<p>The whole gang is going to see Spamalot the day after Christmas.</p>
<p>“Some day son, all this will be yours!”</p>
<p>“What, the curtains?”</p>
<p>I don’t even know if those lines are in the stage version.</p>
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<p>They are! Enjoy it!</p>
<p>blucroo, that is a great idea.</p>
<p>I know after all these years I worry about where we’ll put any additional stuff in this house.</p>
<p>Also, there are only so many years you can give the usual gifts (in our house, a calendar, some socks, etc).</p>
<p>So, shelf-life, I think your plan is a fine one! Believe me, this gift of expensive jeans will not be repeated any time soon!</p>
<p>The whole gang is going to see Spamalot the day after Christmas.
oh that sounds fun!
I really miss when we used to go to the Seattle Childrens theatre- we would get season tickets- because then we would have to make plans for it- if it wasn’t already already arranged- it would be too likely that someone would whine that they didn’t want to go do anything ( or that there was a football game on :rolleyes:)</p>
<p>Going to the mountains- is really the only vacation we have ever taken besides camping and visiting D in Portland. But it is great because we all can hang out together- but there is also a lot to do.</p>
<p>I don’t think you are a grinch shelflife-once the kids get older- I don’t think they expect ( and I am not going to get) huge expensive presents for the holidays.
I buy them something special for their birthday & for graduations- but the main reason why we started to go away at xmas, was to get * away* from certain members of our families who made holiday time into a competitive shopping marathon- ( plus H has the time between xmas and newyears off anyway- and if we are out of town- they can’t call him in to work)</p>
<p>When relatives asked for gift ideas for DS, I told them to get movie passes, gourmet chocolate, CD’s, movie passes, and gift certificates to his school store. I’m giving him a new, snazzy winter jacket, some little items, and cash. </p>
<p>It certainly gets more challenging to shop for older kids - so much easier (and more fun) to shop for little ones. Now my toy shopping is limited to presents for my little nieces.</p>
<p>We do the same type of Hanukkah celebration as blucroo (see post #19)…Each of us plans a family event (and I pick up the tab). </p>
<p>The first year, my S who is into sports selected going to a Harlem Globetrotters show. His thinking was along the lines that his brother and I aren’t too into sports, so we would enjoy a light-weight show. Well, it was a hoot. Most of the audience was pre-school and kindergarten. My Ss were quite a bit older, and the show was clearly meant for the younger set. We had a good time anyways, and it is a fond family memory.</p>
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<p>We’re going New Year’s Eve. Most of us have seen all but the first 10 minutes. I trust we’ll leave the house a little earlier this time! I can’t wait to see it again. It was great!</p>
<p>1moremom - When I made the phone-call rounds of the local Target/BestBuy/CircuitCity/Walmart… they all seemed to expect another shipment but no idea when. Told me to call back from time to time.</p>
<p>I’m just not inclined to do this on a daily basis, so I might miss out. You can buy them online (EBay and other places), but for that you have to buy the more bundled versions (seem to be over $500) and/or pay a premium. I’m not going there.</p>
<p>I will probably give both kids coal in their stockings. They are both seniors in college now and I’m feeling broke after four years of horrendous expenses. They also both want $ to travel.</p>
<p>One of the most successful ideas for my daughter in previous years has been the post-Christmas jeans run, in which we go to Nordstrom and she tries on every single pair of jeans in her size and the sizes near her size until she finds the perfect pair and I buy them for her. One year I bought two, because the runnerup pair was on sale for $20. We’ve done this three years running, then we go to lunch. It’s fun for both of us. (Incidentally, the perfect jeans have been Lucky brand for the last two years, at about $95. I’ve never had to set a price limit.)</p>
<p>Younger S- Wii games/accessories</p>
<p>Older S- Adding to the wardrobe, and giving a small amount of cash.</p>
<p>S1, high school freshman, wants a digital camera. He also wants a French foreign exchange student for spring semester. He will probably get both.</p>
<p>S2, college freshman, wants the ipod thingy that lets you play the iPod through the radio in the car. </p>
<p>Both boys got IPODS last year for Chnristmas. Engraved, directly from Apple. </p>
<p><em>I</em> want someone to take my car away and bring it back washed, waxed, vacuumed, oil changed, and maybe brakes and exhaust system!
I also want someone to take the <em>house</em> away and do the same thing! In the fall, I pretty much work 6-7 days a week, especially through December. And if S1 is getting his exchange student – I want some help prepping the house!</p>
<p>CNP, I don’t know where you live, but around here there are “mobile autodetailing” services that do exactly what you want for your car, including change the oil.</p>
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This one sounds like an interesting gift for HS boy! :)</p>
<p>When my daughter was in about 3rd grade she had to write about something she did with her grandma. “We go shopping at Clearance.” She thought it was a STORE! It was grandma’s favorite place.</p>
<p>Works for me, too.</p>
<p>Starbucks & bn gift cards are always good for the college set.</p>
<p>dmd77: I like the shopping trip idea. D will be home from Boston until 1/1 so we can do a girl’s day out shopping and hit Loehman’s and Nordstrom Rack. If we do pedicure thing together, that will fit with our “event” theme. Will have to think of something the Dad and S can do at the same time since shopping and pedicures won’t cut it with them.</p>