The 4th Annual Christmas Shopping Thread!!

[4littleones]

Okay - I just spent a ton of time reading randomly chosen pages in this thread and got a TON of ideas. I'm just getting started with Christmas shopping but I think we are going to add a rock wall to our swing set as my DS's gift. (almost 4) and my DD (almost 2) will be getting her STRIDER. (a running/balance bike that is made for kids who are between 1 and 5.) I can't see most 12 month olds mastering it but my son got one at two and can fly on his. (yet it is very safe!!) He absolutely loves it. I take him to walk at the park and I have to tell him to wait on me - as opposed to constantly nagging him to keep up or having to push him in a stroller. If we could take it in the parks, we'd have it made. I have a great coupon code for the bikes website but don't know if I can share it on the forum. If I can, and if anyone is interested, I'd love to share it. Just don't want to break any rules. But it was really one of the best investment toys we've ever bought for our DS. And my DD who isn't two till March has already started trying to walk with it. Any child who can't ride a two wheel bicycle yet would definitely enjoy it!!
BTW - I'm not associated with this company in any way just absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE the bike!!!

I couldn't agree more! I was on the fence about balance bikes so I could never take the plunge on the strider. I bought 3 WeeRide bikes from Walmart a couple yrs ago for $25 each and they were the best thing I ever bought my kids. Even my son who struggles with fine and gross motor skills got the hang of the bike very quickly.

 

[100AcreWood]

Actually, now that I've wrapped, it's hard to remember... anyway, they each have 7 presents. Just how it worked out, but that's plenty for this year.

I think 7 is good! My kids get 3 from us under the tree and 5 from Santa. My parents give them 3 each (although my mom has been known to cheat and put multiple things in one box). And MIL does whatever she wants to because she doesn't listen.

 

[jcemom]

I'm glad I didn't buy the XBox and Kinect from Gamestop last week, because DD changed her mind! Now she wants AG doll Kinani and her shave ice stand. The problem is that the shave ice stand sold out already! Ugh!

She is making her final list for Santa right now, so no more changing her mind afterwards. But now her list has only 2 things on it and one of them I can't get. Sheesh.

 

[Worfiedoodles]

I'm glad I didn't buy the XBox and Kinect from Gamestop last week, because DD changed her mind! Now she wants AG doll Kinani and her shave ice stand. The problem is that the shave ice stand sold out already! Ugh!

She is making her final list for Santa right now, so no more changing her mind afterwards. But now her list has only 2 things on it and one of them I can't get. Sheesh.

I feel your pain. The only thing actually on ds's list is an ipad...I go back and forth. I have a big gift card for Target, so I could get it without breaking our bank. I'm just not sure if I need to buy the most expensive one for it to meet his needs? I guess I need to do some research and ask someone who isn't trying to sell me the most expensive one...

Maria

 

[Deffenm]

I got the list from the in-laws today and of course they are just gift cards. So I will get them each a gift card and a magazine to go along with the gift card. My FIL wants a gift card to a woodworking place so I will get that for him with woodworking magazine, and MIL wants to gift card to quilt store so I will get that for her with quilting magazine. I hate giving just giftcards so I try to put a book or magazine with it.

I have to get my mom gift card to Barnes and Noble and she is done, I already got her wii fit and just dance 2 for wii.

I have no clue what to get my dad and step mom.

I hope to have every done on BF so I don't have to go out again. The traffic is already getting bad.

 

[jacksmomma]

I hope to have every done on BF so I don't have to go out again. The traffic is already getting bad.

Me too! I hope to finish up on Black Friday weekend. Everyone complains about the crazy people who are out on Black Friday, but has anyone tired to go to the mall anytime around the second week of December?! Talk about crazy! We do not shop in December except to get groceries and even then it is at off times!

 

[skip323]

I feel done...though I know I'm not. I had been looking for MH Abbey Bominable for a couple of weeks and finally got her yesterday! Everything else is easy. I need to get an Ipod Touch but those aren't hard to find...I just need a price that is somewhat agreeable (I purchased a refurb 8gb for one dd 2 years ago for about $100 so the new prices really mess with me). I also need to get things for my parents but they are so difficult! I'm thinking Apple GC's for my dad for his bday, xmas and then father's day and he'll have a good chunk, then, for an IPad (which I think he wants). Mom, not sure. Dh's parents have both passed away and we don't buy much, ifi anything, for siblings on either side...we buy for the kids.

I'm relieved! now to find the best deal on that Ipod Touch!

 

[Bibbidi]

I feel done...though I know I'm not. I had been looking for MH Abbey Bominable for a couple of weeks and finally got her yesterday! Everything else is easy. I need to get an Ipod Touch but those aren't hard to find...I just need a price that is somewhat agreeable (I purchased a refurb 8gb for one dd 2 years ago for about $100 so the new prices really mess with me). I also need to get things for my parents but they are so difficult! I'm thinking Apple GC's for my dad for his bday, xmas and then father's day and he'll have a good chunk, then, for an IPad (which I think he wants). Mom, not sure. Dh's parents have both passed away and we don't buy much, ifi anything, for siblings on either side...we buy for the kids.

I'm relieved! now to find the best deal on that Ipod Touch!

I think TRU is supposed to be offering a $50 giftcard with the purchase of a touch on black friday.

 

[Graciesmom77]

I forgot that my 2 older daughters were asking for the Our Generation Jeep for their American Girl dolls. Darn it, thats another 70 bucks! The only reason I am going to get them is because that is what my Mom was going to get them. When they open them I am going to let them know that Grammy wanted to get them that and I just know she is watching from Heaven so happy!

I am trying to get excited for Christmas and out trip and sometimes I can be a little bit. We put most of the outside lights up and our first of 2 trees are up. It is a artificial white tree and we decorate it all in pink and silver. I don't like pink, but having 4 girls I thought it was a cute idea. Pink was my Moms favorite color, so I thought it was even more fitting this year!

I decided to get my stepsisters and stepbrother gift cards to the Funny Bone, a comedy club around here and a card saying I would babysit their kids for the evening while they go. I hope they like it.

 

[maggieusa]

Updated

My DD is serving in Korea for a year and I have my Grandaughter

Here is what she has so far
Powerwheel
Disney Princess Castle
7 Princess
Leapfron tag and some books
wack a mole game
light brite.
v tech motion game with tons of games I found the games at walmart in September for five dollars each.

Grandson
nadar electic car
and mega lego wagon
bag of legos

Brother
Ninja food and drink prep

Daughter
luggage this is what she wanted and is using already

I need to get some stocking stuffers and a few clothing items.

 

[southern_redhead]

We spent the afternoon in the mall today. I managed to get DH to shuttle the kids to Gamestop while I ran in to The Body Shop. I had a $40 Groupon (those things ROCK!) and managed to get $80 worth of stuff for $30 out of pocket. I bought DD a lollipop thing filled with lip balms for her stocking, got ODS 2 shower/hair washes for his stocking, and got my mom 2 body butters for her gift basket. I also got myself something. Every year, for the last few years, I have bought these little figurines at Hallmark. They are part of a buy 3 cards, get this for $10 promo. My decorations are candy/gingerbread, and they've had some really cute ones (one was a musical/light up tree decorated with candy, etc..) This year's was a gingerbread man, he sings silly little ditties. Very cute , the kids will love him LOL

We also hit the Lego store. YDS was enthralled with the VW camper. He's not getting it (he barely has the attention span for a medium size set), but it is cool. We spent a little time in Bath and Bodyworks, sniffing candles. Yum. The Hot Chocolate and Apple Crumble are too die for. I kept throwing hints to DH about the massive gingerbread man candle holder. He said he thinks he's going to buy me some kind of lens that goes over your iPhone to create a better zoom? Sigh. LOL It is neat, but it's $35, and I have no doubt that it would be used as a novelty a time or two and then put in "the drawer". I love the man dearly, but I do wish he'd take a hint. He did come through, in a big way, with the iPhone last year. I can dream that the zoom lens is a false lead

 

[QVCshopper]

Aww, Southern Redhead. Buy yourself the candle. That's what I do... I've bought myself my own gifts for years now. Always get what I want at a good price with my employee discount. Your DH sounds like a sweetie, though.

I'm finished shopping for everyone who told me what they want... Just waiting on a few stragglers (ie, my DH and sister who don't want anything). How do you not want anything? I always have wish lists going... Oh, and gift cards for the teachers, bus drivers, etc.

 

[southern_redhead]

Aww, Southern Redhead. Buy yourself the candle. That's what I do... I've bought myself my own gifts for years now. Always get what I want at a good price with my employee discount. Your DH sounds like a sweetie, though.

I will LOL I just find it hilarious that I can say, point blank, "Oooh I'd love to find this in my stocking" or "I would LOVE one of these, it would make a great gift for me", and he never buys it. I think he wants whatever he gets to be a suprise. Also, he thinks what HE would like...and a candle holder or peppermint bark wouldn't be on the list. Now that ODS is 12, maybe I can enlist him. I could give him ideas and then he could show DH like HE had the idea
I'm finished shopping for everyone who told me what they want... Just waiting on a few stragglers (ie, my DH and sister who don't want anything). How do you not want anything? I always have wish lists going... Oh, and gift cards for the teachers, bus drivers, etc.

I know. Who are these people? LOL DH is like that, although, he's gotten better this year. He did actually give me 2 ideas (a remote car starter and blue tooth for his car.) In the past I've heard, "I don't know" and "I don't want anything". Very frustrating.

x

 

[Deffenm]

I got DS10 a Knex set. He wanted the big double roller coaster but he has never played with Knext before so Meijer had the small roller coaster for $9.99 instead of $21 so I picked that up. I liked the $9.99 prices better then the $44 price of the big one. I also got DD a bath kit and tooth brush holder (princess ones). I got each kids new tooth brush for their stockings. I got my dad part of his gift. He wanted saw horses from Harbor Freight so I bought him one and use coupon for free multi purpose scissors for DH's stocking and then will go buy my dad his other saw horse and get DH another free items for his stocking. Got to love the coupons from Harbor Freight. My DH wants a treadmill for Christmas so I need to figure out how to buy that for him and get it into the house. I will probably do it the same way I did his gun safe last year. I had him carry it in. He will be happy just to have it. He even rearranged a room last night so he had the space for it. I tell you he is worse then the kids during Christmas. He even circled items in his soccer magazine of coaching supplies he wants. I guess I should be thankful he at least tells me what he wants. Well I am still on track to have everything done this weekend.

 

[tweedlemom]

Don't forget to buy your Hess trucks!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Aww, Southern Redhead. Buy yourself the candle. That's what I do... I've bought myself my own gifts for years now. Always get what I want at a good price with my employee discount. Your DH sounds like a sweetie, though.

I'm finished shopping for everyone who told me what they want... Just waiting on a few stragglers (ie, my DH and sister who don't want anything). How do you not want anything? I always have wish lists going... Oh, and gift cards for the teachers, bus drivers, etc.

LOL, I still tease DH about the year I said "I want a GPS." and he bought me jewelry, and not stuff I could wear every day (I'm a SAHM), but a sapphire tennis bracelet and earrings. He said he didn't know what to get me. Um, how about the gps I asked for??? They were pretty and I sure was surprised, lol, but I bought myself the gps after Christmas. And now if there's something I want and I'm not getting the vibe that he's bought it I buy it myself, but he does pay better attention now.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I am tired of shopping and I love to shop. I feel like that's all I've been doing for the past two weeks! And I'm STILL not done! I'm close though. I still need some candy for the stockings and 4 more toothbrushes. For gifts I need a laptop, tablet, and an ipod. I'm waiting for black friday for the ipod, the others I'm waiting for payday .

Oh, and I need a Cars toy, I'm not sure which one. DS10 really wanted one he saw at WDW and I meant to buy it before we left and didn't. It was a Mack Hauler that came with cars. So I tried calling and ordering it and it's sold out now, someone is selling it on Amazon for almost $100, it was $60 in the parks. I can't bring myself to pay that so now I'm trying to decide which one he would like instead. His brother thinks I should go with something remote controlled so I may do that.

 

[bas71873]

I guess I am almost finished and as usual, have gone WAY overboard with DD. It's WAY too easy to do with her being an only child and with a mom who LOVES to shop! But, here's my list of the loot. I still need to shop for my dad, pick up a few more things for DH and get teacher's gifts finished.

As a family, we are going to the Gaylord National on the 28th and staying 2 nights with the "Ice" package and also making a stop at the American Girl store at Tyson's Corner.

So from us, mom & dad, DD is getting:
LL Bean Duffle bag
Dollie & Me outfit
Leggings, tank top & a t-shirt you can color (she wears these to her tap & jazz classes)
Racing suit for winter swim
Black boots with a small heel (she want shoes that "clip clop")

On Cmas Eve we will let her open:
Dollie & Me PJ's
Smurfs calendar
Smurfs Dance for Wii
AG wave coloring book


From Santa:
Kinani's Shaved Ice Shack
Kinani Aloha outfit
Cheer outfit for AG doll
Cheer slumber party set
AG Super Scrapbook kit
AG stickers & glue stick
Cake pop maker
Cake pop chocolate melting pot
Big red mixing bowl filled with baking supplies
I do still need to get her a book and a stuffed animal (tradition) and will pick that up at Kohl's on BF

Stocking Stuffers
AG gift card
Angry Birds cup, bookmark and card game
Nail polishes and lip glosses from Justice


DH is getting:
Coleman grill pots & pans
Kitchen trash can
Weird Things about VA (it's a book)
Redskins Tervis Tumbler


For my mom, she's getting a Nook with a cover and screen protector
Need to find something for my dad. But together they are getting DD's school pics, a scrapbook 2012 calendar that DD is making them and coleman grill pots & pans

I got my niece & nephew each an Art easel and got them the paint, brushes, dry erase markers, chalk, paper and erasers to go with. Just bought them both personalized magnets off Etsy to go with too.

I got my other nephew a game stop gift card since he is getting some new gaming system. Can't remember which one

MIL & FIL just bought a new house and close on the 21st of December and so they have asked for gift cards to Bed, Bath & Beyond, Lowes, HHGregg & Kohls, so that is what they are getting along with DD's school pics.

Grandma is getting DD's school picks, a Bed, Bath & Beyond gift card, a gift card purse/holder from Arts Cow and some perfume she wants

My best friend's girls are getting (10 year old) - the Thomas Kincaid Disney calendar, Disney gift card for their trip in April and a scrapbook, (5 year old) is getting a disney gift card, a princess coloring book and a Tink playset


Teacher is getting a basket with a desk calendar, sticky notes and a B&N gift card and then soome homemade goodies.


Speech therapist is getting a B&N gift card and homemade goodies


Bus driver is getting a Cracker Barrel gift card and homemade goodies

Tap teacher - I made her one of those square glass block night lights that has the dance school's name and established date in the school colors. Her tap teacher is also the owner.

Jazz teacher is getting a movie gift card and homemade goodies
Movie card w/popcorn basket
Goodies - red velvet, pretzel melts, M&M

And I will bake goodies for a few neighbors.

Now I have to get is all organized and wrapped after I hopefully finished up on BF

My house is all decorated inside. Tree is up but we'll put the lights on and decorate either Thursday or Friday night. We will do the outside on Friday afternoon when I get home (and after a nap since we are starting at midnight).

I LOVE Christmas!

 

[AmandaNied]

I'm kinda at a standstill with gift getting right now, so far I have:

Son (7):

Digital camera
"science" experiments
Spyro game with some characters for the Wii
some legos (he just now is into them all of a sudden)
I have some books in my Amazon cart I need to purchase too, and i'm sure i'll find some odds and ends on BF

DH:
Bose ipod docking station
stocking trinkets- screwdriver, beard trimmer

Mom&Dad
My mom said she wanted a new smaller luggage piece, one that's hard sided. She really was dropping some serious hints about how much she liked our Hey's set the last time we were there to visit.
My dad is happy with a spool of rope or a new hot glue gun.

MIL&FIL
They are also, like a PP said "7 year olds with disposable income". We are going to go in on a weekend away at a local Casino, and I had a picture framed that has been in their basement for years that they have always mentioned they needed to have framed. We are also getting a book about John Dillinger for my FIL

 

[chellewashere]

Toralei is now available at Amazon for those of you who are looking for her and for a normal price.