<p>Something has me thinking about Christmas…maybe the weather or could be the fact that I don’t have one single thing on a list from my dd or my nephew ( who is like a son to us). They are 21 and 22, nearing the end of college, but not quite ready for all the “home” things that they will want when they have their own apartments- w/o roommates. I think they are pretty well set with clothes and supplies for their prospective careers, so haven’t been inspired in that area either. </p>
<p>I know we could just do giftcards or some type of investment for their future, but I miss the days of seeing them open things that light up their face. (Could be I just miss them being little, when things were easier.) </p>
<p>Just wondered what were on your Christmas list? Thought maybe I could get inspired of catch a new idea.</p>
<p>I suppose you could throw in your husbands list too! hehe</p>
<p>So far, I know of only one item for sure we’re getting DD … AppleTV. I’m not technologically savvy and don’t even understand everything it does (I have DH for that), but we have it and, according to DH, we love it! LOL! :)<br>
It’s very small so it’s perfect for DD whose job requires her to move job locations every few months.</p>
<p>I babysit a little one every day for about 5 hours. Have since he was born, sometimes when his dad is deployed my days with him are extended to 10-12 hours so we have managed to spend quite a bit of time together. They are one house away so even on non-babysitting days we see each other daily.</p>
<p>With my 5 kittens all grown the days of fisher price, wooden blocks, stuffed puppy dogs, sticky fingers and wet kisses are long gone. But since watching him this past year and a half, I can honestly say I have never been more excited for Christmas.</p>
<p>My five were all a year apart, like steps. I was young and extremely stupid! Played with them more than cleaning the house, seemed to be perpetually tired and was always losing something. They have all managed to grow up, do well and return home for long weekends and the holidays, with significant others in tow…no grandbabies for a while…they all have too much to do…</p>
<p>But my little guy with his silly smile and his need to see his kitty (that’s what he calls me)has brpught such a wonderful joy to my life. He reminds me so much of how mine all used to be when they were little and how big their hopes and dreams were. And how it was my job to be their “keeper of dreams”. Now they don’t really even need me for that except sometimes a gentle reminder here and there.</p>
<p>So Santa is back at our house, with all his very smelly and HUNGRY reindeer, and the elves make ever so many messes…we are patiently waiting on the Great Pumpkin as I speak and spend time today playing with Mr. Potato Head Halloween stickers on a Happy Meal Bucket, which at one point I was wearing as a hat.</p>
<p>I have spent more time at Toys R Us playing with trucks and cars and making train noises. We read our books and I tell him stories and I am once again a “keeper of dreams”.</p>
<p>I posted this a couple of years ago. I got my son a new wallet. In it, I put six gift cards to places I know he frequents. I also put some cash in it, and some coupons to the places for the gift cards. He got to open a present…but it was something HE could choose in the end. I think it was the BEST gift I’ve ever given either of my kids (and they agreed)!</p>
<p>Ahh Kat, that was so sweet. I teach preschoolers every day. They give the sweetest hugs (and then drive me crazy). We do a lot of fun stuff w/ them for the holidays. The highlight is decorating ginger bread houses with massive amts. of candy.</p>
<p>I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around Christmas just yet. S1 (U.S. Navy) deploys to the Middle East right after Thanksgiving. It will be our first Christmas without him…weird. S2 graduated from college this year (no more 3 week vacations). He has a job that requires travel so making plans is tenuous. Makes my head hurt to think about it. </p>
<p>I would lo ve to give each of them a small touchscreen tablet. I thought it would be nice for their constant traveling lifestyles …haven’t dropped that idea on DH yet though…he’s not Scrooge but he might be a distant relative.</p>
<p>Packmom, S travels all the time. He bought himself a tablet and loves it. Between the work computer, 2 phones and living out of a carry on, he finds the tablet really helpful.</p>
<p>D is getting a Lonchamps tote, she’s going to travel herself. S is getting a go pro camera. It’s a little harder when they start working and buy what they want mostly.</p>
<p>My cousins just sent us their Christmas list. The oldest one, who is now 16, puts “a cure for diabetes” at the top of her list every year. She’s done it since she was diagnosed at 8. So every year, we donate to the juvenile diabetes fund for her. Still breaks my heart every time though. The younger one is 11. </p>
<p>My mom always gets me fuzzy sucks and fuzzy clothes (which I love) to give me something to open. This year, I have a feeling there will be some Tigers things involved :). I feel so bad for my parents because I can never give them a Christmas list. I just never really want anything. Christmas is going to be very, very tight around here this year as I’m the only one in my family working. I’ve been picking up extra shifts to try to get my parents something nice but they won’t give me any ideas! (Grumble grumble). Parents- ideas?!</p>
<p>Packmom, hugs to you and my best wishes to your S.</p>
<p>^^Roman, that is a wonderful gift for cousin and so sad at the same time. Those kinds of stories warm my heart.</p>
<p>As a parent, I can tell you I DO NOT WANT MY KIDS TO SPEND ANY MONEY ON ME!!! If they have extra, I honestly want them to save or save for an item they really want. A thoughtful note or album full of photos is inexpensive and thoughtful…maybe a story about a special memory that you share, or how you now notice the things they did, that at the time you didn’t. Having said that, my inlaws are very hard to buy for, because they never want anything. My parents on the other hand, always have a long list of things they would want…ugh! (that’s another story-ha!)</p>
<p>Has anyone ever bought the redbox gift codes. I looked up about getting a gift card and they only do codes…wondered how that worked?</p>
<p>I’m just hoping for a better economy, so we have more work to pay for presents!! My sweet 14-year-old daughter said tonight, “Mom, all I want for Christmas is to go out for Chinese food.” Sigh.</p>
<p>My DD is getting an ipad. DS couldn’t think of anything he wants, so I’m going to pay for a vacation. Maybe New Orleans. Or San Diego. Once he decides, I’ll assemble a packet of information for the area. I wish I could come up with a “surprise”, but it gets hard to guess what they’d like as they get older.</p>
<p>I like Thumpers idea for the girls SO’s.
They both seem fairly significant, although I don’t know either of them well, but I’d like to get them something & they both are students so I’m sure they’d appreciate it!</p>
<p>I got my DH Apple TV last year for Christmas. He wasn’t quite sure about it, and even said “well, I might return it.” That is until he set it up. Huge hit with the entire family.</p>
<p>Christmas this year is looking to be frugal, due to DH losing his job. I bought a vintage 1920’s typewriter off eBay back in the summer & am restoring it for D2; she’s a writer & is enthralled by anything vaguely old & useful & steampunky so I’m thinking it will be a hit.</p>
<p>D1 loves to cook, so I’m putting together a cookbook of her favorite homemade foods and recipes from the extended family. </p>
<p>There will be a few “real” presents, no matter what. I LOVE the wallet idea Thumper! I might do a variation of that for D1’s 21st birthday :)</p>
<p>Those are very creative ideas RobD!
What I like about the wallet idea is that you can adjust it to your budget & your giftee.
I know nothing about mens wallets though, H just uses a little thing with a clip that only holds a few cards & some bills. ( he was getting pain from sitting on it).</p>
<p>I like the wallet idea, but DH tells me that men are very particular about their wallets (bi-fold, tri-fold, etc) and I’d hate to get the wrong kinds for my sons. I’ll have to pay more attention to what they have now. Nordstrom’s has some lovely men’s wallets.</p>
<p>This is an idea I’d love to use at some point, maybe when my sons get married:</p>
<p>It’s a way to print a dish towel using a handwritten recipe. Most of my classic recipes have been handed down from my mother, so I’m thinking of having her write some out on recipe cards. Alternatively I can write them in my own handwriting, but having a memento from Grandma seems like a nice thing.</p>
<p>Romani, give your parents something personal. Last year D (19 years old) gave us a picture frame with some of her pictures and a note that said thanks. It was not expensive but meant a lot.</p>
<p>Roman - I agree with others, parents usually do not want their kids to spend money on them. When my 19yo was about 4yo we started making a scrapbook every year that documented what we had done, with a slant towards making it funny and honoring DH. My H loves it and looks forward to it each year. And actually we have several friends and relatives who ask to look at it. If you really want to give your parents something, how about a GC to a local restaurant and a couple of movie passes for a night out?</p>
<p>Ross, TJ Maxx and Marshall’s all carry men’s wallets especially as we get close to the holidays. And they are very reasonably priced for the quality. Ralph Lauren wallet’s last year were $19.99 with an MSRP of $125.00. Fossil, Relic, Calvin Klein, Nike were in the $7.99 range.</p>
<p>This is were I picked up my boys’ wallets for Christmas last year, much more affordable compared to Macy’s and Belk’s. We do stockings so it is always an adventure to find small sized items that would be useful and whimsical to fit into the stockings. Usually takes me many months in advance to plan it all out!</p>
<p>Packmom, I will be thinking of you and your oldest as he deploys, especially since this is your first Christmas without him. You must be so very proud of him while your heart is breaking, I wish him fair winds and following seas.</p>