NHdisneylover
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2007
Hi All--as per usual lately, I am sooooo very far behind on the thread ( I do read, but having time to respond--well it just ain't happinin' these days
) So here I go trying to catch up again (and missing lots I am sure).
Michael: I am not sure what type of advice you are lookign for about Santa. The concept itself is so prevalent in movies, books, etc I think many people (us included) never really explained it to a kid, they just picked up the idea through osmosis and then the appearance of gifts from Santa confirmed this as "real." Oddly, even though David's family is originally from Iowa and mine from Texas, we both grew up handling Christmas gifts the same way, so it was easy to decide how to handle them with our kids. Here is what we do:
All gifts from family, friends, etc are wrapped, labled and under the tree from whenever they arrive at the hosue. We always open all of these on Christmas Eve after church and dinner out. This is a long, slow process because we only open one gift at a time so everyone sees what everyone is getting. But, we really enjoy this mellow time. We are genrally in our jammies, the tree lights are on (why we like doing it on Christmas Eve--the lights are sooo much prettier), we sip hot cider and cocoa, etc. We set up all the new loot on the kitchen counter (and the floor around it if there are big things) and set up cookies and milk (and carrots for the reindeer) on the coffee table before putting the kids to bed. After they are asleep we set up the Santa gifts. In our house Santa always brings only one gift per child--but it is something really "showy" or that they really, really want. It is never wrapped. Instead it is all set up in front of the now presentless tree, so they see what it is as soon as they walk into the room. This is great when the kids want something that requires lots of assembly and it can be hard for them to wait while it is assembled. Some of the gifts over the years have been things like The Bitty Twins (in their stroller) from American Girl, a trap drum set, a smurf village (all set up with mushroom houses and smurfs walking here and there), a playmobile Egyptian set (again all set up with the people in poses, etc.), etc. This year it is actaully one thing for both kids. It will be a karaoke set. To make it more visually awesome "under" the tree we are getting mike stands and will have them up with the mikes and a few karaoke-G CDs laid out in front, etc. Santa also fillls stockings (Santa could LEAVE the stocking the first time he visits). Genreally sometime after breakfast (we have cookies and fruit for breakfast this one time a year) the novelty of the big gifts wears off enough for them to remember their stockings and they dig thorugh those (yep, David and I get stockings too!). Anyway, that is how it works at OUR house. I am always amazed at the variety of ways it happens. I hope you find something which works well for you--I am sure you will
By the way, Rio will be 9 this Christmas and Marika 11 the day after. Rio still totally believes in Santa. Marika has started to ask about it a few times this year (actually over the summer-not recently) but always stopped herself mid sentences and said never mind and walked away. So, I guess she really knows, but she just doesn't want to know yet which is okay with me too.
Brandie--Too funny with your shopping for Jeremy
a catapult
We did see the rock star set at Best Buy this weekend--I have to say it looked fun
Erik--I guess Wicked better make it's way into Rio's stocking
I love him too much to risk losing him to you on a permanent basis! Now, if you and Jason want to borrow him for a week or two. . . 
Kimberly--I made buck-eyes for poker night this weekend. They were a BIG hit. And I only ate 5. Thinking pink, thinking pink
And yes, Marika is a fancy cheese fiend ask Erik about snagging plates full of the stuff from Palos and bringing them to her at dinner in the dining room (with NO olives ). That is one of the many reasons she 
him so! I still have to find time to get to that shop and buy those certificates without her in tow.
Crissi and RKandMJsMommy--Congrats on scoring those tickets
Erika--Yep, it is frustrating having not enough ideas to get the kids this year (and we only get them one thing each from us for Christmas and B-days--plus Santa gift--but grandparetns also buy and they just don't want much), but I am mostly thrilled they are not "gimmee" kind of kids. They both genuinely like to get clothes (IF they suit their styles), books etc. I don't know what we did right (I think we just got lucky). Actually this year, they will have 2 gifts frmo us under the Christmas tree. We are totally cheapskates most of the year (how we afford DCL) and do no splurge on little things much. SO, mostly to be funny--but they will really like it, I got Rio 6 pack of IBC Cream Soda and Marika a 6 pack of the Root Beer and wrapped those up
Then again, if I can't think of anything else, maybe they'll just get those
Hello to everyone else I have not responded directly to. I enjoy reading EVRYONE'S posts.
) So here I go trying to catch up again (and missing lots I am sure).Michael: I am not sure what type of advice you are lookign for about Santa. The concept itself is so prevalent in movies, books, etc I think many people (us included) never really explained it to a kid, they just picked up the idea through osmosis and then the appearance of gifts from Santa confirmed this as "real." Oddly, even though David's family is originally from Iowa and mine from Texas, we both grew up handling Christmas gifts the same way, so it was easy to decide how to handle them with our kids. Here is what we do:
All gifts from family, friends, etc are wrapped, labled and under the tree from whenever they arrive at the hosue. We always open all of these on Christmas Eve after church and dinner out. This is a long, slow process because we only open one gift at a time so everyone sees what everyone is getting. But, we really enjoy this mellow time. We are genrally in our jammies, the tree lights are on (why we like doing it on Christmas Eve--the lights are sooo much prettier), we sip hot cider and cocoa, etc. We set up all the new loot on the kitchen counter (and the floor around it if there are big things) and set up cookies and milk (and carrots for the reindeer) on the coffee table before putting the kids to bed. After they are asleep we set up the Santa gifts. In our house Santa always brings only one gift per child--but it is something really "showy" or that they really, really want. It is never wrapped. Instead it is all set up in front of the now presentless tree, so they see what it is as soon as they walk into the room. This is great when the kids want something that requires lots of assembly and it can be hard for them to wait while it is assembled. Some of the gifts over the years have been things like The Bitty Twins (in their stroller) from American Girl, a trap drum set, a smurf village (all set up with mushroom houses and smurfs walking here and there), a playmobile Egyptian set (again all set up with the people in poses, etc.), etc. This year it is actaully one thing for both kids. It will be a karaoke set. To make it more visually awesome "under" the tree we are getting mike stands and will have them up with the mikes and a few karaoke-G CDs laid out in front, etc. Santa also fillls stockings (Santa could LEAVE the stocking the first time he visits). Genreally sometime after breakfast (we have cookies and fruit for breakfast this one time a year) the novelty of the big gifts wears off enough for them to remember their stockings and they dig thorugh those (yep, David and I get stockings too!). Anyway, that is how it works at OUR house. I am always amazed at the variety of ways it happens. I hope you find something which works well for you--I am sure you will
By the way, Rio will be 9 this Christmas and Marika 11 the day after. Rio still totally believes in Santa. Marika has started to ask about it a few times this year (actually over the summer-not recently) but always stopped herself mid sentences and said never mind and walked away. So, I guess she really knows, but she just doesn't want to know yet which is okay with me too.Brandie--Too funny with your shopping for Jeremy
a catapult We did see the rock star set at Best Buy this weekend--I have to say it looked fun Erik--I guess Wicked better make it's way into Rio's stocking
I love him too much to risk losing him to you on a permanent basis! Now, if you and Jason want to borrow him for a week or two. . . Kimberly--I made buck-eyes for poker night this weekend. They were a BIG hit. And I only ate 5. Thinking pink, thinking pink
And yes, Marika is a fancy cheese fiend ask Erik about snagging plates full of the stuff from Palos and bringing them to her at dinner in the dining room (with NO olives ). That is one of the many reasons she him so! I still have to find time to get to that shop and buy those certificates without her in tow.Crissi and RKandMJsMommy--Congrats on scoring those tickets
Erika--Yep, it is frustrating having not enough ideas to get the kids this year (and we only get them one thing each from us for Christmas and B-days--plus Santa gift--but grandparetns also buy and they just don't want much), but I am mostly thrilled they are not "gimmee" kind of kids. They both genuinely like to get clothes (IF they suit their styles), books etc. I don't know what we did right (I think we just got lucky). Actually this year, they will have 2 gifts frmo us under the Christmas tree. We are totally cheapskates most of the year (how we afford DCL) and do no splurge on little things much. SO, mostly to be funny--but they will really like it, I got Rio 6 pack of IBC Cream Soda and Marika a 6 pack of the Root Beer and wrapped those up
Then again, if I can't think of anything else, maybe they'll just get those Hello to everyone else I have not responded directly to. I enjoy reading EVRYONE'S posts.
I thought there was one on Saturday the 15th
.
for the celebration and a ton of happiness for the couple!
DH & I have a "hold" on a room and when we get on the Magic on Saturday, we will be putting a Deposit down.. 
