Everyone in my adoptive family is getting books this Christmas:
Mom: Ruth Reichi’s Garlic and Sapphires (about the life of a food critic).
Sister: Our Bodies Ourselves, by various.
Brother-in-law: The Lance Armstrong Performance Program. He’s run various marathons, triathalons, and so on-a real fitness nut.
13 y/o Niece: Volleyball Steps to Success (she’s become very dedicated to the sport as of late, and has the height, build, and athleticism to do it well)
18 y/o Nephew: The Freshman Survival Guide-tips on dealing with roommates, the opposite sex, classes and studying, etc. I know in my case I had some absolute nuts for roomies my first time through (let’s see, the Druggy and the Drunk, the 2 naive Puerto Rican kids one of which would sleepwalk all the time, the mountain man survivalist, and the gay guy and his partner who would constantly hit on me).
Biologicals (who live in another state alas): I’ve given things to the adults in the past, but in this economy decided to just get things for my nieces. Did give them a card tho.
Older niece (6 y/o): A puzzle where you build a wooly mammoth based on its anatomy (she’s rather bright)
Younger niece (3 y/o): A peregrine falcon doll, and a book on same for both of them.
Unborn niece (less than one month to go!): a plush dolphin toy which also plays soothing sound effects, such as the ocean or maternal heartbeat (so technically this is for my sister I guess).
I got my niece a Justin Bieber calendar, and my nephew a sweater. My brother and I agreed to not buy each other anything this year. We’re chipping in together to get my parents some mail-order steaks. Oh, and golf shoes for my husband.
For the annoying guy in the next apartment who apparently only owns two albums (“Best of Earth, Wind and Fire” and whatever Usher CD it is with “Yeah” on it) I got Justin Bieber’s Christmas album. I haven’t gotten up the nerve to go stick it behind his screen door yet though, lol. (Also I’m worried if he wins the trip to see him in New York on NYE he won’t take me.) :mad:
Most of my friends and I have decided to do either card exchanges or drew names so majority of my gifts are for family.
For nieces/nephews: each are gettnig a collection of about 4 or so classic books (they are all under 4) – they have plenty of toys already and I like the idea of helping build up a library for each of them. For the oldest, a set of Caldecott winners, the youngest some counting/ABC type books, and the middle one is getting copies of the Eloise books – she is too young for them now but parents are okay with me giving books or other things they can grow into…
My mother is getting a piece of glassware from a line that she collects. My father is getting socks and t-shirts (doesn’t sound terribly lame – they are speciality ones for running). My brother and SIL were harder to shop for so are getting a set of various wine tools – she will get a collection of funny wine stoppers and a “Mommy’s sippy cup” goblet. He’ll get a fairly nice, monogrammed tub (I guess that it want it is called) for icing down wine, etc. The extended family does a name draw and I’ve got my person a pretty silver tray.
For my older son, a digital camera. We bought it about a month ago & gave it to him immediately. He loves it. In the wrapped presents for Christmas Day is a tripod.
For my younger son: a coat. It’s the exact style and cut that he wanted. He’s already wearing it. But in his Christmas Bag (we don’t have a place for stockings) there’s an Exacto knife. Because he makes stuff all the time (always has.) And asks for the scissors, which aren’t always the best thing to use; sometimes, things need to be scored exactly as they lay.) I think he’ll like it.
I feel better about this Christmas than I did the last one, when we didn’t have any money at all.
I must preface this by saying: I’m not saying she’s not bright and I’m not trying to be snarky - only sharing an amusing anecdote. But, I’m reminded of my days working at FAO Schwarz in San Francisco during the Xmas season. Every so often (well, more like every half hour) someone would come up and say “We’re looking for a gift for our son/daughter?” I’d ask “How old are they?” They’d say the age but 100% EVERY SINGLE TIME NO HYPERBOLE they’d add “But s/he is much more advanced than that.” Nearly 80% of the time…well for example, say someone said their son was ten, but much more advanced than that I’d show them something like an Erector set, which if I recall was rated for, say, maybe 12 and up? (I used to usually work in the “Arts & Crafts” corner.)
All the color would drain out of their faces and they’d stammer “er…well perhaps not THAT advanced?” To be fair, 20% of the time they’d say “That’s perfect!”
I drew my brother-in-laws name, so he will be receiving a pair of slippers, a “Bah Humbug” coffee mug, and a book of NYT crossword puzzles.
Mom will be receiving one of those huge tins of popcorn (she loves them, they have become the standard ‘from the animals’ gift) and a book she wanted.
The grandnieces (7 and 12) are receiving alarm clocks, gift cards to GameStop, TheKid made them blankets, one is getting her first wristwatch and the other a poster of puppies.
The grandnephew (almost 2) is getting a set of MegaBlocks and two books about trucks (one has a chunky puzzle included).
TheKid will be receiving an iTunes card, Harry Potter DVD, a Tshirt she really wanted (although it’s still not here, so more than likely she’ll get the receipt to show it was ordered), and a subscription to AP Magazine.
Thanks for the thread. I’ve been really dragging my feet this year and need to organize my thoughts.
Husband: Nothing, hooray! We spent money on the house instead of each other.
My son: The only thing he asked for, a pair of expensive headphones.
My daughter: She needs clothes, so I’ll take her shopping next week. I’ll have to go get her some token garment just so she has something to unwrap.
My stepson: His dad will give him money. I will give him a T-shirt or something as a gesture, but he gives not a single shit whether I do or not.
Mom: I got her the community theater tickets she requested. I might also give her a calendar which I originally bought for myself, so she has a surprise.
Grandma: I think she’s going to wind up with a fruit basket. I looked all over the internet for inspiration, but apparently all old ladies have to look forward to is wearing soft clothing and looking at shitty knick-knacks. I almost got her a subscription to Ancestry.com, but she isn’t computer-savvy and there isn’t anyone around to help her with it.
My brother: Cash.
Former co-worker: Toys for her dogs. She would be annoyed with me if I got her something for herself.
Current co-workers: This is going to be the year I just…don’t. Except for my boss, who will get a sparkly snowflake pin that I originally bought for someone else.
ETA: Forgot my cousin’s kids: They get books (The Great Brain, by John D. Fitzgerald; and The Eleventh Hour, by Graeme Base)
I’m still shopping and cooking, but so far:
The younger kids got coats and clothes, and we’ll go shopping for books after Christmas. They bought each other Nerf guns. My daughter and I are getting matching rings, too. Grandma got them each an iPod touch so I dodn’'t have to worry about getting cool gifts!
Older son (adult) and his GF: moka pot, clothes and knitted socks, ceramic lasagna type pan, and assorted funky foods. (They cook, and like good coffee, dates, nifty pastas, flavored oil, etc.)
Oldest son: clothes, soup pot and ingredients to make almost-like-Mom’s chicken veg soup, various other groceries (he’s more of a Velveeta and Prego type cook).
Mom: People magazine because we MUST keep up on Karskankians.
Sister: the gloves I started knitting last Christmas, fire pit, chicken stuff
Friends and loved ones all getting a combination of homemade goodies: muffins, lemon curd, Irish Cream, chocolate pretzels. I’ve been baking all day and I never want to see another blueberry muffin!
Mom: 2 birthstone-studded beads (my husband and I) for her Pandora-style bracelet, Home Depot gift card (she’s remodeling), set of pajamas, set of 4 yummy general-use spice mixes from a local shop, homemade beef and potato treats for her dog.
Mom’s boyfriend: novel he’d been looking for but couldn’t find, Walmart gift card
Sister: sterling-silver wine stopper in a nice design, refill of a sugar scrub I made for her last year, set of 6 chile powders/spice mixes from a local shop, a bag of coffee from Intelligentsia Coffee, and some first aid kit items.
Sis’s husband: Walmart gift card
Secret Santa among the inlaws - niece, gift card to Anthropologie
My husband: stainless steel wallet, plus saving to get an iPad
Father-in-law/mother-in-law: Safeway gift cards for groceries on their vacations
(These are all from wish lists except for the dog treats and spices.)
I knitted a sweater for my daughter, and we’re giving her gas money to go to Florida to visit her grandparents.
I got my mom 6 assorted bottles of local wines, plus some random little things to fill all the slots in the wine carton.
We do a goofy swap of $10 gifts, and my contribution is an ice cream sundae kit - bowl, scoop, chocolate syrup, caramel syrup, sprinkles, nuts, cherries, each individually wrapped and all in a festive bag.
I’ve been pinging on my husband about sending something to his folks - it’ll probably end up being an Olive Garden gift card, and maybe one for another restaurant. Our daughter will take it with her, along with a jar of my homemade peach preserves.
And probably just a check for my nephew in FL since I have no idea what to give a wanna-be redneck 17-y/o.
That’s all. Spousal unit and I quit exchanging gifts years ago.
My mom is getting a set of Little Tim books with a CD of them read by Stephen Fry, and Totoro handtowels, and I think I’ll go get a good candy thermometer. I’m not telling what my dad gets because he reads this forum sometimes.
Husband gets a Xoom, which is already in his hands.
11yo daughter gets knockoff Uggs, a pullup bar that you install in a doorframe, new scriptures, and a really nice bag.
8yo gets Legos, more Legos, a small Rebecca (American Girl) doll, and a little zippy remote-controlled car.
Nieces get books and embroidered pillowcases.
Everyone in my family is employed–it’s the best Christmas ever!!
Various family: home-made candy, home-made freezer jam, a couple of bottles of good (but inexpensive!) wine, journal/sketchbooks for a cousin who is going to Europe, a couple of T-shirts, a couple of shawls, the first two Dragonbreath books by Ursula Vernon (great stuff!), a “Science of Illusions” kit and a book of science demos, and a tablet for Zyada’s mother.
A sampler of some of my favourite cheeses: Old Quebec aged Canadian cheddar, Parrono Gouda with an aftertaste of Parmesan, Saint Angel Brie, and Cypress Grove Dairy’s Purple Haze goat cheese with lavender and fennel.
