My favorite gifts this year were a vase my d made in a pottery class and a set of William Morris inspired throw pillows from my H. No misses this year!
(H had a lot to make up for from last year when he asked me what I wanted but didn’t pay enough attention so he came close but no cigar - woolen mittens ended up being gloves exactly like a pair I already owned; Murano glass cocktail forks were cheap plastic beaded cocktail knives, etc…)
My son-in-law (bless his heart) shared Flu Type A. I’m sick.
My daughter known for her “misses” gave me an amaryllis bulb. All parts - bulb, stem, leaves, petals - are poisonous to cats. I have four house cats. She told me to keep it away from the stupid ones. I asked a friend - no cats - if she wanted it. It never even entered the house. (My guess is that she got it as a gift, didn’t want it, and decided to “regift” it to me.)
My youngest daughter gave me gift cards to a favorite place to eat.
I haven’t opened other presents as I don’t feel good enough to care - see Flu Type A comment.
D2 was sick starting Christmas Eve day and she was still sick all day on Christmas. We don’t know if she ate something (she has food allergies and gastro issues). I thought I was going to have to take her to the ER yesterday, but I was able to get medicine down her and kept her somewhat hydrated so she could stay at home.
We opened presents with D1 and her H since they leave tomorrow to see his family on the east coast. We are hoping D2 feels good enough today to open presents.
I gave my husband the overpriced butt ugly hoodie he wanted - that I hate - and instead of getting total unequivocal kudos for giving him something he wanted that I knows I really don’t like, it’s a miss because it’s the wrong size. (Every shirt or sweater he owns is an XL, yet somehow XL is too big in hoodies?)
My kids got useful gifts, which aren’t the most fun. I think their favorite thing was the silly packages that had checks in them - it wasn’t the check, but the confetti. They had such a blast throwing the confetti around and being silly.
I got my 13yo niece the Era’s Tour photo book, it was a huge hit (not a surprise).
For me - I got a slew of smartwool and bombas socks - and they all make me very happy. Totally boring, but what I wanted.
@happy1 - I love old fashioned photos in frames too, but we love our Aura frame the kids got us last Christmas! When D1 and her H were on their honeymoon in New Zealand they uploaded pictures to the frame that we got to see while they were there. They did the same thing when they were in Ireland at Thanksgiving.
The photos in frames of S’s wedding with extended family in them for all my sibs and D were a big hit.
Nephew loved the pillow I gave him on Christmas eve so much he slept with it! Also gave him a fuzzy throw and check. Other nephew loved the gift set I gave that has sand and dirt and plastic pieces that change color with light or heat (he can play with it in patio). His parents were happy with the checks for him and his little sister.
The Airpod Pro 2 was a big hit with H—helps him hear us all better!
The spanish bingo & spanish chutes & ladders were a big hit with bilingual boy I brought it for as a grab bag. The 20# bag of rice was also a big hit—the hostess “stole” it from the person who had unwrapped the bag that had it as a gift.
My DIL was happy with the coasters she got as a grab bag. She thinks S will also enjoy the gopro13 Ivgave them and can use it when scuba diving or snorkeling.
D seems happy with bose quiet comfort ear buds but didn’t see her trying them out yet.
S gave me a Sonicare top of the line electric toothbrush that looks very fancy. I used it last night.
I got great gifts, but these really are fun. They are mock fleece lined slippers and when you walk, the lights on the trees blink. Really fun…and warm. And according to the little instruction sheet, they will blink 500,000 times!
Both my kids did well - a cute pink wool beanie from S (we live in a cold weather place and I love pink) and from D and SIL a pretty sweater, drink go cup (I was think of asking for one) and a box of “cheat cards” for setting up a charcuterie board (another thing I was thinking of asking for).
We (Me, H, S, D and SIL) posed for a group picture at a wedding we attended in late October. We were dressed up (of course) and the scenery behind is nice. I had the picture printed, matted and framed and gave them each one. They were both surprised and pleased.
We don’t really do many presents, but for my 8-year-old Swiftie granddaughter I sewed some Taylor Swift patches on a hoodie and on a dark blue cardigan and she was over the moon. She currently has two cardigans that she alternates wearing to school (because of the song Cardigan, of course) and now she will have to change her schedule because she has two more. She cracks me up. For her birthday I gave her a songwriter’s notebook and she is filling it with original lyrics. I love having someone in my life who is super easy to give gifts to!
Aunt D2 sent GS a dinosaur flash light. (Rechargeable and it roars when you press a button.) He’s 2. The only creatures more fascinated by light beams than cats are 2 year olds.
I love my Aura frame which I was gifted from my sons awhile ago. I am really looking forward to pictures of my first grandchild popping in when he arrives in February. It is fun to see the new pictures be added from both sons and DIL. My younger son asked for a digital picture frame for his birthday last month!
My husband gave me a wondeful photo album (Blurb, like shutterfly) of our autumn London trip… so cool! He likes the Ugg slipper I bought for him (and so today I returned 3 other slipper choices I bought - gave him a choice).
The BEST gift ever for my 97 year old dad and his wife was a visit from my kids. Colorado daughter flew to NYC, and Boston son/wife picked her up at the Poughkeepsie train station. They coordinated this themselves (after ensuring we were ok being alone on the 25th). I’m so proud of them.
I got some really nice presents this year.
D1 got me a nice set of pots from William Sonoma, (correction, not a face mask, but a facial mask) and a very soft PJ
D2 got 3 bottles of champagne/wine for wine tasting & a cooked meal to go with it. She also got a wedding album (from her recent wedding) for me.
H was happy with all his gifts - an unusual occurrence. Funny otter themed coasters and a mug, a Lego racecar kit, a profane needlepoint keychain. He’s very difficult to buy for. D assisted him with shopping for me, so a beautiful Sézane purse and a nice bottle of perfume. D got me a scarf I’d been wishing for and the Stanley Tucci book, also something I really wanted. Stockings are a big deal and everyone had a lot of fun finding fun little treats. It was a nice relaxing day, very low stress. Just the three of us and the three dogs.
I also got the Stanley Tucci book. I asked for it, but am even more pleased seeing it IRL as I can tell it will be an easy pick up & put down book that I can move through at my own pace. Hope you enjoy yours!
I sent the kid’s dog an 8 days of Hanukkah dog toys box. He liked the first toy and she sent me a picture of the dog staring at the box waiting for the next toy.
