A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall Home for the Holidays Christmas is just around the corner

and I can't believe it. Seems like I just got the Christmas mess cleaned up. This December 22nd we're taking a ride on the Polar Express. A few years ago we started taking the gang on a trip for Christmas since it's so hard to come up with an idea as to what they want because they buy whatever they want all through the year. Has worked out really well.

Started planning yet?

I start planning after Christmas for next year. My kids get cash. It is the most useful thing I can think of for them.

I usually start buying say in September or October--then hold off until right before or after T-Giving. I have several things bought already & am now waiting for ideas form the family.

Emily & Chris are getting gift cards I think...as all gifts will be shipped out to Virginia. Sounds to me as if Luke will get a set of Lincoln Logs. I do not know about the others yet.

Rod got his Christmas Gift on his birthday. What he wanted for his B-Day covered 2 gifts.

Money is always a good gift. Junie will you be able to hold to the already has his gift plan? Or will you decide at the last minute you better get to shopping?

well, yes & no, Sheri. I will likely get him a shirt or something else he needs so he has something to open.

But this way what he wanted he has & as it cost what it did, I told him to go ahead & get it & it could be for both gift occasions.

I have already bought the gifts for my two grands and my daughter. I am waiting for ideas from my mother because she is insulted by money or gift cards yet never uses what we buy her anyway.

DH and I usually do not buy for each other but since GG notices such things we just buy a few little things to have something under the tree.

Either way I put $500 away from our taxes in the spring and that is what is used. When it is gone, the shopping is done

Your trip sounds wonderful Sheri....memories are the best gifts to give. Well, I'd also take the cash from Tina

I usually ask for gift cards, then end up using them for stuff for the kids, lol... I buy stuff over the year for the kids and my mom, though. Trey knows that this year is going to be super tight though, plus, I told him the xbox he got for his birthday was a Christmas and birthday present, and that he'd get some smaller things for Christmas.

I seen my first Christmas commercials yesterday.

James. Just an idea...when buying some small things for Trey..add some clothes or other things that he needs, or was going to get anyway. That way he has more to open & you have not spent more $$ than you would. I used to do that for my girls when they were young. They loved opening the "sensible gifts" as well as the others. It was not knowing what was under the tree that was the fun.
As an example they both got what I called "Christmas Pajamas" (new PJ's that I wrapped & put under the tree)...THAT gift they got to open Christmas Eve, so they could wear them to bed that night. They LOVED it. I also put the gifts out under the tree after they went to bed Christmas Eve...so seeing the gifts was part of the surprise.

I also start buying early & put it all back. I do not feel the pinch so much that way.

I have been seeing Christmas commercials for a bit now---

The stores are all Christmas'fied in full force here. Grandgirl was so excited yesterday looking at the items at the Dollar store....apparently we need to cut our tree down this week

Bah Humbug! I am not anti-Christmas. I just don't have small, excited children any more. So it's hard to get into that mode. Christmas is still my favorite time of year.
When do you cut your tree, Sunny?

We cut our tree about two weeks before....it seems to get earlier each passing year though with GG.

Christmas has been really fun the past few years and will continue with the new grandchild as well. Small kids really set the mood.

Does Teddy get excited?

No, Teddy doesn't much care. He loves opening gifts though. He doesn't understand having to wait to do it. Nor that some are not for him. It's a source of confusion and stress for him. Both pleasant and unpleasant jumbled together.

This year Christmas will be just a day I am afraid. My youngest DD has just moved to the east coast with her DH & My grandsons. (they are not all the way there yet) They cannot turn around & come back home so soon. MY oldest DD is most likely not going to be able to come home this y ear either...so here I sit.

BUT...I think for me that I will put up my large artificial tree this year--just for me if no-one else.

Any chance of getting your DH to spend Christmas at your eldest daughter's home, Junie?

Yes there is. BUT he made it clear that he was not going to be part of the large family doings that they have down there.

BUT hey---even if I get to go for a day or 2 that will be wonderful.

Hey, he can always stay at the house and babysit the television while you attend the festivities with your DD

I like the way you think !!

My Christmas shopping is all finished...well except for a gift card to Walmart for my mom.

Now the bigger ordeal awaits...all the Christmas cooking.

I just realized that I need to pack up the things that will go to my 2 grandsons on the East Coast now.
One is a Thanksgiving flag & then in a few weeks I need to send their Ornaments and their Advent Calendar to them.

I have not really began my Christmas shopping. I just have a few small things bought. I could wrap them though.

We take a family trip around Christmas time and that's my gift to my girls and their husbands. This year we're going to Maggie Valley, NC and go snow tubing one day and then ride the Polar Express the next day. Ginger and Christopher will leave from there to go back to GA so Colt can be home for Christmas day and Shelley and her gang and Johnny and I will come back to NC. I haven't heard anything about what Johnny's children are planning. Last year we went to Little Johnny's and may do that again.

Sheri, that sounds like so much fun...you should share a pic or two with us

Yesterday GG and I wrapped up all the presents. I have one excited child here.

I LOVE having small children around on the holidays. It is so much fun!! yay

Yes, Sheri---sharing some photos would be great.

The Lego isle at stores is the most popular isle this year. Stay way!!!!

Luckily the things I have yet to buy can all fit on one list. And a few of them can be ordered online.

Cookies and house decorating are the next items on the list.

I think my shopping is done. Maybe a gift certificate for my mother but that's all I can think of I still need to buy. Let me take that back. I took a name off the gift tree at work so I have to buy 84 year old Elsie some medium sized pants and shirts. I think it's so sad to be 84 and have your name on a gift tree.

It is so sad to see that anyone needs to be put on a gift tree....let alone such an elderly woman. Bless you for taking care of her Sheri

Yes, bless you, Sheri.

They are right--YOU did a very good thing, Sheri.

Not so wonderful yet cuz I forgot to buy the clothes. I still have time though :)

Went shopping today and got Elsie some clothes. All sorts of shirts come in medium but not pants. The only type of pants that come in medium are the kind that sort of look like work out pants, I think they're jersey. My mother is 84 and has a pair of cotton pants with elastic in the waist that she wears when she works in her flowers but they are sized. I thought they'd be perfect for Elsie but didn't have luck finding that type in medium. I'm going to enclose a gift receipt

That's a good idea, Sheri.

I bought that door swag from Colt's school for $25.00. It smells so good.

Beautiful decorations, Sheri. I love to have some real greenery in the house for the Holidays. It DOES smell so nice !!

Sheri, that is beautiful...your living room looks like a pic in a magazine.

Gorgeous!

Thank you. That door swag has the entire kitchen and porch smelling like Christmas.

I forgot to add...I cashed in some of my points at different stores and spent it all on Christmas things. My pharmacy treated me to a plaid plush reindeer, a poinsettia plant and box of caramel nut clusters from the grocery store and some yarn and craft paper from another store(to make ornaments). I still have a $10 voucher from another store Free is good