So, I put the presents under the tree....

[golfgal]

I have never put presents out before Christmas Eve, with the exception of anything that was mailed to us (like from Grandparents). Someone here posted how they use a code for their kids on the gift tags so no one knows which gifts go to which child so I did that this year. DD gets home last night and just as I was ready to drift off to sleep she jumps on our bed and asks "so, who are those presents for under the tree?" I just looked at her and didn't answer. She said "they have names like tiger and zebra on them" The boys haven't noticed that there are presents under there yet. This is going to be fun!!

 

[Markiesgirl]

How funny!! I use a a different colored wrapping paper for each of my 3 so I don't have to use gift tags. They don't know the "code" until I tell them on Christmas morning. I have heard them before arguing I'm the snowflakes and you're the Santas. No, I'm the Santas and you are the candy canes.

 

[golfgal]

How funny!! I use a a different colored wrapping paper for each of my 3 so I don't have to use gift tags. They don't know the "code" until I tell them on Christmas morning. I have heard them before arguing I'm the snowflakes and you're the Santas. No, I'm the Santas and you are the candy canes.

That is what I hope happens here too--way too much fun for everyone I think!!

 

[Libby X 3]

Oh that sounds like its going to be fun!

 

[golfgal]

DS14 is up and watching tv in the family room right next to the tree and he hasn't even noticed the presents. Dang kids

 

[disneyfan007]

I started doing this a few years ago. My youngest is the worst about the presents under the tree (and he is 18!) Works out really good. I just have to write the codes down do I don't forget who is who. I need to start wrapping today, I just keep putting it off.

 

[Cruisin]

I have done mine before with two different types of gift tags.

I get the sheets that have several different tags on them and use a different set of tags for each child's gifts.

Then I would give them an extra sheet of their own tags on Christmas morning and let them find their own gifts

 

[CDoobee]

One year I numbered all the presents. Unfortunately, I lost the list! We had gifts numbered something like 1-25, and I had NO IDEA what was in them or who they were for! So, we just took turns opening them and THEN decided who would get each gift. It was really pretty fun! We had no arguing over gifts either, because my kids were very spaced out. The oldest (girl) was 12 years older than the second (boy), who is 6 1/2 years older than the last (girl).

ETA: "spaced out" in number of years apart, not as in stoned! HAHA

 

[C.Ann]

For the annual Christmas Eve party we would host at our house - I would do something similar with all of the gifts that were being passed out to family and friends that night.. However, I used "clues" on each tag - put the whole pile of gifts on the floor in the center of the room - and everyone had to try to figure out which gift belonged to which person..

"All steamed up.." (My dad - he was a steamfitter.)

"Sneezy" (DSD's DH - always had a stuffy nose..)

"DNA" (Another DSD's DH - who loved to read true crime books.)

"Ouch!" (Another DSD - a nurse..)

"Could you get that jar off the shelf?" (My mom - extremely short..)

"Titanic" (My brother - loves boating..)
-------------------

Now keep in mind there were always at least 35 people there - and not everyone knew everyone else that well - so it kept them occupied for a good long time as they were laughing their heads off trying to figure out which gift might be theirs and passing them around to others.. They would call out the clue before passing it on and when it would finally get to the right person, I would let them know it was theirs..

It was such a big hit they requested that I do it every Christmas Eve - so I did - right up until we had to stop the "big" parties due to my late DH's health.. Of course as the years went by it got harder and harder to come up with "clues" that I hadn't already used, but I did - and it was a blast!!!

 

[maslex]

My grandmother used to do this with all of the grandkids gifts. The tags would read XYZ, ABC, 123, etc. One year she did forget to write down who had which gift so that proved to be interesting.

This year, I'm doing the same with my boys (they're 12 and 14) this is the first year I'm doing though, but I think they'll enjoy it. My oldest is Rudolph and the youngest is Frosty. I won't put the gifts out until they're in bed Christmas Eve though (request from the kids) They don't want to see the tree with all the gifts until Christmas morning. LOL

 

[golfgal]

For the annual Christmas Eve party we would host at our house - I would do something similar with all of the gifts that were being passed out to family and friends that night.. However, I used "clues" on each tag - put the whole pile of gifts on the floor in the center of the room - and everyone had to try to figure out which gift belonged to which person..

"All steamed up.." (My dad - he was a steamfitter.)

"Sneezy" (DSD's DH - always had a stuffy nose..)

"DNA" (Another DSD's DH - who loved to read true crime books.)

"Ouch!" (Another DSD - a nurse..)

"Could you get that jar off the shelf?" (My mom - extremely short..)

"Titanic" (My brother - loves boating..)
-------------------

Now keep in mind there were always at least 35 people there - and not everyone knew everyone else that well - so it kept them occupied for a good long time as they were laughing their heads off trying to figure out which gift might be theirs and passing them around to others.. They would call out the clue before passing it on and when it would finally get to the right person, I would let them know it was theirs..

It was such a big hit they requested that I do it every Christmas Eve - so I did - right up until we had to stop the "big" parties due to my late DH's health.. Of course as the years went by it got harder and harder to come up with "clues" that I hadn't already used, but I did - and it was a blast!!!

That is WAY too creative for my brain--I bet it was fun though!!!

 

[luvflorida]

We had no arguing over gifts either, because my kids were very spaced out.

ETA: "spaced out" in number of years apart, not as in stoned! HAHA

I'm glad you clarified this!

 

[DisneyForLife]

I'm glad you clarified this!

Sorry this is off topic but I had to tell you how cute the little guy is.
Just adorable

 

[PebblesMK]

My parents still to this day (We're 30, 28, 22) put a reindeer name on the tags and we never know who we are. But very few gifts go out, but it kept us from getting into them on Christmas morning!

 

[luvflorida]

Sorry this is off topic but I had to tell you how cute the little guy is.
Just adorable

Off topic-
Thanks so much! The little guy is Carter, our fifteen month old grandson. He is our first grandchild, and yep, we're spoiling him rotten!
Back to the original topic...

 

[dismom2]

OP: I think that is a great idea! The only thing I have done is discreatly put their initials on the bottom after I wrap, but before I put name tags on so I don't forget what goes to which person. I guess I just hoped nobody would notice. I may have to borrow your idea.

 

[golfgal]

DD14 was wrapping some presents for their cousins and she asked about the codes again. She said "oh WHY did you put the presents out this year, it's too hard waiting, I just gotta know..." Oh, this is fun.

 

[kilee]

That is a very cute idea. I only have 1 ds so he'd know all of them were for him, otherwise I might try it.

 

[golfgal]

That is a very cute idea. I only have 1 ds so he'd know all of them were for him, otherwise I might try it.

Yeah, that might mess up the whole concept

 

[disneygals]

DD14 was wrapping some presents for their cousins and she asked about the codes again. She said "oh WHY did you put the presents out this year, it's too hard waiting, I just gotta know..." Oh, this is fun.

I'm just impressed that with the age of your kids, you can find gifts that are a surprise! Such a hard age to shop for. I miss toys!!