should be good-- I'll post a picture once I make mine!

As far as the poster who wanted to make X-mas cookies that freeze, thumbprints always freeze well for me!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Thanks! They should be good-- I'll post a picture once I make mine!

As far as the poster who wanted to make X-mas cookies that freeze, thumbprints always freeze well for me!!

That was me - Thanks! Maybe I'll try those.

 

[cjackearl]

I've enjoyed this thread so much! I've borrowed ideas for gifts and baking. I'd definitely stealing the Chex Mix idea! As for shopping, I've not done too much yet. I gave most of my good ideas for the kids to grandparents.

My plans for:

DH- We've agreed not to buy much for each other. I preordered Star Trek from Walmart for $10 and plan to make him a basket of pine cone fire starters.

DD (12)-Ugg knock offs from Costco, icoaster (TRU Black Friday), an outfit or two, DS game, craft kit, setting for her pick a pearl

She told me recently she'd also like a Kewpie doll!! Anyone know a good source?

DD(10)-an outfit or two from Justice, Lego family home, spa kits, nail art kit, DS game, electric blanket, Justice snuggly, setting for her pick a pearl

DS(4)-Geotrax timbertown railway(awesome Kmart deal!), 2nd RC train and extra track, game, spy "stuff", maybe a new Leapster game, Air Hogs RC car (is he too young?)

I'm doing a family basket with personalized cocoa mugs, ornament to comemorate year (this year its Disney!), fuzzy socks or slipper socks, couple of blankets to match our by then newly painted basement, Wii game(s), and game, probably Blokus

We usually wait until closer to Christmas to buy the majority of the kids' stuff because they are notorious mind changers. Stockings usually consist of $5 movies, small gift cards to places like McDs and the local coffee shop for smoothies or hot chocolate, candy, undies and perfume, lip balm, lotion, etc.
Last year I ordered a sample kit from Burts Bees and split that up.

I'm considering doing small baskets or boxes for each kid with some of their favorite groceries that I don't usually buy, like Pop tarts, their favorite pop, Aunt Jemima syrup (I know, weird), sugary cereal, etc.

 

[Graciesmom77]

I LOVE the idea of the family basket! I think that would be such a fun thing. I think I am going to ask my husband (who is working in Florida until Christmas) to pick out some stuff as well, so we can both add things and surprise eachother as well as the kids. How fun.

I bouht a few more things yesterday. I ordered my sis the peacoat from Target that they had on sale and my 6 month old the Fisher Price Purse that sings. I also got my 8 year old another top and so I got free shipping. I LOVE free shipping. With my hubby being gone and the new baby, it is sometimes a pain to go to the store, so this is so helpful.

I have been checking out the black friday ads. Toys R Us and Meijer both have some good things that I would like to get. I think its cool that TRU will be opening up at Midnight. I can't wait.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I've enjoyed this thread so much! I've borrowed ideas for gifts and baking. I'd definitely stealing the Chex Mix idea! As for shopping, I've not done too much yet. I gave most of my good ideas for the kids to grandparents.


She told me recently she'd also like a Kewpie doll!! Anyone know a good source? I would look on Ebay


I'm doing a family basket with personalized cocoa mugs, ornament to comemorate year (this year its Disney!),

I'm considering doing small baskets or boxes for each kid with some of their favorite groceries that I don't usually buy, like Pop tarts, their favorite pop, Aunt Jemima syrup (I know, weird), sugary cereal, etc.

glad you found us!!!! Love the family basket...I like the sugary junk food idea too...we try not to eat a lot of super junky or sugary stuff, so holiday time would be fun to give it as a gift!!!! Isn't the chex mix gonna be a life saver? I am soooo excited!!!!

With my hubby being gone and the new baby, it is sometimes a pain to go to the store, so this is so helpful.

I have been checking out the black friday ads. Toys R Us and Meijer both have some good things that I would like to get. I think its cool that TRU will be opening up at Midnight. I can't wait.

I can see how that would be such a great thing for you to minimize your time shopping with your kids without anyone to help you. Glad you are getting it done and you seem to be feeling better!!! I know you are so excited to see your hubby!!!!!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Well, I baked my first batch of Christmas cookies for the freezer today. Snickerdoodles. Still debating what else to make. I like things that I can freeze.
Any suggestions???

I finally got DD6 to tell me what she was going to ask for from Santa - a Littlest Pet Shop "house type thing" . They have the Adoption Center on sale at Target this week, so I guess I'll be heading there on my lunch break tomorrow. The girls are almost done. I have about two more things each for them.

Not sure on the freezing thing....I remember when I was a kid my Granny made TONS of Christmas candy, divinity, and cookies.... I know she froze a lot of it..but I think it was the cookies...Oh, what I wouldn't give for just a snippet of her divinity!!! No one else's can even come close I might have to start trying to bake that....I have never tried it because we have sooo much humidity here it just doesn't set well. That might be why she made it early too.....if she had a dry day she probably knew it wouldn't last long! Ha!!!!! DD loves those LPS houses too! That is one thing she told her Nana she wanted...or a new LPSOnline thing...she likes the mouse and the rabbit!! they are cute!!!

 

[bas71873]

I'm considering doing small baskets or boxes for each kid with some of their favorite groceries that I don't usually buy, like Pop tarts, their favorite pop, Aunt Jemima syrup (I know, weird), sugary cereal, etc.

That's a cute idea!! Filing it away.

 

[jacksmomma]

I had to chime in and say how thrilled I am with an awesome deal I got today! I am stuck home all week with the kids (poor ds11 and ds8 have swine flu, but are recovering very well!) and haven't been able to holiday shop or shop for Thanksgiving. I've been getting antsy!

Anyway I saw online that toysrus was selling their Kota the dinosaur for $79 today from 3-11 only! Normally it sells for well over two hundred! I already got ds4 Spike the dinosaur but I had fallen in love with this a few weeks ago, but $290 was way more than I could spend.

So, I called my SIL who picks up my niece from school right by the toysrus and she said she would stop there at 3:30 and get me one if they still had them. I called toysrus and spoke to a salesperson who agreed to hold one for her until 3:30! She said they had five, and she would put one aside at customer service until 4:00. So, SIL swung by and picked it up for me! I love, love, love my SIL....she is truly my BF!

So, I can't wait until Christmas morning when my sweet baby sees both Spike and Kota under the tree! He is dinosaur obsessed....thanks to Dinosaur Train! And yesterday I ordered all three of my boys the Magformers Todays Special Value from QVC. So, I'm pretty close to being finished! And so thankful for family and strangers who take time to help someone out!

Kota is great! I got him last Jan. at Target on clearance for $65. DS just loves him. I am glad we are not the only Dinosaur Train watchers. I like the show because it is accurate and not dumbed down. I was just typing with, "The Trooadon Night Train" song in my head!

I got a great deal over the weekend. DS wants a pottery wheel. I found one at Micheal's and had a 50% coupon! Plus, DS's pottery instructor told us that he would give us clay and fire anything that DS makes for free. Awesome! One more thing crossed off the list!

 

[jacksmomma]

DS(4)-Geotrax timbertown railway(awesome Kmart deal!)

What/When was this deal?!

 

[jstbcuz]

One step closer to being done. Just bought refurbished 16gb ipod nanos from apple store for my kids. Will get them a clock, docking station or something to go with them. Any suggestions??

 

[cjackearl]

What/When was this deal?!

Last weekend Kmart had a two day sale (Fri and Sat) and the Timbertown RC Railway was $29.99/regularly $59.99!! The airplane thing was on sale also.

For any of you planning on making the Chex mixes, Walmart has Chex cereals on sale for $2/box, which is less than their store brand. Ours was all out of Wheat Chex, though.

 

[jacksmomma]

Last weekend Kmart had a two day sale (Fri and Sat) and the Timbertown RC Railway was $29.99/regularly $59.99!! The airplane thing was on sale also.

For any of you planning on making the Chex mixes, Walmart has Chex cereals on sale for $2/box, which is less than their store brand. Ours was all out of Wheat Chex, though.

Oh darn! I missed it and this is the number one thing on DS's list. Grrr!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I've enjoyed this thread so much! I've borrowed ideas for gifts and baking. I'd definitely stealing the Chex Mix idea! As for shopping, I've not done too much yet. I gave most of my good ideas for the kids to grandparents.

My plans for:

DH- We've agreed not to buy much for each other. I preordered Star Trek from Walmart for $10 and plan to make him a basket of pine cone fire starters.

DD (12)-Ugg knock offs from Costco, icoaster (TRU Black Friday), an outfit or two, DS game, craft kit, setting for her pick a pearl

She told me recently she'd also like a Kewpie doll!! Anyone know a good source?



DD(10)-an outfit or two from Justice, Lego family home, spa kits, nail art kit, DS game, electric blanket, Justice snuggly, setting for her pick a pearl

DS(4)-Geotrax timbertown railway(awesome Kmart deal!), 2nd RC train and extra track, game, spy "stuff", maybe a new Leapster game, Air Hogs RC car (is he too young?)

I'm doing a family basket with personalized cocoa mugs, ornament to comemorate year (this year its Disney!), fuzzy socks or slipper socks, couple of blankets to match our by then newly painted basement, Wii game(s), and game, probably Blokus

We usually wait until closer to Christmas to buy the majority of the kids' stuff because they are notorious mind changers. Stockings usually consist of $5 movies, small gift cards to places like McDs and the local coffee shop for smoothies or hot chocolate, candy, undies and perfume, lip balm, lotion, etc.
Last year I ordered a sample kit from Burts Bees and split that up.

I'm considering doing small baskets or boxes for each kid with some of their favorite groceries that I don't usually buy, like Pop tarts, their favorite pop, Aunt Jemima syrup (I know, weird), sugary cereal, etc.

These are some great ideas!

I'm almost done with my shopping. I found a microfleece throw on clearance at walmart for $5 for the middle school bus driver and bought DD13 a new camera (her brother broke hers so this might not be for Christmas) and a microscope. I bought DH a tool called a ReadyWrench that has a bunch of different sockets on one tool.

Now I just need a couple more books, a pair of pajamas for DS10 and to figure out a family gift for my BIL, his wife and their 4yo dd. We love them to death, but don't see them often so I usually get them a membership, but I can't think of a new place this year. Anyone from the Knoxville, TN area have an idea?

Oh and I'm furious with my brother right now. He and I agreed no more adult gifts so we just buy for the kids, but we live in different states. So this year I ordered his kids/grandkids a gift from Cheryl's Cookies. I ordered it yesterday to be delivered Dec. 15th. Well, I talked to my sister today and she told me he moved about a week ago!!! And he hasn't told me!! He's still in the same town and everything, but I had it sent to his old address.

 

[cjackearl]

Oh darn! I missed it and this is the number one thing on DS's list. Grrr!

Ah man, sorry! Hopefully another deal will come up before Christmas.

 

[thebeesknees]

Oh and I'm furious with my brother right now. He and I agreed no more adult gifts so we just buy for the kids, but we live in different states. So this year I ordered his kids/grandkids a gift from Cheryl's Cookies. I ordered it yesterday to be delivered Dec. 15th. Well, I talked to my sister today and she told me he moved about a week ago!!! And he hasn't told me!! He's still in the same town and everything, but I had it sent to his old address.

Oh no! Can you call and get the order changed in time? I ordered a Kodak book about a month ago and it never showed up - when I went to double check online when they shipped it, I saw that it had gone to my old default address from 3 years ago! Grrr. Kodak was great about it when I called. They said they'd send another one no charge to my new address.

 

[cjackearl]

He MOVED without telling you?! I'd be angry too.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Oh no! Can you call and get the order changed in time? I ordered a Kodak book about a month ago and it never showed up - when I went to double check online when they shipped it, I saw that it had gone to my old default address from 3 years ago! Grrr. Kodak was great about it when I called. They said they'd send another one no charge to my new address.

Hopefully I can, I still have to get ahold of him to get his new address.

He MOVED without telling you?! I'd be angry too.

Yep, he sure did, I still can't believe it. And he bought a house so it had to have been somewhat PLANNED, kwim?

 

[RMulieri]

I am so irked...I broke down and bought the american girl bitty baby twins and paid $26 shipping...What comes today? ...a free shipping email.