<p>OK…I’ll start…</p>
<p>One kid is getting a GPS (a cheap one) and the other is getting a plane ticket to a family event that she really wants to attend (and we did NOT plan on flying her here for). We’ll make a donation to charity on behalf of the extended family. DH and I will think of something for the house.</p>
<p>Everyone will get one new article of clothing and the kids will each get a Christmas ornament and a stocking full of “stuff”.</p>
<p>My younger son (16) has asked for a top hat and an MP3 player. I think he also needs a vest so he can stop steallying my husband’s trachten vest. Older son has no ideas - he’s had some pricey requests in the past so he’ll probably get a little less this year.</p>
<p>Asked the Ds for a list for one nice thing (like new purse or boots) and one not as nice thing (whatever they want.) H and I do not exchange (we feel like we get whatever we want all the time!) and we told the girls not to worry about us as well.
My real headache is figuring out what to get my nieces, who are not like my Ds in that they have no real interest in clothes. Also what to get my mom!</p>
<p>The Nordic Skiing/Snowshoeing and Hockey playing D’s will get new base layers and some great Nike Dri-Fit winter tops that I found at Marshalls for a third of the price…can never be too warm up here!</p>
<p>I have been buying the latest edition of the Looney Tunes classic DVD’s for hubby every year (we LOVE them, and we are introducing Ds’ younger cousins to them - they DO have to show a disclaimer beforehand since some of the original versions are deemed politically incorrect for today’s tastes). Soon to be pre-med D1 gets the latest season of House on DVD. Looking for a good preowned saddle for D2 since I can’t afford new…selling the one she outgrew on ebay…</p>
<p>As for me, I hope to find the Dilbert treasury under the tree - loved the Calvin and Hobbes one I got last year!</p>
<p>Books! S is getting a stack o’ books, and probably a couple of shirts. H will get clothes, a book, and probably a couple of recordings, and if I don’t get socks for Christmas this year – I need them, I want them, I put them on my Christmas list every year, and there is NOTHING else on it! – I’m going to have a good long old-fashioned Christmas pout!!!</p>
<p>I have no idea.
We have decided we are not going to make the holiday trip that we have made for the last 20 years, partly because we are still going to be recovering from the strike for a while & partly because of work schedules. I am still trying to figure out something fun for us to do- in this lovely climate- ;), let alone think of presents.</p>
<p>Owlice, we often give socks- because our holiday trip is to where it is usually below freezing, and we can always use more socks.
( I get them through the REI outlet online)</p>
<p>D asked for a digital camera, and S asked for a video camera (which is what he got last year and managed to break). Those will be their “big” gifts, and then they’ll each get some new clothes and pjs, a book, a movie, and a stocking full of stuff - usually a gift card to a favorite store, some costume jewelry/makeup for D & a video game, a novelty item and a gift card for S. H and I don’t exchange much - just a token gift.</p>
<p>Owlice - I’d be happy to send you some socks! D always asks for socks too…lol. She likes the very fuzzy ones to wear around the house in lieu of slippers. What kind would you like?</p>
<p>I brought home a lap blanket and sweater for each son from our trip to Peru. Each of them is getting a big book (newest pictorial from his favorite photographer/artist for one, manual for repairing his motorcycle for the other), a small boxed game, a personalized calendar for next year (his own artwork for one, his motorcycle for the other – see a trend here? 
), and some stocking-stuffers (including a gift card for a restaurant near each college, a robot pencil sharpener that winds up when you use it and walks forward, and some fridge magnets).</p>
<p>I have asked for one thing for Christmas (other than that we all assemble home together safely): a replacement for my 15-year-old kitchen apron.</p>
<p>No big gifts this year. Mostly needed basic clothing for the older boys. Some books and inexpensive neat things I collected over the year. For the little guy, a computer game he has been coveting and maybe a lego set along with some books, craft kits, and fun things. That and their stockings. </p>
<p>I am redecorating H’s office for his gift. I have pulled furniture from other locations of the house and bought some book cases and prints. I have a diagram all done. I think he’ll like it. Have been working on it since March. Also a couple of ties, a nice book and knick knacks. I would love to get some tickets to a Broadway show for everyone and some $$s but that is going to depend on the financial picture next month. Right now, doesn’t look good. Dishwasher broke, needed work on the vents, car is in the shop, needed an engineer report and work for drainage, need plumbing work, local taxes went way up, health insurance premiums supposed to go up. Also spent over budget this month with the school Christmas bazaar, Costco, and Trader Joes.</p>
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<p>This is what’s so scary – It’s not that we’re spending on frivolous, discretionary items; it’s that the necessary spending has gotten so large.</p>
<p>H is getting a Kindle. It just arrived last night and I hid and played with it. Very cool and it will be PERFECT for travel instead of the 20 pounds of books he usually brings. For the first time ever, I have no ideas for S other than the usual books. Help.</p>
<p>I can’t post what we’re getting our son as he’s a member here at CC and I never know if he sees my posts. For my husband, we’re taking a short “repositioning” cruise to southwestern BC next September. The ships do 3 and 4 day (inexpensive) sailings from here as they get ready to switch from sailing Alaska during the summer months to sailing Hawaii during the winter. So that is our Christmas and birthday gift to each other this year.</p>
<p>The gift I’m most excited about is a GPS for my mom. She has gotten more and more uncomfortable driving to places she is not familiar with. As an example: we moved to this house almost 4 months ago. It’s not difficult to get to and is about 1/2 hour from her. She’s been here ONCE and managed to take a wrong turn so I had to go get her from the gas station she had pulled into. She hasn’t tried to come here since because she’s worried about getting lost again. Our son is in a cabaret next month and she has declined going because it’s in a different area that she is unfamiliar with and it’ll be nighttime to boot. I hope she likes it and that it helps her get out more, and also that it doesn’t confuse or irritate her.</p>
<p>D1 wants a Coach wallet, D2 wants clothes, and little S got a game for his Wii. We’ll just fill in some other things here and there. </p>
<p>I had wanted a pair of crystal dangly earrings, but I don’t think that’s going to happen, and hubby wanted a GPS. Maybe after the holidays. We don’t usually exchange with each other, so it’s a positive step that we’re even thinking of it!</p>
<p>D1 wants clothes and earrings. She is going to get her ears pierced. D2 wants to go skiing. H wants some t-shirts and maybe a new TV for upstairs.</p>
<p>I saw the neatest idea in the Levenger’s catalogue. A compartmentalized tote bag filled with reading goodies. Loved it for myself. But I picked up some really nice messenger bags at the Christmas Tree Shop for just a few dollars, and I may steal the idea from that catalogue and fill it with some of sundries that it includes. I’ll do the same with a tote for MIL, I think. We have a lovely necklace for her that we picked up this summer which is her main gift, but I 'd like to have a couple more things under the tree for her. Now she’s one that is difficult to find a gift that is suitable and that she’ll enjoy. She has so much junk already that she does not need more.</p>
<p>Both girls will be getting new Ugg boots…they’re not cute but warm for around here. I also think they will be getting remote starters for their cars. Thinking of getting D1’s phone service upgraded so she can get internet and navigation service. Still thinking about that.
D2’s Ipod just broke so I bet she will also find a new Ipod touch under the tree. I don’t need anything and H just bought three new suits for work last week. Yikes! We will be broke!</p>
<p>What is a remote starter? Is this something that anyone can buy for a car?</p>
<p>Yes, it is for your car. You can start your car from a specified distance away and have the heater going so you don’t have to sit in sub-zero weather waiting for the car to warm up! Works great to have car warm at school or when shopping or leaving book club! ;)</p>
<p>NorthMinnesota, I just placed the order on zappos.com for Ugg boots for the girls. One daughter already has one pair and wants a second; the other needs some so she can stop wearing the super cheap fake ones.</p>
<p>We’ve always done Christmas in a huge way. I’jm 95% sure I’ll be getting a pay cut in a couple of months, so I’m not in the mood to spend a fortune. </p>
<p>The 16 year old daughter wants EVERYTHING…the 13 year old daughter, a few things…17 year old son, almost nothing.</p>
<p>I’d love to get direct TV/Tivo or the like for us for Christmas…I feel like we’re the only ones still messing with videotape.</p>
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I didn’t know that (not much of a car person), but I know a precious princess who would like that.</p>