Presents Questions for People With Kids

[MarkBarbieri]

1. Do you try to get the same number of presents per kid or are they OK with a present count imbalance?
2. Do you try to spend the same per kid or does it often end up uneven because one kid gets something unusually costly?
3. About how many presents do you think is optimal for your kids to unwrap? How many is too few or too much?
4. As your kids get older, do you find yourself buying fewer presents because things for older kids are much more expensive?
5. Is it a present opening free-for-all? Do you regulate the pace? Do you restrict it to one present opening at a time?
6. How do you track who got what from whom for thank you note purposes?
7. How do you record the events? Video, pictures, or just enjoy and remember?
8. Do you open gifts Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, or a combination?
9. Does Santa come to your kid's home or do you take the kids somewhere for Christmas?
10. What time in the morning does the present opening usually start?

 

[GingerJay]

I have three who are pretty close to the same age, so yes, we do try to get an equal number per kid---but I've never seen them actually count their presents and compare with the others, so we may be making more of a big deal of it than they are.

As for numbers, we generally just shop and see how many we have and then try to equal it out- some years they get more, and some years less, but presents do get more expensive once you start adding in electronics

At our house, it is very much a free-for-all- months of shopping and planning, and wrapping and hiding go down the drain in about 5 seconds and then its a mess of wrapping paper and satisfied grins

We take a slew of pictures and sometimes video- sometimes both its really fun

Hope you have a Merry Christmas!!

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Answers in bold

1. Do you try to get the same number of presents per kid or are they OK with a present count imbalance? - Don't even try - No issues in our house
2. Do you try to spend the same per kid or does it often end up uneven because one kid gets something unusually costly? - Often uneven - 3 year age difference
3. About how many presents do you think is optimal for your kids to unwrap? How many is too few or too much? - Never thought about it, but we try not to spoil them - no number comes to mind
4. As your kids get older, do you find yourself buying fewer presents because things for older kids are much more expensive? - Yes - the things they want/need are more expensive
5. Is it a present opening free-for-all? Do you regulate the pace? Do you restrict it to one present opening at a time? - Free for all, but the boys are expected to stop and thank the giver after each present not from Santa is opened.
6. How do you track who got what from whom for thank you note purposes? We do not do thank you notes for Christmas. Everyone is at our house (more than 40 people) and the hugs happen in real time, as the presents are opened.
7. How do you record the events? Video, pictures, or just enjoy and remember? - Some of each - video and still photos - but I stopped doing the picture taking because I felt disconnected when taking pictures. The Moms do it now.
8. Do you open gifts Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, or a combination? All on Christmas morning, after we eat breakfast together. The buildup is pretty awesome.
9. Does Santa come to your kid's home or do you take the kids somewhere for Christmas? - Our home, and it is packed.
10. What time in the morning does the present opening usually start? - Around 10AM.

 

[DawnM]

We spend the same amount of money. They are old enough to understand that some presents cost way more and will mean fewer gifts.

We wait until everyone is up and open gifts in turns. I love to watch them open them! In DH's family it was a free for all and it has been a bit of an argument for years, but I finally have won out!

I take still shots if I remember!

We don't do Santa.

Dawn

 

[The Mystery Machine]

1. Do you try to get the same number of presents per kid or are they OK with a present count imbalance?
2. Do you try to spend the same per kid or does it often end up uneven because one kid gets something unusually costly?
3. About how many presents do you think is optimal for your kids to unwrap? How many is too few or too much?
4. As your kids get older, do you find yourself buying fewer presents because things for older kids are much more expensive?
5. Is it a present opening free-for-all? Do you regulate the pace? Do you restrict it to one present opening at a time?
6. How do you track who got what from whom for thank you note purposes?
7. How do you record the events? Video, pictures, or just enjoy and remember?
8. Do you open gifts Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, or a combination?
9. Does Santa come to your kid's home or do you take the kids somewhere for Christmas?
10. What time in the morning does the present opening usually start?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

[*]Do you try to get the same number of presents per kid or are they OK with a present count imbalance?
Roughly. It seems to even out, usually. (Ours are the same age.)


[*]Do you try to spend the same per kid or does it often end up uneven because one kid gets something unusually costly?
Roughly. Same thing, it usually evens out.


[*]About how many presents do you think is optimal for your kids to unwrap? How many is too few or too much?
It depends what the gifts are. But a several gifts and stocking stuffers is probably optimal, at home. They get gifts from family at other gatherings as well.


[*]As your kids get older, do you find yourself buying fewer presents because things for older kids are much more expensive?
Somewhat.


[*]Is it a present opening free-for-all? Do you regulate the pace? Do you restrict it to one present opening at a time?
We all open one at a time, at home. Family gatherings, too, but more frenetic.


[*]How do you track who got what from whom for thank you note purposes?
One of us (kids, us) remembers. We also keep cards and gifts together.


[*]How do you record the events? Video, pictures, or just enjoy and remember?
Pics, of course. Some video, but less as kids got older. Should do more, actually.


[*]Do you open gifts Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, or a combination?
One gift on Eve. The rest in the morning.


[*]Does Santa come to your kid's home or do you take the kids somewhere for Christmas?
Both. But kids are older now so they know we are Santa. Which actually makes it easier.


[*]What time in the morning does the present opening usually start?
Whenever we get up. Coffee must be brewed and camera ready.

 

[LuLuO]

1. Do you try to get the same number of presents per kid or are they OK with a present count imbalance? We try to keep it even.
2. Do you try to spend the same per kid or does it often end up uneven because one kid gets something unusually costly? We spend about the same, give or take a few bucks.
3. About how many presents do you think is optimal for your kids to unwrap? How many is too few or too much? My kids are little but we have four things each, plus two big gifts from Santa that are joint gifts, and then a couple of stocking stuffers from Santa.
4. As your kids get older, do you find yourself buying fewer presents because things for older kids are much more expensive? I assume that as they get older we will decrease the numer of gifts as the cost of their hobbies increases.
5. Is it a present opening free-for-all? Do you regulate the pace? Do you restrict it to one present opening at a time? At home we take turns opening one present each.
6. How do you track who got what from whom for thank you note purposes? We used to do thank you notes for Christmas but have decided with our other family members that it is not necessary. For birthdays, one person keeps track in a notebook.
7. How do you record the events? Video, pictures, or just enjoy and remember? Photos and video.
8. Do you open gifts Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, or a combination? We do both days because we get together with different family members throughout each of those days.
9. Does Santa come to your kid's home or do you take the kids somewhere for Christmas? Santa comes to our house.
10. What time in the morning does the present opening usually start? Whenever they get up. Usually around 7am

 

[taximomfor4]

1. Do you try to get the same number of presents per kid or are they OK with a present count imbalance? I don't try to be Even Steven. I think it all comes out in the wash over the years.
2. Do you try to spend the same per kid or does it often end up uneven because one kid gets something unusually costly? I spend between $70-140/kid. It isn't always the same kid getting more $ spent on them, either. Last year it was the oldest. This year, it'll likely be the youngest.
3. About how many presents do you think is optimal for your kids to unwrap? 4 How many is too few or too much? 1 and 10
4. As your kids get older, do you find yourself buying fewer presents because things for older kids are much more expensive? No, we don't buy the expensive gifts anyway. Most expensive thing is the DSi that youngest dd is getting
5. Is it a present opening free-for-all? yes Do you regulate the pace? I pass out the gifts, but try to not do it too quickly. Not one at a time, but not too fast.Do you restrict it to one present opening at a time? Nope...then the kid with the least # of gifts would be sitting there with nothing to open.
6. How do you track who got what from whom for thank you note purposes?We only give token gifts to the children under 18. Just very close family anyway, so all Thank You's in person. The kids are on the honor system to do it.
7. How do you record the events? stepmom is into getting everyone to pose for photos. Everyone wishes she would just take candid shots and quit halting the visiting!Video, pictures, or just enjoy and remember? I prefer to enjoy and remember, instead of photos.
8. Do you open gifts Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, or a combination? with the aunts/uncles, it's Christmas Eve. Also, new pj's for everyone to unwrap and wear to bed on Christmas Eve. With Grandma and with our own household, its Christmas morning.
9. Does Santa come to your kid's home or do you take the kids somewhere for Christmas?We stay home. When the younger 3 were all still napping, I had to put my foot down to stay home. Everyone is welcome for any meal (and all 3 meals if they want), I will cook all the food. I just had to be here to put the kids down for naps. They are a little older now, but very few family members are left so those few still come over my house.
10. What time in the morning does the present opening usually start? the kids can open their stockings as soon as they are awake. They can't wake us up until at least 7 30 or 8-ish. Then we do gifts right away.

Answers in bold

 

[Pea-n-Me]

That's Mark. We should be thankful he didn't get too techincal on us.

 

[PatsGirl]

We open our gifts at home around 7 am. Each child had their own bedroom tree (a family tradition) that would "hold" the gifts too big for the stocking but too cheap for the tree, like coloring books, barbie dolls, CDs, that sort of thing. I tried to keep it around $20. FWIW, this tradition started as a way to keep kids in their rooms until the sun came up. They could unwrap whenever they awoke and could play until sunrise but could not come out of their rooms. I remember my sister and I getting up around 3 am, opening our tree, then falling asleep among our gifts Didn't work too well with my kids, being 8 years apart ~ who wants to unwrap and play with gifts by yourself?

I digress...First in order is the stockings after the coffee is brewed. I keep the kids to 7-9 gifts each and under $250. I always buy one BIG gift, usually the one thing they really want (bike, DS, this year its a Swiss military watch for DS and a pair of snowblades for DD) and a couple of other medium gifts from their list, and then a few less expensive items. We open the gifts one at a time.

The only gift opened prior to Christmas morning is their honorary Xmas Eve gift and its always a new pair of jammies or a bathrobe. I even sent DS Xmas Eve jammies to Japan for his first Christmas away from home. It's going to be quite different this year with just DD and myself.

Oh, and I think anywhere from 5-10 gifts is good

 

[N&B'smom]

1. Do you try to get the same number of presents per kid or are they OK with a present count imbalance?
2. Do you try to spend the same per kid or does it often end up uneven because one kid gets something unusually costly?
3. About how many presents do you think is optimal for your kids to unwrap? How many is too few or too much?
4. As your kids get older, do you find yourself buying fewer presents because things for older kids are much more expensive?
5. Is it a present opening free-for-all? Do you regulate the pace? Do you restrict it to one present opening at a time?
6. How do you track who got what from whom for thank you note purposes?
7. How do you record the events? Video, pictures, or just enjoy and remember?
8. Do you open gifts Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, or a combination?
9. Does Santa come to your kid's home or do you take the kids somewhere for Christmas?
10. What time in the morning does the present opening usually start?

1.
Yes, I TRY to get the same number but it doesn't always happen. They don't really care. My DS11 knows his things are more costly than the things DD7 asks for each year.

2.
Same thing, I try to spend the same but since DS's interests are very different than DD's, it doesn't usually work that way. (he is getting a Kinect and DD likes arts and crafts stuff)

3.
We usually give around 10 gifts. This year my DS only has about 5 but again, one of them is the XBOX 360 with Kinect bundle.

4.
Yes, if things are more expensive I don't buy as many gifts.

5.
We all sit around and take turns opening gifts, stockings first then the gifts under the tree.

6.
I remember who gave what, it's easy enough for thank you notes.

7.
We take some pictures but mostly just remember.

8.
We open gifts Christmas morning, nothing is under the tree until Santa comes on Christmas Eve after the kids are asleep.

9.
We stay home for Christmas.

10.
We start opening presents AFTER the Monkey Bread I popped in the oven gets done. Usually around 9 or so.

 

[luvmy3]

1. Do you try to get the same number of presents per kid or are they OK with a present count imbalance? We do the same number
2. Do you try to spend the same per kid or does it often end up uneven because one kid gets something unusually costly?I try to sprns the same, but it doesn't always equal out. I wouldn't have any more than a $50 difference though
3. About how many presents do you think is optimal for your kids to unwrap? How many is too few or too much? I try to put around 10 for each kid under the tree, plus what is in their stocking.
4. As your kids get older, do you find yourself buying fewer presents because things for older kids are much more expensive?My dd had a few expensive things on her list but because I try to keep the number of gifts the same, I use inexpensive "filler" gifts like gloves, slippers, make-up etc
5. Is it a present opening free-for-all? Do you regulate the pace? Do you restrict it to one present opening at a time? Its a free for all, and my dd is always done in a flash and my middle ds is always so slow. I love it and wouldn't have it any other way.
6. How do you track who got what from whom for thank you note purposes?We only open Santa gifts and the ones to and from eachother on Christmas morning. We visit friends and family through-out the week so its easy to keep track of who gets what from who.
7. How do you record the events? Video, pictures, or just enjoy and remember? I take lots of pics and we use the video camera.
8. Do you open gifts Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, or a combination?We open 2 gifts on Christmas Eve and they are always the same, a new pair of PJ's and a new ornament.
9. Does Santa come to your kid's home or do you take the kids somewhere for Christmas? Santa comes to our house.
10. What time in the morning does the present opening usually start?

I tell the kids not to wake me up before 7, but if they are up before that we don't make them wait, unless its like 5 AM.

My answers are in red

 

[JVL1018]

My answers in bold..

1. Do you try to get the same number of presents per kid or are they OK with a present count imbalance?
   ALWAYS the same number of presents, and my husband and I do the same number for each other as well. LOL Up until she died, my mom did the same number for my brothers and I.
2. Do you try to spend the same per kid or does it often end up uneven because one kid gets something unusually costly?
   It's uneven, I don't consider what I spend on one or the other.
3. About how many presents do you think is optimal for your kids to unwrap? How many is too few or too much?
   My kids usually have between 7-10 each year from us and 1 from Santa(their most wanted gift) plus a stocking. I think that's perfect. I wouldn;t have less than 6 and I wouldn't have more than 12 or so.
4. As your kids get older, do you find yourself buying fewer presents because things for older kids are much more expensive?
   No, because even though my kids(9 and 11 years old this year) ask for more expensive items, they also want less expensive items, too. My kids are getting iTouches this year(which they didn't even ask for, but they want very very badly), but they are also getting 7 or 8 other items, my daughter's stuff(everything on her wish list) cost less than $175 total(besides the iTouch) because she didn't ask for anything all that expensive.
   Also, my son is a Lego fanatic so he's always been expensive to buy for. This year his Santa gift is a $100 Star Wars set. Plus he got another $60 Harry Potter set from us, so when he segues into electronics it won't be all that much more than Legos.
   
5. Is it a present opening free-for-all? Do you regulate the pace? Do you restrict it to one present opening at a time?
   Stockings for the kids are opened first. After that is their Santa gifts-1 each and maybe 1 more joint Santa gift- then they each get 1 gift at a time(also a reason to make sure they always have the same amount), don't open the next one until they're both ready-it always goes fast though-then they exchange with each other. THEN my husband and I do our stockings and the kids' gifts to us and our gifts to each other
6. How do you track who got what from whom for thank you note purposes?
   We see everyone who gives us gifts, so no need to keep track-we thank them in person
7. How do you record the events? Video, pictures, or just enjoy and remember?
   Posed pics with them in front of the tree holding their stockings and then random pics of them opening
8. Do you open gifts Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, or a combination?
   Christmas Eve is spent with my brother and SIL, I always have them over here, and we exchange with them then, From us, the kids also get one gift each-always new Christmas PJs-and one joint gift-always a new board game that we play on Christmas Eve. Everything else is Christmas morning
9. Does Santa come to your kid's home or do you take the kids somewhere for Christmas?
   Always spend Christmas morning at home. Midafternoon we get together with my FIL, BIL, SIL and niece. Switch back and forth between hosting at our house and going to my brother in law's house each year. We live in the same town, so it's only 5 minutes away.
10. What time in the morning does the present opening usually start?
    7:30 or 8:00

 

[smb6]

1. Do you try to get the same number of presents per kid or are they OK with a present count imbalance? I don't worry about exact, but try to have a similar amount.
2. Do you try to spend the same per kid or does it often end up uneven because one kid gets something unusually costly? Again, I try to have a similar amount, but don't worry about being "exact". My kids are 4, 8, 10, 11, and 13. So- the older ones have a good concept that things costing more, means less actual gifts. This year the 5 kids have spent on them $260, 270, 310, 310, and $340.- that is close enough for me.
3. About how many presents do you think is optimal for your kids to unwrap? How many is too few or too much? For the longest- they were opening 20-30 presents each Christmas and I decided a few years ago it was ridiculous! I told the kids that Christmas day that next year we would only be doing 5 gifts each from now on- the following year I followed through... It was a little over 5 gifts but not much over. This year they will be opening 11-13 gifts each and that includes the little stuff...
4. As your kids get older, do you find yourself buying fewer presents because things for older kids are much more expensive? Yes, to an extent... This year it didn't work out that way so much- but last year the older ones got a wii and a video recorder and that sucked up most of their money....
5. Is it a present opening free-for-all? Do you regulate the pace? Do you restrict it to one present opening at a time? I regulate. We open one gift at a time, to prolong the experience and see what everyone gets. I even hand them out in a certain order so that gifts are ordered from the least (ex- socks) gift to the "best" gift...
6. How do you track who got what from whom for thank you note purposes? Christmas morning all the gifts are from me- so there is nothing to track. We get together with family on diffrent days and thank them as we open- no cards.
7. How do you record the events? Video, pictures, or just enjoy and remember? pictures- but this year I'm going to ask my older boys to video record some with the recorder they got last year...
8. Do you open gifts Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, or a combination? Christmas morning
9. Does Santa come to your kid's home or do you take the kids somewhere for Christmas? We do Christmas at our home
10. What time in the morning does the present opening usually start? 5 am ish.. My kids are all early risers 7 days a week- and I'm as excited as they are- so we start early

answers in red

 

[JVL1018]

smb6 says " We open one gift at a time, to prolong the experience and see what everyone gets. I even hand them out in a certain order so that gifts are ordered from the least (ex- socks) gift to the "best" gift... "

I do the same thing! LOL

 

[MarkBarbieri]

I guess I should answer as well. For context, my boys are in 3rd and 5th grade.

1. Do you try to get the same number of presents per kid or are they OK with a present count imbalance? We usually try for a rough balance. This year, we're going to have a more controlled gift opening, with each child taking turns, so they need to be reasonably close in number. We'll make up the difference by having the kid that comes up short open more "family" gift items, like Wii games that neither kid owns on their own.
2. Do you try to spend the same per kid or does it often end up uneven because one kid gets something unusually costly? We keep them in the same ballpark.
3. About how many presents do you think is optimal for your kids to unwrap? How many is too few or too much? I have no idea how many presents we usually give. This year, it looks like they'll be getting about 18 each from us, plus more from relatives. Most of those are inexpensive items like books. I'm trying to decide if I should bundle more items together rather than have them unwrap every single thing separately.
4. As your kids get older, do you find yourself buying fewer presents because things for older kids are much more expensive? I can't say that I've noticed a difference, but then I can't recall how many gifts we typically give. We usually have a rough budget in mind, but that budget varies based on a lot of factors.
5. Is it a present opening free-for-all? Do you regulate the pace? Do you restrict it to one present opening at a time? We've done it different ways. When they were little, it was just a free-for-all. As they've gotten older, we've controlled the chaos more. This year, I think I'm going to number the gifts and require that they find and open them in order.
6. How do you track who got what from whom for thank you note purposes? My wife handles this aspect.
7. How do you record the events? Video, pictures, or just enjoy and remember? We've usually taken a few snapshots and sometimes set up a video camera on a tripod. This year, I'd like to record a mini-video for each unwrapped package, with the recipient displaying the item, saying what it is, thanking the giver, and maybe making a few more comments. I think that this will be fun to look back on many years from now. I'll also e-mail snippets as Thank Yous.
8. Do you open gifts Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, or a combination? We open all of ours on Christmas Morning. We might let them open a single gift on Christmas Eve just to keep them from exploding.
9. Does Santa come to your kid's home or do you take the kids somewhere for Christmas? We generally have Christmas at home or at my parent's house. This year, it will be at home. My kid's are the youngest of all of my parents grandkids, so the grandparents will be here enjoying the last vestiges of having little ones opening presents.
10. What time in the morning does the present opening usually start? I've always been a morning person. I'll be up at 4:00 or 4:30. My wife likes to sleep in until 6:00. My father has always been the one everyone waits on in the morning. On Christmas, Grandma usually wakes him around 7:00. We'll let the kids open stocking stuffers and stuff like that while they wait.

 

[Darcy03231]

1. Do you try to get the same number of presents per kid or are they OK with a present count imbalance?
   
   When the kids were young I made sure they had the same number of presents. Now that they're older (youngest is 17) I spend the same amount of money per child and don't worry about the amount of gifts.[/COLOR
   
   ][*]Do you try to spend the same per kid or does it often end up uneven because one kid gets something unusually costly?
   
   I've always spent approximately the amount per child. I'm usually within $5 per kid.
   
   [*]About how many presents do you think is optimal for your kids to unwrap? How many is too few or too much?
   
   When they were little I tried for about 7-10 gifts each. Now that they're older, it really doesn't matter.
   
   
   [*]As your kids get older, do you find yourself buying fewer presents because things for older kids are much more expensive?
   
   I definitely find there are fewer presents because of the cost! This year my youngest is only getting the one thing he asked for - - a flat screen tv for his bedroom. He asked for a 26" one, but is really going to be surprised with the 40" one I scored for him on Black Friday!
   
   [*]Is it a present opening free-for-all? Do you regulate the pace? Do you restrict it to one present opening at a time?
   
   We open one at a time and go around the room.
   
   [*]How do you track who got what from whom for thank you note purposes?
   
   Mom keeps a list as they open.
   
   [*]How do you record the events? Video, pictures, or just enjoy and remember?
   
   We do pictures and video.
   
   [*]Do you open gifts Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, or a combination?
   
   Christmas morning
   
   [*]Does Santa come to your kid's home or do you take the kids somewhere for Christmas?
   
   Santa comes here.
   
   [*]What time in the morning does the present opening usually start?
   
   When they were little, 7 am. Now that they're older its usually around 10 am
   
   

See above

 

[ilovepete]

Presents Questions for People With Kids
Do you try to get the same number of presents per kid or are they OK with a present count imbalance?
--- I try to get them the same number for now, yes. They are 3 and 5 so they don't get the money part just yet so I try to make it look even instead.

Do you try to spend the same per kid or does it often end up uneven because one kid gets something unusually costly?
--- I try to spend the same but right now that's not my main focus, it's that it looks even to them.

About how many presents do you think is optimal for your kids to unwrap? How many is too few or too much?
--- My kids are getting about 15-20 gifts each this year from us. They don't have anyone else buying for them. That is A LOT of gifts and yes probably too many. But I got some great deals and only spent about $300 total for them and they are getting some great things. A lot of them are books and things like that, too.

As your kids get older, do you find yourself buying fewer presents because things for older kids are much more expensive?
--- Not there yet, but yes, I think that will be the case.

Is it a present opening free-for-all? Do you regulate the pace? Do you restrict it to one present opening at a time?
--- We let them do it however they want to. In general they want to play with every gift after they open it. They are not in a rush to open them all, so it takes forever!

How do you track who got what from whom for thank you note purposes?
--- My kids don't really get gifts from others so that hasn't been an issue yet. But if it were, I would just write it down.

How do you record the events? Video, pictures, or just enjoy and remember?
--- I take lots of pictures, and usually a video or two.

Do you open gifts Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, or a combination?
--- All on Christmas Morning.

Does Santa come to your kid's home or do you take the kids somewhere for Christmas?
--- We've never been elsewhere for Christmas, and I hope that we won't in the future, either.

What time in the morning does the present opening usually start?
--- Whenever they wake up. We usually can get away with 7:00AM or so.

 

[kinntj]

Mine are bolded.

1. Do you try to get the same number of presents per kid or are they OK with a present count imbalance? No, see below.
2. Do you try to spend the same per kid or does it often end up uneven because one kid gets something unusually costly? Yes, we budget the same amount of money per kid, but our kids understand they may get more or less with the money and stuff they want.
3. About how many presents do you think is optimal for your kids to unwrap? How many is too few or too much? There's not a set number, since we got by $$ amount budgeted.
4. As your kids get older, do you find yourself buying fewer presents because things for older kids are much more expensive? Absolutely!
5. Is it a present opening free-for-all? Do you regulate the pace? Do you restrict it to one present opening at a time? No, one at a time, so we appreciate and thank everyone for what was given.
6. How do you track who got what from whom for thank you note purposes? No thank you notes. See question above.
7. How do you record the events? Video, pictures, or just enjoy and remember? pictures.
8. Do you open gifts Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, or a combination? the kids open one gift on Christmas Eve and the rest Christmas morning.
9. Does Santa come to your kid's home or do you take the kids somewhere for Christmas? Santa comes to our home.
10. What time in the morning does the present opening usually start? They open Santa's present first thing upon waking up and the rest are after breakfast.

 

[NHdisneylover]

1. Do you try to get the same number of presents per kid or are they OK with a present count imbalance?We generally give one ift (or a set made up of smaller gifts, but wrapped or presented as one item, to each kid from us and one from Santa--plus stockings
2. Do you try to spend the same per kid or does it often end up uneven because one kid gets something unusually costly?It is more likely to be uneven than not. We get whatever it is we feel they really want and will love. Sometimes it is something quite pricey, other times it is not. It probably evens out pretty well over the years, though I think it has tilted in favour of more money on DD--no biggie; we spend more on DS for monthly dance lessons than we do on DD for karate. They are different kids with different wants and needs and gifts reflect that too.
3. About how many presents do you think is optimal for your kids to unwrap? How many is too few or too much?I don't think there is any particular number. Mine usually end up with 15-20 when all the gifts from relatives, each other etc et added in. We have had years with as few as 8 or 0 and as many as close to 30. Neither was better or worse than the other.
4. As your kids get older, do you find yourself buying fewer presents because things for older kids are much more expensive?No--we have always tried to limit quantity so it does not become a gimmee fest--but I do find the costs overall creeping up.
5. Is it a present opening free-for-all? Do you regulate the pace? Do you restrict it to one present opening at a time?We have a tradition of the kids handing out everyone's gifts into piles. We go around and have one person at a time open something and then move onto someone else. it is not uncommon to stop and take photos, call the giver for an on the spot thank you, take the item out and try it on, play with it, etc. Some years it can take 2-3 hours to open when just the four of us are home. When we travel to the in laws the same custom happens but everyone tries to move it a long a little so that we do not go much past 3 hours and everyone can still get to bed
6. How do you track who got what from whom for thank you note purposes?I always write a list and everyone always chides me about it because we always all rememebr who gave what
7. How do you record the events? Video, pictures, or just enjoy and remember? some photos. generally some video of seeing what Santa brought in the morning, but mostly we just enjoy. If photo taking or video shooting becomes a chore we do not do it
8. Do you open gifts Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning, or a combination?a combo: wrapped gifts (everything not from Santa) is unwrapped on Christmas Eve. One "wow" gift per child from Santa is left on display, fully assembled under the tree to be discovered first thing Christmas morning. Stockings are also gone through on Christmas morning.
9. Does Santa come to your kid's home or do you take the kids somewhere for Christmas?Usually our home, but sometimes we do travel for the holidays (we will this year) as it is really the only time everyone can get off and go to one place together
10. What time in the morning does the present opening usually start?openign is in the evening, after dinner and church. Often around 8 for a start. Morning, the kids cannot go into the treeroom without awaking parents and have to wait until 7:00 to do that (and DH will draw that out and "refuse" to get up for a goof 15 minutes of torture

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