The annual What was Hot/What was Not gift tracking thread

[QueenDoOver]

Absolutely everything was a hit with my kiddos. DS15 was overjoyed with his new touch phone from tmobile that comes with one year data paid on his behalf. Youngest had an itouch replaced that was stolen on our trip last year. Skylanders has been a huge hit. What to do with all those figures??

We have had a lot of family gatherings this year which has been both stressful and delightful. My tree will stay up until after New Years, as I love Christmas

I will probably try to dig out of the wrapping paper today though!

Merry Christmas to all!

 

[crazyme5kids]

This was a great year gift wise. No real misses.

Oldest daughter wanted practicle stuff, sheets towels etc.... She loved her surprise Trader Joe bag filled with assorted items including a big bottle of laundry detergent (she said she was going to stop and buy it on her way down from Buffalo).

Oldest son, loved his vacuum. He exclaimed, "And it's a good one!". Gotta love those Shark vauums .

Middle son, loved loved loved his surprise Rodger Waters tickets. He also loved his memory foam matress pad, he is in the army and has complained that the mattress is uncomfortable.

Youngest son loved his fish tank and money lock box (both surprises). Also loved his Forrest Gump DVD, his favorite movie.

Youngset (age 10) daughter's surprises were a butterfly chair and lots of make-up. She loves to watch What Not To Wear and takes notes when Charmindy the makeup artist is doing her thing. My daughter loves to give me and my mother makeovers .

My husband loved his "night out playing poker with the guys" gift, and his shot glass shadow box frame.

My mother loved her bedroom redecorate and a new CD player.

As for me, I loved my gift certificates for art lessons at our local art league!

 

[Ephany]

Overall it was a very nice day, quiet and peaceful.

DD9 liked pretty much everything, she was one happy girl.
Hits: Lalaloopsy stuff
Barbie stuff
Uno deck with horses (from grandparents, she was thrilled)
Loopz game
Misses: 4 hardcover books from her aunt/uncle. They're a few grade levels above where she's reading and one is book 19 in the series.

Me
Hits: Everything from DH and DD, lots of fuzzy socks and an Oberon case for my Kindle. My parents bought us a duvet cover from Eddie Bauer and it's awesome.
Miss: 6 identical pairs of blue dog socks from my MIL. They're too big and very much not anything I'd ever wear. Even DH thinks they're weird.

DH
Hits: A backrest pillow to watch tv in bed and a blue-ray player
Misses: A crockpot from his mom. Even more weird, the 3rd one in 13 years - neither one of us has any idea why she keeps sending them.

I'm just grateful there was no drama and to have a day with my family.

 

[coinkc]

Hits for my 15 year old daughter: hot rollers, curling wand, driver's handbook and permission to get her permit! She's thrilled!!!

Misses: can't really think of any...

Hits for me: Kindle Fire that my daughter spent all of her saved money on and totally surprised me!!! The wonderful feeling of knowing what a great and thoughtful kid I have.

Misses: none at all

Overall it was a wonderful couple of days and we really enjoyed it. We have some major family drama with my siblings so we were kind of nervous how it was going to be but ended up being really nice.

 

[jaminmd]

No misses here. DD was happy with everything she got. DH is thrilled with his iPad and I love everything I received.

Happy that I was able to spend a wonderful holiday with my family and for their health, safety and happiness.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Nothing here was a miss really.

The biggest hit was one of the cheapest gifts. a $25.00 metal detector from Menards for DS11. He has already spent what seems like hours outside by himself, with cousins, with his brother etc. They are looking for treasure. So far the biggest find. A length of old buried barbed wire they dug up by the side of the road.

 

[kkmcan]

Hits:

Kids- xbox 360 with kinect, new tvs and dvd players
DD- Taylor Swift perfume, saucer chair for her room, orbeez
DS- Denver Broncos sweatshirt, NCAA football xbox game

Me- Keurig from Mom, scratcher lotto tickets, coach purse
DH- Jelly Bellies, helmet flashlight for fire helmet

 

[Lovin' Disney]

I'm glad that everyone had such a nice Christmas!

 

[descovy]

I don't see anything wrong with it if you have the money to spend and it is something the child wants. All of the kids i know who have them get thier money's worth from them. DD8 has a nano, and has no interest in a touch so I haven't gotten her one, but wouldn't hesitate if I thought she would enjoy it. I wouldn't do it if I was having difficulties paying bills, but sometimes people make sacrifices to fulfill thier kids wishes at christmas. Nothing wrong with that.

My dd's7,9 got touches... After coupon,sale, employee discount they came to $120/ ea. and that was all they got from me besides stocking stuffers.

Uncle bought the cases. I have an old iPod and already have songs and apps I can share with them. So a very reasonable $$ amount. We did a scavenger hunt and they were not disappointed but very very happy. I would wager many parents who did not purchase I touches still spent in my $$ range.

It was something they really really wanted. Why blow $100 on a pile of okay gifts???

 

[mbf]

I think my kids liked just about everything.

For DD21 - hot: Nook Touch, Starbucks coffee variety pack, iTunes cards, clothes, Game of Thrones books,

DD17 - Hot: the Amika zebra print straightener that she has wanted for about 3 years! I got a great deal on it in a gift set and she never expected it. She sat in her chair stroking the box lol. Also, a Juicy purse that I got a great deal on from their site. Again, she didn't expect it at all.

DS6 - Hot: Lego Pirates of the Carribbean Wii game, a new Wii-mote, Legos, a Happy Napper.

My Dh really went above and beyond this year. He made DS6 a shelf shaped like Home Plate and it was holding 9 different commemorative baseballs that he picked up in DisneyWorld for DS! I saw him buy one or two and thought they were for him. I had no idea he was starting a collection for DS. He always comes up with cool homemade gifts for him.

For me, DH gave me a package of red Solo cups. And put tickets to see Toby Keith inside!! LOL, I thought that was very creative. Again, he comes up with some great ideas. He also bought oldest DD one of those necklaces at Epcot that has her name written in Chinese (again, on the sly). She loves it.

 

[pacrosby]

.

All in all, it was a good Christmas. Took the tree down last night (a small 3-foot tree) and all traces of Christmas are gone. Glad it is over with, and now I get to work on my New Years Resolutions!

Not to try and make your feel bad but again.....

I consider the weeks prior to Christmas as the lead up and then the REAL Christmas season starts on Christmas day LOL We will spend this week (school vacation) decorating gingerbread houses, baking cookies, going to view light displays, seeing the decorated mansions in Newport etc. etc. We will finally be able to relax and invite friends over. My decorations will remain until late January. The weeks before Christmas are really too busy for us around here to enjoy it all. It's so funny when I hear people who talk about being so glad "it's over". It's really just begun for us

 

[pacrosby]

Well, your not the only one. I was wondering why nearly every friend of DD's got an IPod Touch this year?! They are like $200!!! Plus a case, and the iTunes cards. Sheesh. DD is only 9!!!!! Is this normal nowadays? Even my friends who have very little money are buying these for their kids. Is it just a case of "keeping up with the Jones" or what? I just don't get it. My DD has an old IPad of her grandmothers, it has no video or camera though. Just for games and email. I guess she is falling behind the cool kids now.Ha!

I'm with you LOL My neighbor was telling me she was getting her 6 and 8 yo each an Ipod Touch and then I saw it in a store and got a load of the price. Holy cow! (and while yes they can afford it, so can we....and I still see no need LOL)

My kids FINALLY got a Wii this year.....they've been the only ones they've known without one for years LOL We're definately NOT cool when it comes to the new, the hot, the must-haves

 

[LSUDis]

DS9 .. so far so good... Gagadar balls and racetrack , Skylanders all super hot, chemistry set all good too . Not so hot, but still seemed happy , new tennis shoes like all the kids wearing at school , black low nike socks , he promptly told me he couldn't wear to school ,but said he still likes.
He was pleased with Santa gift of Nintendo 3DS.. he didn't ask for it

Legos , he didn't open, but he has a million and he will get around to opening i know . No need to get it all out today.

We really overdid it , so much I didn't name here , but I don't buy much during year, so I tend to go nuts .


DH seemed happy , he got several new LSU shirts , two hats, one beanie skull cap. All of the Tool CD's .

I loved my new Tervis LSU polka dot cup and a Gel pro kitchen mat for in front of kitchen stove.. DH wanted to make sure I liked it as they are pretty pricey , since I do , he is going to get me one for in front of sink this week.
Books , new LSU ornament for my LSU tree and new Pjs from Soma all please me too.. he did a great job !

We plan on shopping this week too, we need new skillets for the kitchen , all sizes . I am counting that as my Christmas too lol.

LSU stuff ALWAYS makes for a good Christmas! Now, we want one more BIG present, right?

Strangely enough, someone on here told me about the flying screaming monkeys, so I got these for the kids' stockings (mine--ages 13,15) and nephews (11,15). Needless to say, we've been having some epic flying monkey battles. Apparently, popping your aunt on the rear with these things gets you double points in their universe. I guess kids always want toys for Christmas--no matter how old they are. I could've saved a ton of money on other stuff. . . .

 

[caribear]

Most of the gifts the kids received were hits!

DD9 - iPod Touch, Squinkies Cruise Ship, Super Mario Wii
DS4- iPd Touch, Nintendo 3DS, Geotrax Christmas in Toy Town railroad, Imaginext Samurai Castle

The only gifts from DH and I were the iPods.....and Santa gave the kids otterboxes, grandma gifted iTunes CG and Grandpa gifted Mario Transporter Cases to store their electronics in.....the rest came from other Aunts/Uncles and Grandmas/Great-Grandmas. I wrapped the iPods in several boxes...one within the other....so it took the kids a while to open them! Lots of surprises this year!

 

[Promomx2]

Hits:
Ds (16) xbox-forza, dukes of hazzard tshirt, piece of boise football turf
dd and dsil - kindle
dh - new darts for electronic dartboard
gs (11 mos) - walk behind zebra, fp safari truck
me - kindle-keyboard 3g and cushy slippers

Misses: None except I'm wondering whether I should have gotten the kindle touch. Keep going back and forth.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Well, your not the only one. I was wondering why nearly every friend of DD's got an IPod Touch this year?! They are like $200!!! Plus a case, and the iTunes cards. Sheesh. DD is only 9!!!!! Is this normal nowadays? Even my friends who have very little money are buying these for their kids. Is it just a case of "keeping up with the Jones" or what? I just don't get it. My DD has an old IPad of her grandmothers, it has no video or camera though. Just for games and email. I guess she is falling behind the cool kids now.Ha!

I bought my DS7 an itouch this year. He is using computers and ipads in his classroom and while I can't afford an ipad I can still download some educational apps on his itouch. He is struggling in a couple areas in school and while he will have nothing to do with flash cards it's easy to get him to sit down and play a math game on his itouch, plus no game cartridges to lose. I think with this technology becoming more and more common in schools (at least in our area) it's important to me to keep up with it at home when we're able.

 

[momto2inKC]

Well, your not the only one. I was wondering why nearly every friend of DD's got an IPod Touch this year?! They are like $200!!! Plus a case, and the iTunes cards. Sheesh. DD is only 9!!!!! Is this normal nowadays? Even my friends who have very little money are buying these for their kids. Is it just a case of "keeping up with the Jones" or what? I just don't get it. My DD has an old IPad of her grandmothers, it has no video or camera though. Just for games and email. I guess she is falling behind the cool kids now.Ha!

I don't see the big deal? Spend $200 on a bunch of random toys that probably won't get played with or $200 on 1 gift that the kids will love and use? It has nothing to do with 'keeping up with the Jones'. You said your daughter has an iPad? Those are what, 3 times as much as an iTouch? Regardless if she was given it for free from Grandma, someone paid for it. Who knows how much money was actually spent on the iTouch's. Maybe some paid full price, maybe some took advantage of some sort of sale, maybe they had relatives chip in money towards the gift, maybe they earned rewards on store/credit cards they put towards it. I say to each his own? If it doesn't affect my pocket book, who am I to judge?

 

[KCmike]

Hello fellow Kansas Citian. Saw your name as I was scrolling down and thought "It's a Small World after all".

 

[momto2inKC]

Hello fellow Kansas Citian. Saw your name as I was scrolling down and thought "It's a Small World after all".

Hey KCmike It's always fun finding fellow KC peeps on here!

 

[204charity]

I don't see the big deal? Spend $200 on a bunch of random toys that probably won't get played with or $200 on 1 gift that the kids will love and use? It has nothing to do with 'keeping up with the Jones'. You said your daughter has an iPad? Those are what, 3 times as much as an iTouch? Regardless if she was given it for free from Grandma, someone paid for it. Who knows how much money was actually spent on the iTouch's. Maybe some paid full price, maybe some took advantage of some sort of sale, maybe they had relatives chip in money towards the gift, maybe they earned rewards on store/credit cards they put towards it. I say to each his own? If it doesn't affect my pocket book, who am I to judge?[/QUOTE

It's not a big deal, I'm just saying I had no idea those were so popular! When we were kids we asked for babies or cd's. Just noting how much times have changed is all. Just making conversation...........