GIFT IDEAS 2006

[badknees29]

im a ford person..lmao.....put a ribbon on an explorer or the new edge i promise you i won't return it...lmao

[lady*b]

note to self: Badknees would like a copy of the Lexus commercial for next christmas.
He thinks the ribbon on the car is silly and would surely exchange it.

[lady*b]

you should have given her cash a second later. hahahaha.

[badknees29]

so the lexus with the ribbon might be a bit unrealistic...but the commercials are so well done...blah

[badknees29]

i have a bit more class then that lady as you well know...there is alot of really cheap wine in a bottle..lmao...no im kidding.

[badknees29]

i just hate that feeling of not being prepared...next year im getting her something really expensive and see how she feels when she hands me my 5 dollar gift..lmao

[lady*b]

I say it doesn't matter- as long as it doesn't come in a box.

[lady*b]

You need a little spot to keep gifts that are good for anybody.....especially around the holidays. LOL, that's funny though. Like showing up to the costume party......that was changed to a formal.

[badknees29]

does it have to be sparkling wine brought to a household for new years, or can it be wine?

[badknees29]

i hate when people tell you we aren't exchanging gifts and then show up with one for yah. makes yah feel real stupid....drives me nuts.

[Susie924]

I did it!

I'm done!

With room to spare!

Merry Christmas everyone!

[Susie924]

I'm not even sure anymore. A few things that I ordered online haven't come yet so I may have to rebuy.

At least I'm not having Christmas Eve or Christmas at my house so I don't have to worry about that!

[lady*b]

LOL

[lady*b]

How many do you have left? I started with 30, and am down to the last three. They are small things, like neighbor gifts.

[SoxFan]

Gee that would be an upgrade from where I'm normally sent -the outhouse

[Susie924]

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

I'm starting to panic which means I will overspend

[lady*b]

How's the shopping coming? Everyone done?

[lady*b]

First, imho, you may need to hire a carpenter.....

unless you can follow the instructions here:
http://www.mikestrong.com/doghouse/

[SoxFan]

Then I need them - how do I find such a valuable device.

[lady*b]

"Lets"....lolol...that's a good one.

[Susie924]

I think they are sold on Ebay

[SoxFan]

He lets you touch the clicker? Is he a wuss?

[SoxFan]

Hey how much? Can I get a few it delivered ASAP for a present for myself?

[Old_Drummerman]

LOL!

[Susie924]

roflmao!

[lady*b]

Susie, those don't work after you
smack the hubby in the head with it.

We've gone thru three of them now.

[Susie924]

You know her better than I!

[Churak]

perhaps she would like that?

[Susie924]

Would you like me to ask the wifey to get you this?

[ergo sum]

I hope you found some. Happy Holidays.

[lady*b]

Thank you ergo. I've just spent some time doing searches on my family names. I agree, awesome gift.

[ergo sum]

It is a fun thing to look into. We did it a few years ago.

[Susie924]

Thanks ergo!

[ergo sum]

Here is an idea. If you have any relatives that passed through Ellis Island you can get a copy of the record, the ships manifest and a picture of the ship they came to America on.

http://www.ellisisland.org/search/passSearch.asp

[midwestmi]

My kids do have some video systems. It's ridicoulous the way they come out with new ones every 2 or 3 years that they think you will replace the old one with. I can only suggest to keeps your kids away from them as long as you can. It sounds like you are doing a great job at that. Now even with the computer, I find my are spending more time on that than with the other video systems. I think my kids may be a bit older than yours.

That is wonderful what you are teaching your children. What a great way to teach them young.

Legos are awesome. Mine always loved them. What imagination that also leads to, when they can build whatever they are dreaming about.

[lady*b]

Funny you should talk about simplicity. My boys know that
I am not a fan of video game systems in the house. I enjoy them playing together or building projects together.
Using their brains and braun to play....not just sitting around plugged into a game.

At first, I was pleased when one of my sons said, "I'm only going to ask for Lego City".
Super....Legos are awesome and last forever.

NOW, when I looked it up online, I soon discovered that Lego
City, was a series of kits to make up 31 different Lego communities. Grand total? over a thousand dollars for all.

We finally talked about Santa not being able to deliver so many boxes to one child, and he picked one of all for his favorites.

Pheeeeeeeeeeew! I do agree with you however, that the older they get the more expensive the items get. Having said that, I also believe, the older they get, the more they can appreciate the work that is put into earning a dollar....and by then they'll know it's not santa- but mom and dad paying for these things.

I make it a rule also, that every year before christmas, they must pack up toys in their playroom to make room for any new presents. Then we donate the toys. I also started the tradition last year to take my boys shopping for donations for toys for tots. Since they are still young, to avoid problems in the toy isles, I also make sure we pick out girl toys.

[midwestmi]

Great thought to put the toys for tots link in the ibox. That is a great way to help those less fortunate.

I have to be thankful I have brought my kids up in a somewhat simple world, in today's world. I do have to commend them, for not really even asking for anything for the holidays. I do believe it will be a slightly different Christmas for us this year. I'm racking my brain out trying to figure out what to get them, and they don't even want anything. When they were younger, there were tons of gifts under the tree because I could get them such inexpensive things. As they get older the gifts get more expensive, so there will definitely be less to open. That's if I can even figure out anything to get them. I'm just thankful they are not the type that will be upset if they don't get the new Playstion 3, or whatever new systems came out. They haven't even asked for it, nor would they get it if they did. One will be happy that he can go for a baseball training session. It's actually not costing us much except for food, and helping with a hotel room. The training session we are getting for free. He loves baseball, and that is important to him to be able to go.

I guess my whole point in this is, I don't think we need to overdue it to make someone happy. The basic fact that you were thinking about them, and maybe put some thought into a gift is what is important. There will always be the hards ones to buy for, I have a few myself. But in the past, I know the one time I made the collage of pictures for my mother-in-law and put them all in a frame for mother's day, she absolutely loved it. I don't think I could have bought her a better gift in the store that year, that she would have enjoyed more.

Sometimes the simple things are the best.

[hopscotch]

thanks bridge.

[lady*b]

i'm putting the toys for tots link in the ibox, hoppy.

[hopscotch]

there ya go. Put it on your wish list.

[Susie924]

Another good idea for people who have 8MM films from way back when (yeah I'm old!) is to have them put on a tape or DVD.

We did that a few years back and it's really fun to watch although whoever chose the music on ours should be shot!

[midwestmi]

That's a great idea. I'm hoping someday someone will do that for me (lol)

It really is a good idea.

[hopscotch]

organize her loose photo's into albums, especially the old ones, the b/w's of her family and her husbands. I did that for my mom many years ago. She had a trunk of them, many were her mothers and fathers. It took some time but in the end the whole family enjoyed looking through them, and mom and others told us stories about the times back then when any particular photo brought back a memory. It's a nice preservation of family history as well for the grandkids.

[Self Made]

Check out this website....

http://www.midnitemillions.com/

Click on the Crystal Tree link. I think those are good presents. I might get my mom one. Any thoughts?

[mskatiescarletohara]

Suggestion for 8-10 year old girls.

This is the rage for my daughters and their friends right now.

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-2/qid=1165188955/ref=sr_1_2/602-5635090-6364637?ie=UTF8&am....

If you have to buy for siblings and they are girls, this may be a good gift for both.

Tamagotchi's are also popular.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_t/102-4510515-5035368?url=search-alias%3Dtoys-and-games&field-....

Apples to Apples is a fun game too...

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_4/602-5635090-6364637?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asi....

katie...

[mskatiescarletohara]

Suggestion for boys or girls 5 and up..

A friend told me yesterday Mattel has brought back the Hot Wheels Super O race track with the Sizzlers and Juicer....needless to say, I told my stepbrother and he bought the last 4 tracks at Target last night, for his daughter and mine. He and I grew up with the originals, lots of fun racing these cars. I don't know who will be more excited, the kids or he and I on Christmas Day.

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-1/qid=1165188717/ref=sr_1_1/602-5635090-6364637?ie=UTF8&am...



katie....vroooom!

[mskatiescarletohara]

Any ideas for Mom's? One is in her 70's, the other in her 60's, and my father-in-laws wife who is in her early 50's.

Gift packages of soaps, lotions etc from Crabtree and Evelyn.

http://www.crabtree-evelyn.com/

If any of them like to garden, flowers etc, the gardening creme is great.

OR....

Gift certificates to their favorite lunch eatery....

katie....

[Id_Jit]

Kinda OT: <g>

When my eldest son (now 28) was five, he went through the various toy sections of the Christmas catalogues, cut out his preferences (pictures, descriptions, and prices), glued them to plain paper, and stuck them on the ‘fridge.
Uhmmm, I guess that he didn’t get *exactly* what he wanted for Christmas when he was four. He’s much more difficult to shop for now.

The sequel to this story is that my wife this year took up this old strategy.
The kids will have to enable her requests this year. I’d already decided what to buy for my wife and 28 YO son. Now, for the other two sons…

Id

[serfdom]

I'm going to send my nephews this email lol....they need to be reminded how wonderful their Mom and Dad are...

Thanks, midwest!

[midwestmi]

What great people they have as parents for adopting them. Their is no greater gift than that, especially with having handicaps. I really admire your family for being able to do that.

Don't worry about the power rangers. Eventually it should pass. My youngest still enjoys star-wars and figurines he can play with. It keeps him entertained for quite awhile. Now, if I could only get him as entertained in his school work!! As long as it's not destructive, he may as well have something he enjoys.