The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 18

[UP Disney]

I absent mindedly sent out Christmas Cards to everyone on the DDA Contact list. Now I'm wondering if everyone does celebrate Christmas? I certainly hope not to have offended anyone. If you do not celebrate Christmas or more importantly, if you do not wish to receive a Christmas card from all of us, please PM me and I will add that to the contact info. I know that not everyone has sent out cards so I'm hoping that this is better late than never

Deb

I also have mine all set to go. Thanks for checking with people. I am going to send mine out tomorrow. If someone gets one that doesn't celebrate, I hope that they are not offended. Hopefully, we all know everyone well enough that they would know it was not intentional.

 

[UP Disney]

Am I crazy? Overprotective?

Remember last year Lizzy had the boy who wanted to "kiss her naked bottom" on the bus? He still likes her and is in her class again. They have a 1/2 day of school tomorrow and Lizzy has been invited to a cookie decorating party at his house. Sounds like a fun time BUT....the kids were asked to bring a $15 Yankee Swap gift. I'm not letting Lizzy go. I made arrangements for her to have a playdate with another friend and I bought a kit for them to make some ornaments. Those Yankee Swaps can get testy with adults. I just see the potential for lots of tears with a bunch of 7 year olds. If I could have been there I may have let her go but I can not.

Wouldn't a gift for charity have been a better idea? Or just stick to the cookies?

What's a Yankee Swap?

ETA: If it is what Theresa described then this is a horrible idea for kids! Let alone having it be $15! I see lots of tearful children at that party. We love to do this. We've done it as a white elephant and we've done it as nice gifts. Actually, I'm doing it twice this year - once with my team (those that work for me) and my coworkers (the other managers at my level). With my team, we are doing a white elephant and with my coworkers, we are doing nice gifts.

My team is a load of fun. They are an awesome group to work with. They work hard but have fun doing it. I'm very proud to be a part of their team. I'm having them come to my house for the Christmas party this year. It should be a blast. Plus, it gives me a very good reason to really get my house clean since some of them have never seen it.

 

[tinknme]

I need some book suggestions for my nephew. He loves to read books like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, ect. Help!

 

[bethbuchall]

What's a Yankee Swap?

I didn't know either, Vicki, so I looked it up:

Each adult that is participating in the swap will bring a gift to the gathering. They should include a gift tag, which gives the name of the giver. My family is really into hand crafted gifts, so that is generally what is swapped. Also be sure to give a price range for your gifts, lets say $20.00 for example. Please make sure that you stick to that amount, it really is not fair for someone to have purchased or crafted a gift worth $20.00 to end up with something much less expensive. Now count up the number of people participating and make a number for each person, on a small piece of paper. Put the numbered papers in a hat, or bowl and instruct each participant to take a number.


Place all of the gifts in a grouping in the center of the room and have the participants sit where they can all see the gifts and each other. Now the person holding the number 1 will select a gift and open it, in plain view of all of the other participants. Some participants will want to cheat here, and not show what they have opened. This will generally mean that they have gotten a really good gift!


After person #1 has opened their gift, person #2 can either take the gift that person #1 has opened or select another gift from the grouping. If person #2 has taken the gift from person #1, #1 is now to take another gift from the grouping and open it. If person #2 has selected from the pile, it is now person #3's turn. Person #3 can take a gift from the grouping or take the gift that either #1 or #2 has opened. This will continue until all of the gifts have been distributed.


This may sound a little confusing at first, but just remember, if a gift has been taken from the grouping, the turn moves to the person holding the next number. If a gift has been taken from a person, that person can take either a gift from another person or a gift from the grouping. It is actually rather humorous to see adults acting like small children to be able to get and keep the gift they really want. There will be the typical hiding of the gift behind the chair and even major pouting. Of course on their turn, they can immediately take the gift back.

It sounds like a disaster waiting to happen for 7 year olds!


Beth

 

[UP Disney]

I need some book suggestions for my nephew. He loves to read books like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, ect. Help!

How about Eragon? The movie is coming out soon as well. My kids have the book.

 

[UP Disney]

Janet, I made it to the Dollar Tree today while I was out shipping packages. I'll be sending a special Tink delivery to you tomorrow. Keep an eye out for it in the next week or so.

 

[bethbuchall]

I need some book suggestions for my nephew. He loves to read books like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, ect. Help!

How old is he?

Ds (15) just recommended The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. There is a sequel, The Sea Monsters, that came out in April. Matthew hasn't read that yet.

How about Peter and the Starcatchers and the sequel?

Beth

 

[UP Disney]

I didn't know either, Vicki, so I looked it up:

Each adult that is participating in the swap will bring a gift to the gathering. They should include a gift tag, which gives the name of the giver. My family is really into hand crafted gifts, so that is generally what is swapped. Also be sure to give a price range for your gifts, lets say $20.00 for example. Please make sure that you stick to that amount, it really is not fair for someone to have purchased or crafted a gift worth $20.00 to end up with something much less expensive. Now count up the number of people participating and make a number for each person, on a small piece of paper. Put the numbered papers in a hat, or bowl and instruct each participant to take a number.


Place all of the gifts in a grouping in the center of the room and have the participants sit where they can all see the gifts and each other. Now the person holding the number 1 will select a gift and open it, in plain view of all of the other participants. Some participants will want to cheat here, and not show what they have opened. This will generally mean that they have gotten a really good gift!


After person #1 has opened their gift, person #2 can either take the gift that person #1 has opened or select another gift from the grouping. If person #2 has taken the gift from person #1, #1 is now to take another gift from the grouping and open it. If person #2 has selected from the pile, it is now person #3's turn. Person #3 can take a gift from the grouping or take the gift that either #1 or #2 has opened. This will continue until all of the gifts have been distributed.


This may sound a little confusing at first, but just remember, if a gift has been taken from the grouping, the turn moves to the person holding the next number. If a gift has been taken from a person, that person can take either a gift from another person or a gift from the grouping. It is actually rather humorous to see adults acting like small children to be able to get and keep the gift they really want. There will be the typical hiding of the gift behind the chair and even major pouting. Of course on their turn, they can immediately take the gift back.

It sounds like a disaster waiting to happen for 7 year olds!


Beth

Yep, major disaster for kids!

 

[UP Disney]

How old is he?

Ds (15) just recommended The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. There is a sequel, The Sea Monsters, that came out in April. Matthew hasn't read that yet.

How about Peter and the Starcatchers and the sequel?

Beth

Becky & I have Peter & the Starcatchers and Peter & the Shadow Thieves. We really liked the 1st one but haven't had time to read the second one yet. I have to go in Becky's room to find out what other books she has for ideas.

 

[tinknme]

Oh Vicki you are to sweet! Let me know what I owe you!

Janet, I made it to the Dollar Tree today while I was out shipping packages. I'll be sending a special Tink delivery to you tomorrow. Keep an eye out for it in the next week or so.

 

[Brendita]

Afternoon all.
Hope everyone has been good.
I have been out of it.
Not feeling quite myself.
Took today off.
Headache & body ache.
Must be going around.

 

[tinknme]

Do you know who the author is?

How about Eragon? The movie is coming out soon as well. My kids have the book.

 

[Brendita]

Many many thanks.
For all the Christmas greetings.
You all have made going to
the mail box fun, fun, fun.

 

[tinknme]

He is 14, thanks for the suggestions!

How old is he?

Ds (15) just recommended The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. There is a sequel, The Sea Monsters, that came out in April. Matthew hasn't read that yet.

How about Peter and the Starcatchers and the sequel?

Beth

 

[UP Disney]

Oh Vicki you are to sweet! Let me know what I owe you!

Absolutely nothing! It is a Tink special package. Tink doesn't accept payment.

 

[UP Disney]

Afternoon all.
Hope everyone has been good.
I have been out of it.
Not feeling quite myself.
Took today off.
Headache & body ache.
Must be going around.

that you are feeling better soon.

 

[UP Disney]

Do you know who the author is?

Christopher Paolini. There is a second in the series as well called Eldest. The book got really good reviews when it came out several years ago which is why I bought it. However, I still haven't read it. I am going to have to find it so that I can read it the next time I'm looking for something to read. I saw previews for the movie just recently.

 

[amytheobald]

Hey guys hope it's ok if I join you all. I really enjoy this board, and I d like to get to know you all.

 

[UP Disney]

Did you vote for the red carpet guys outfit yet? I really like the Mickey tux (Grumpy Disney Dad All Decked Out). Very classy looking but also has the Mickey thing going on!

 

[tinknme]

Hope you feel better soon Jo

Afternoon all.
Hope everyone has been good.
I have been out of it.
Not feeling quite myself.
Took today off.
Headache & body ache.
Must be going around.