Christmas 2018

[Majingir]

Re: Christmas 2018

Seeing how things like toys and clothes are out of the equation, would something like this be a nice gift for a "babys first Christmas"?

Spoiler

If you can't make it out, it's a personalized wood tree ornament.

Would be a nice souvenir that can still be put up in years to come (near the top you can add the year, so it'd be even more special to remember the year it was given), so it won't just be a 1 time used gift.

[SmashMan]

Re: Christmas 2018

Seeing how things like toys and clothes are out of the equation, would something like this be a nice gift for a "babys first Christmas"?

If you can't make it out, it's a personalized wood tree ornament.

Would be a nice souvenir that can still be put up in years to come (near the top you can add the year, so it'd be even more special to remember the year it was given), so it won't just be a 1 time used gift.

I haven't met a parent who didn't like those personalized ornaments, so I'd say go for it.

[slickdtc]

Re: Christmas 2018

Great idea.

I was feeling a bit down because both my family and my wife’s family want to do Secret Santa. I get it, times are tight and there’s a lot of kids now who we all want to focus on, but I miss getting everyone everyone else something instead of one person. Well I found my way in to a third Secret Santa, plus just the house (we live with my in-law’s) is doing a pre-Christmas as we’re traveling on Eve and Day, and my MIL suggested the 5 of us exchange stocking stuffers. Obviously, I’m gonna spoil my wife and 2 year old independent of any other plans as well.

I finally feel like I can really dive in to finding great gifts and fulfilling my need to give X amount of gifts. LOL

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Christmas 2018

Great idea.

I was feeling a bit down because both my family and my wife’s family want to do Secret Santa. I get it, times are tight and there’s a lot of kids now who we all want to focus on, but I miss getting everyone everyone else something instead of one person. Well I found my way in to a third Secret Santa, plus just the house (we live with my in-law’s) is doing a pre-Christmas as we’re traveling on Eve and Day, and my MIL suggested the 5 of us exchange stocking stuffers. Obviously, I’m gonna spoil my wife and 2 year old independent of any other plans as well.

I finally feel like I can really dive in to finding great gifts and fulfilling my need to give X amount of gifts. LOL

When I was growing up both sides of the family did things different:

Mom's side: We eventually started doing Secret Santa because the disparity of incomes didn't make it "fair" to everyone - especially the kids. Some kids would get spoiled and others would have a small stack. Some members of the family would go crazy buying everybody gifts and others would buy next to nothing. Of course, Secret Santa wasn't perfect. You still had the members of the family who didn't do anything throughout the year and would get you a pack of socks and a flannel shirt while others are sending you cards throughout the year and giving you a pile at Christmas. I think this was the most fair option for the situation - especially since the larger families didn't get out of buying fewer presents while those families with one or two kids were buying for families with 4-6 kids.

Dad's side: Eventually the adults decided to stop exchanging gifts and only buy for the kids. As an adult myself I like this better. It helped that there wasn't a big gap in incomes between families and the families were roughly the same size.

I typically like buying presents for people, but my brother-in-law and sister-in-law I absolutely dread. In part because I have no idea what to get them (they typically buy whatever they want throughout the year and don't have any real hobbies), but also because they don't give the same level of effort. Last year we decided to do away with birthday presents for the adults. Eventually I see us dropping Christmas presents, too. They got rid of doing stockings when I started coming. Of course lol.

Either way, Secret Santa or not, I'm going to treat somebody if that's what my heart desires.

[countryboy]

Re: Christmas 2018

It's crazy. There are roughly 4 weeks until Christmas and yet I just can't find the spirit. Normally I'm all excited and am done with shopping by now, but I'm really just in a state of mind where I wish it would come and go and I haven't even completed half my shopping list.

I even have Christmas music on in the car full time and at my desk at work, and still just bah-humbug.

Hoping to find the spirit soon.

[SmashMan]

Re: Christmas 2018

Last year we decided to do away with birthday presents for the adults. Eventually I see us dropping Christmas presents, too. They got rid of doing stockings when I started coming. Of course lol.

I feel like I should warn you that maybe they'll switch to a White Elephant gift exchange. And I say warn because White Elephant is LAME, haha. My mom's side started doing it five or six years ago.

The first year or two were jokey gifts and it was alright for some fun at the time. People have since shifted to putting legitimately practical gifts in there which kinda kills the point of the game. There is also going to be someone that brings one gift that they want a specific person to pick so they spend half the game pushing them toward it, then it's like...why didn't they just give them the individual gift separately?! Who knows.

Needless to say, I'm not a big fan. lol

[slickdtc]

Christmas 2018

I’ll never stand for no gifts at Christmas for the adults. LOL. I was almost at the point this year where I was gonna get everyone something, and didn’t care if I got a present myself. But heard the family talking about how nice SS is nowadays at Thanksgiving... [emoji28]

I should specify, “everyone” is my immediate family. Not every brother and sister in law, just the ones we see often enough to where I feel like I can actually get them something based off knowing them well enough.

[Majingir]

Re: Christmas 2018

Ornament idea might not work out afterall. Some issues with something I thought could be done when ordering online, but guess not. No option to buy/pick up in store either.

Anyone know of any site which might have good personalized Christmas ornaments?

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Christmas 2018

Does Canada have Hallmark stores?

[Majingir]

Re: Christmas 2018

Ya.

But I managed to finally get things sorted out on other order. Good part about live chats. Can just leave and go to someone else quickly.

I probably spent as much on this ornament as I would have on an actual gift anyways, but this one will feel alot more special, sentimental and personal. Though a 1-2 week wait during this time of the year, especially with a customized gift, hopefully I can get it at least a week or two before Christmas.

[PadresFan]

Re: Christmas 2018

@AUChase Sometimes Santa sets up toys... dollhouse, race track, etc. But also wraps toys for the kiddos.


Sent from my iPad using Operation Sports

[Majingir]

Re: Christmas 2018

Christmas music question :

Which version of "you're a mean one Mr Grinch" is the one which gets played on radio often? IIRC, it's a duet with a man and woman, but I can't think of who sang it.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Christmas 2018

@AUChase Sometimes Santa sets up toys... dollhouse, race track, etc. But also wraps toys for the kiddos.


Sent from my iPad using Operation Sports

Setting up toys like that makes sense and would be cool to walk into the room and find.

[SmashMan]

Re: Christmas 2018

@AUChase Sometimes Santa sets up toys... dollhouse, race track, etc. But also wraps toys for the kiddos.

Sent from my iPad using Operation Sports

Yeah, I've put things like this together for younger kids in the family too. It's a great visual for them on Christmas morning and it lets you take your time and make sure everything's good instead of trying to rush and assemble things in the excitement.

Christmas music question :

Which version of "you're a mean one Mr Grinch" is the one which gets played on radio often? IIRC, it's a duet with a man and woman, but I can't think of who sang it.

They play other versions up by you? Over here we get modern versions of other songs, but I only ever hear the original (?) Mr. Grinch, so I'm no help here. Try looking on Spotify for any duets?

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Christmas 2018

I can't think of any duet versions of the song that I've heard. The original song from the cartoon special sung by Thurl Ravenscroft is obviously the most famous. I also like the Brian Setzer cover, but there are a ton of cover versions out there.