Christmas shopping....have you started? What do they want?

[jennc]

UGH. I have usually started by now and have bought nothing. I am starting to panic. With me working it's hard to find free time to go. For the last few years we have gotten a babysitter and gone out to dinner and then out to Toys R Us or whatever to knock out a bunch of it. I guess I will stick with that plan, the question is WHEN?


We are also wrestling with what to get them. Em got the American Girl "Rebecca" for her b'day in September and LOVES her. Plays with her EVERY. DAY. I hesitated thinking she was too young but she has done fine and I am glad we went ahead and got her. So, she has asked for a lot of Rebecca's "stuff" and will be getting some of that. She has also asked for some "Zhu Zhu Pets" (have yall seen those things?) and that's all fine and dandy except they don't stay in stock in any of the stores around here. I am on two lists at two different toy stores and have the calendar marked for the night they are supposed to get them at Wal Mart and will be making a midnight, yes, midnight run (that's when they stock) to try and snag some.

Nicolas wants Lego stuff, Wii games, and he has not asked for but is getting one of those big goal thingies you can use for soccer, football, or batting practice. We debated getting them a computer but I think we are going to hold off on that for now. Neither need a bike or anything "big" like that so I think it's pretty basic this year, but all stuff they will enjoy.

Am I too early to be talking about Christmas when we haven't even gone Trick or Treating yet?

[April]

We haven't started but that is purposeful. We have streamlined what we buy anyhow, and don't want a lot of extra *stuff*. Funny thing is that we have requested lists from the kids, and dd is saying it is TOO early to be thinking about Christmas- LOL!

Our gifts will be *big* (not necessarily in size). The twins, most likely, will be geting DSi's and a few games. a few other things they ask for, but that is it from us. Alex asked for one in particular, and Haley asked for a camera and an ipod, and since this has both we are probably going for that.

Jory will get a Tom Tom and probably some clothes.

Dh and I aren't exchanging much materially, so our shopping will be quite easy this year! (edited to say we are taking a weekend trip to a concert together at the end of November instead! )

dh and I always make a big thing of Black Friday, and so will most likely get the bulk of everything that day. We both love it and look ahead of time for the best prices!

[Esther]

My kids are pretty much out of the toys. That makes it both easier and harder. I have started and am probably halfway done. I just placed an order thru amazon with mostly baseball stuff for my youngest son. Oldest son is getting some Beatles CDs, graphic T's, that kind of stuff. He put some stuff down on a christmas list, I'm going to have to get him to explain what it is.. a bunch of xbox points, halo something something. Middle son has always been the hardest to shop for. I have books for him and a few pieces of clothing and a couple of DVDs.

Jenn I would definitely look into online shopping if you are short on time! It can be just as cheap (or cheaper) than buying in person. Amazon offers free shipping if you buy over I think $25.

[Ashley Anne]

Every year I struggle with this. I want to buy them things now, but then I end up scrambling to give ideas to aunts and uncles. So I end up with way too much stuff for each kid, but they get even more junk from extended family. So I'm really trying NOT to do too much shopping yet. And it's killing me!

My bigger issue is all of the extended family. Do you just do one thing for each person? That feels chintzy, but we are at 6 siblings (5 with spouses), 5 nieces and nephews, 3 sets of grandparents, etc. So I never feel "done."

OK, I know you all will feel my pain on this: Yesterday I discovered that my Christmas idea list (that I keep ALL YEAR) is gone -- wiped off my iPod Touch. The worst problems are Jon and my dad. They are so hard to buy for and for each I had a few ideas of books and things that I will never again find. Sigh.

[funnygirl]

Esther - thanks for the suggestion of the Beatles Cd. That could work for my DD.

Mine are harder to buy for. My daughter would gladly take gift cards, but I think that loses some of the "fun" of christmas. My son still plays with Legos, so that is easier. Probably some Wii games for the family. Oh, and the penguin Pictureka definately for my son!

AA - can your family draw names? That is what we did when the grands got to be too many to buy for. You choose the # of members of your family. That way, at least you can buy something nicer for less people.

[Anna]

With everyone else I am done. But the kids and dh not.

We put the kids on a $100 limit, so this will be interesting. We had a talk about Christmas, and how it was everyone's day, not just theirs. So they will also get $100 each to shop for other family members. Birthdays they get hefty gifts, but I'm stopping the madness of Christmas. They were great about it, which surprised me.

I used to think my FIL was a little cold by handing out envelopes every Christmas Eve with $100 bills in them. It took me 17 years to figure out he's a genius.

AA, the adults pick names in our family. We do it every Thanksgiving with an actual hat.

[Ashley Anne]

Jenn, Em is in pre-K, right? My Kate (5) is dying for an American Girl doll. Really she wants a Bitty Baby *and* an American Girl doll. I tend to think she's young for it, but she is definitely my child who LOVES dolls. She has three baby dolls plus at least 15 dogs which all have names, complicated family relationships, backstories, etc. She keeps it all straight in her head and plays with them constantly. So I might actually get her something.

But I am debating over doing a BB or a full-sized doll. What do you think? The BB seems like what she already has (which were each maybe $10, lol). But she still seems to gravitate to baby dolls (I think it's because she's the only one without a real little sister!). Then I think she'd just outgrow the BB and want a full-sized one for her birthday in April.

The other two have the regular AG dolls, if that makes any difference.

Natalie is 9 and wants a mannequin (for her aspirations at fashion design, oy), DS games, AG stuff or even more dolls, spy things. She has mentioned wanting her own dollhouse (we have a nice wooden one in the dining room they all share) and I was even offered one, but I can't help but think it will just take up space in her room (which was just redone) and she won't really want it for much longer?

Lindsay (7) wants a DS and/or digital camera. I'm not sure what we'll do about that. I haven't asked Jon, but he's likely to nix both of those. She also wants an AG horse, so maybe that's what Santa will bring. She's hard to buy for.

Kate wants (an AG doll, of course), Bendaroos, any piece of crap she sees on tv.

I can't remember anything else, but I KNOW there was more on my list that was lost. GRRRRRRR...

[Nancy]

Mine want all high $ items, of course. Well - Ben and Ellie do, but then again, they are my spend-o-matics. Jacob never says what he wants, and he's not easy to buy for. I haven't even started *thinking* about it yet....

[Tina]

I haven't put much thought into it either yet

I'm pretty sure we'll be getting Sean a good camera. He did so well with his photography this past summer. He has also asked for Beatle's Rock Band. Brett has some special golf club he's had his eye on, needs a new *good* baseball bat, and has been looking at a new amp for his guitar. I think Dh and I will buy a "combo" gift for each other. We need a new video camera.

Will probably get my Mom gift certificates. We only buy the "little ones" gifts on my side, so that would be my great niece/nephew. Instead we rotate through the siblings (there are six of us) on hosting a Christmas party each year, a week or two prior to Christmas. We'll rent a lodge in a local park, host provides main course and siblings and grown children all bring snacks/side dishes/desserts. We spend the entire day together eating, playing games, making crafts, listening to music.

On Dh's side we buy for all the kids and a small gift (ex., bottle of wine) for each of the adults. It is VERY expensive as he has six siblings, 2 IL's, 11 grown nieces/nephews, and 4 great-nieces/nephews. I've griped about it for years, but no one wants to change the "tradition"

[Tammy]

I usually start right after Halloween, but this year I am just not even close to ready. Too much going on and absolutely no ideas. I really dislike giving a gift just "to give a gift," so I try to come up with things that really fits each person. Alec usually has a list, but I also like to surprise him with something special that he wouldn't be expecting, too.

We did the whole 3am Black Friday thing last year. Oddly enough, we had a blast doing it. Alec slept on the sofa in our bedroom, so we could all just get up and go when the alarm went off, and then we went to all the stores in the order that they opened. Honestly, though, it was more about the fun we had together than what we bought.

One thing I am excited about this year is buying a teacher's gift for a female teacher again. Alec had male teachers for both third and fourth grade -- talk about hard to buy for!

Alec's teacher for fifth grade is a polyglot and loves to travel. She spends every summer in Germany. She's even teaching the kids in her class French this year. I was trying to think of something related to those interests, but so far haven't come up with anything. If anyone has any thoughts, feel free to toss them out.

[Nancy]

ok - so who other than me had to look up "polyglot". I am now informed, thank you!

[Ashley Anne]

Nancy, what is Ellie requesting this year?

[jennc]

AA, I say go for it. Emily ADORES Rebecca and so far has taken good care of her. She also got some of the pets (Sugar and Honey) and all of their accessories. She loves them. ETA that she has the Bitty Twins too and has not played with them nearly the amount she plays w Rebecca.

[Sue]

This is an offshoot to this topic - but I think Shop Early might be a good mantra this year. I've read that stores are stocking less due to the economy and if my experience at Target just now is any indication, that's true.

I just ran to Target to pick up an Rx and ran through the Halloween costume stuff because DS17 asked me to check for spray-in hair dye (he's got dark brown hair and wants to go blond for the day to be Fred from Scooby Doo). Anyway, they have very few costumes left - what they have is all crammed in to one aisle - and they had no makeup, no hair dye, no accessories at all. They are already moving the Christmas stuff in.

So if there's a must-have item on your Christmas shopping list, don't delay.

In answer to the thread question - I haven't asked for lists yet but I'm nearly done shopping. I splurged on the Xbox and will apply the money MIL sends so that "I can go pick up a few things for the kids" to that purchase. The college kid will get his share in cash - which I will wrap in some creative manner. They'll all want itunes gift cards and books and I think that will be that. I make calendars for MIL and my parents - both versions are started, so I have a leg up there as well. And I splurged on safety gear for DH's motorcycle when it was on sale earlier in the month, so that's just about it for me. We stopped exchanging with far-flung cousins many years ago and I have stashed several things in my closet for the poor all year long.

So I think I'll be baking a lot in December to get in the holiday mood, because I sure don't expect to be out shopping!

[Tammy]

ok - so who other than me had to look up "polyglot". I am now informed, thank you!

LOL Sorry about that! To be perfectly honest, I learned that word from a commercial for the Nintendo DS game that builds your vocabulary. I do find myself using it a lot, though, so apparently I should have picked up the game.

[Lesley]

Molly's gift is our upcoming trip to DisneyWorld. I'll fill her stocking. That's it. Pretty easy, huh?? I'm doing one of those Shutterbug photo books of Molly for my mom. A couple other people and that's it. Easy year.

[Nancy]

Ellie wants a 4-wheeler. Le sigh........

[April]

Molly's gift is our upcoming trip to DisneyWorld. I'll fill her stocking. That's it. Pretty easy, huh?? I'm doing one of those Shutterbug photo books of Molly for my mom. A couple other people and that's it. Easy year.

THIS has always been my dream. During Christmas vacation. Sort of like a *Christmas With the Kranks* escape!

[erin]

I have no clue, the kids have no clue and well we have no clue what our budget will be. So obviously we haven't done any shopping. I think, like Anna, we are totally limiting our purchases and not buying for extended family, we just can't this year. Which frankly already irritates me that some extended family members have been dropping hints on what they want. of course they are affordable hints but still. I might just make some calanders and send those out.

[wanda]

Forgot to say that I've really not started at all this year. I'm really behind what is normal for me. I haven't a clue what I'm buying anyone, either. Oh my!!

Molly's gift is our upcoming trip to DisneyWorld. I'll fill her stocking. That's it. Pretty easy, huh?? I'm doing one of those Shutterbug photo books of Molly for my mom. A couple other people and that's it. Easy year.

Les, I'll be very impressed if you stick to just doing a stocking! That was the plan for Courtney last Christmas and I just couldn't do it. Traditionally, she opens a gift on Xmas eve - pj's....gotta have new pj's for xmas Then, I broke down and wrapped two outfits for her to open on Christmas. I know the trip was extravagant, but birthdays and Christmas have always been major times for wardrobe purchases so I didn't feel too guilty giving those as gifts.