How's everyone coming along with your Christmas present shopping??
We finished just about everyone else we had to buy for with the exception of Mike's grandparents. It's nice because we have my family's gifts already mailed out and on their way so there's this huge feeling of accomplishment there.
We just have to buy for ourselves basically now. We come last :)

How is everyone else doing? I bet most of you are already finished, huh? :D

well, I've got the kids and my husband squared away... I haven't moved on to extended family members! LOL... I feel shopped out! if that's possible. I've been to the store everyday it seems.
oh, and I hate the crowds! it's insane!

Almost Done. We finished off the kids' gifts last month...except for a few things here or there, which we didn't have to make any special trips for. Last weekend was a trip though. I've never been one for shopping in December, but Jon decided we were taking the kids to the mall on Saturday, so they could get gifts for each other. I took Taigan to payless, where I proceeded to buy her two pair of shoes and Kindred two pair of shoes. Kindred needed new play shoes and he wanted a pair of slippers, so those are from Taigan. Jon took the boys through the rest of the mall, while I amused Taigan at the carousel, tiny train ride and other motorized rides. Then we all went to TRU...Iian, Taigan and Jon shopped for me and Kindred, while Kindred and I shopped for Iian and Taigan. Then we went to Target and split up again, only that time it was me and Taigan and I found a cute Superman shirt and a cute Super Grover shirt, which I picked out for myself, called Jon on the cell phone to send a kid over to me so he could buy them for me from Taigan...LOL!! Anyway, it was a mess, but kind of fun and in the midst of it all, I didn't know they were getting me stuff too, so I didn't have the kids buy anything for Jon...DUH!! So, now I have to take the kids out again just to buy something for Jon.

We still have to buy a scrapbooking KIT for Jon's mom, send money to all of his nieces and nephews and send out cards to his side of the family. I sent Borders gift cards to my two nephews. :D (Brandon's long time girlfriend has two sons and they've all been living together for three years now) :D

Wow! You girls have been busy shopping. I don't have much shopping to do, I only have my family... my mom, dad and brother. My dad never buys any presents, so my mom has to do all the work. (So the gifts are from "both" of them). And she normally buys clothes or useful items she thinks we need. For my mom/dad, I normally get something edible. And I send pictures of me to my grandparents. So, I have the most fun shopping for secret santas and my best friend. As for my brother, he is super thrifty, so unless I find something for like $5 or less (that's worth a lot more), he doesn't want me to buy it! So, he's hard to shop for!

I have to agree with you, Cindie, I really hate the crowds too. They just put me in such a negative state of mind even long after I am out of the store(s). They cut you off and act like they are more important while I really try to at least apologize if I have to "cut" someone off. :) Last night WM was crazy and I dread the idea of having to buy gifts for each other at the mall still.

Melanie, it sounds like you bought a huge chunk! Did you get the kids back out there to buy for Jon yet? You guys have been really busy!!
I've been working on some projects of my own recently, if you can believe it! I actually was able to finish a beat up mirror that I have been meaning to "craft" for over a year! I will have to show you all pics. I also recently took some pics of our tree, the downside is that our dig. cam. always takes blurry ones of the tree. *sigh*

Joyce, your family sounds relatively easy to buy for (aside from your brother that is! lol). It is nice that you send pictures to your grandparents. I was thinking of doing the same thing for my aunt/godmother this year. That way I could just run out and buy a nice frame and print off a recent pic and she'd be happy. I know what you mean regarding buying for a friend or secret santa. It is SO much more fun!

Actually, Mike and I had shopped a lot of the week for charitable reasons. Mike's class raised a few hundred dollars for 3 kids in need who wouldn't be getting anything this Christmas. So, we've been buying gifts over the past week for a 5 yr. old boy, 5 yr. old girl, and a 10 yr. old boy. It has been a tradition of mine since I was in high school to participate in buying a gift for a needy child every Christmas. :D

Joyce, the small family thing is so good at gift giving time. :D

Erin, I love that you guys sponsor kids for the holidays...it's really cool. Cindie had told me of this horrible family who gave each other lists of things they had to buy for each other...no matter the financial situation, basically and it was so selfish and materialistic. Then, later that day, Kindred and I were at Target getting a CPK for Christy, when this older lady came up to me and asked if I would give her my opinion. I said sure, what did she need? She had this cute baby doll set (complete with change of clothes, bottle, binkie, blanket, feeding dish and spoon...maybe more stuff) and she asked me if I thought a four year old girl would like it. I said that I know my 3 year old would love it and did she know if the little girl likes dolls? The lady said she'd never met the little girl and that it was a gift for one of the 'stars' on the 'angel tree'. She was just giving a gift to a child who wasn't going to get one any other way...that was the true meaning of Christmas, eh? Sweetness. We donate a gift to the school yearly and we always donate to the food drives. Trust me I've been on the receiving end of those holiday food give aways and it really helps. :D

PS. Shopping is done!!! took the kids to the mall to shop for Jon today. Yay!

Awww... that's really sweet! Normally, I participate in Operation Christmas Child, where you fill a shoebox and it goes to a child in another country. I did it through the church, so that you can get a larger assortment of items in the boxes. Lots of times I accumulate "extras" of toys, so instead of selling it and getting just a few dollars, I use it for this. I had this huge plush lamb that I gave away last year. And once I bought a huge box of stuffed toys from ebay, and I only wanted one of the toys, so all the rest that went to this!

Erin, you have such a talent for crafty things... I can't wait to see your pictures! well, I thought I had my christmas shopping done.. but as Melanie said... some family members have demanded expensive gifts from us. They gave us a list of what they want. We told them we can't afford it, and we got yelled at for not having the "Christmas spirit"... so instead, I bought them a book that's supposed to be about the true meaning of Christmas, with the moral of the story being to not focus on the materialistic things. I am also looking for a little drummer boy bookmark... you know the words... he has no gift to bring because he's a poor boy, so he just plays his drum. hopefully they catch the hint.

oh, and let me just say... my work has been horrible with me and my internet use lately... so I haven't been on here for so long! But, my husband bought me a new computer for an early Christmas present (he really expected me to see the box and not open it?? yeah, right :P ) soooo...
I'M BACK!!! yeah!!!

Well, Cindie, I was trying to keep that demanding family sort of annonymous or fictional, since I didn't say it was actually YOUR family, LOL. I can not believe how rude they were!

Anyway, glad you're back and so super glad you have a home pc!

*happy dance* Welcome back Cindie!! We missed you!!!

Joyce, I know exactly what you are talking about with Operation Christmas Child...we have also done that too! I think it was last year or the year before. Every year we are sure to buy a gift for a needy child and it's exactly as you said, Melanie, "a gift to a child who wasn't going to get one any other way". Mike's class wanted to spoil the three children that were sponsored so they are getting a bunch of gifts. The 10 year old is actually getting a $50 gift certificate to a fashionable clothing store in the mall PLUS more gifts. I think it is really important to donate to others for the holidays and throughout the year. As a matter of fact, after the holidays I am going to start packing together some of my clothes that are too big for me now and send them off to the Salvation Army. I have a lot of nice clothes that someone could surely use that are just taking up space (that I don't have to spare) here. :)

Melanie, I just love the story about the lady buying for a "star" on the tree. Every time I see those trees I always want to pick up more than one! lol I am so happy to hear that you all feel the same and do the same :)

Cindie, I am so so sorry you have demanding relatives like that! I can relate too because my MIL always brings up that she has "always wanted a fur coat". I HATE THIS. She tries to make Mike feel guilty for not buying her one (saying that she thought her sons would buy her one - which means Mike because the other two are delinquents (I am not kidding)). I can't stand this because we can't afford that! We don't even have a house yet and it ticks me off. Then, on top of that, she JUST bought 2 brand new EXPENSIVE coats. Not to mention she already has two or three other really expensive ones. If she'd just save her money and not buy the other coats she buys, she could afford her "beloved" fur coat. *sorry for the rant...LOL I am just so annoyed by her lately*

Anyway, here's a big holiday hug for my Toyland buddies ((((HUG))))
Ahhh...I feel better! LOL

That's really great that you are all buying for needy children... it will make their holiday so much better, and really give them something to look forward to at Christmas...and little things really mean a lot to them. Our work puts up a Christmas tree, and as we come into work, we hang mittens and scarfs on the tree that we donate to the needy... so the whole tree will be decorated with donated mittens. then there are baskets under the tree for stuffed animals and such. So, that's pretty much what we do each year... I wish we could afford to do more.
See... this is what the Christmas spirit is REALLY all about!!! :wub:

I love the idea of having a mitten and scarf tree! I think a craft store at the mall is doing the very same thing and I thought that was really great!

So true! So true! :wub:

All I have left to buy are three gift certificates, a present for a two year old, and a DVD. So, I am almost finished.

I do alot for charity, not just during the holiday season, but all year. "For what you have done unto the least of these, you have done unto me also." (Jesus)

This year, I donated to our school's Warm and Fuzzy Tree, sponsored a four year old from the Angel Tree, donated to Loaves and Fishes (the local food pantry) and wrapped gifts for the American Red Cross. I grew up in a family that made Jesus' birthday the focus of Christmas. Unfortunately, like some of the families already mentioned in this thread, so many families have made Christmas about gift giving.

Rebecha, that is wonderful and truly warms my heart to hear all of your holiday stories!

I believe in giving all throughout the year as well and have always given to the Salvation Army at various times of the year. We have also made donating a ritual all throughout the summer and give every Saturday to different charities we attend (and thankfully, there are many here).

I love this and wish that more families concentrated a little less on what they are "getting".

My favorite part of Christmas is spending time with loved ones and preparing meals. I love seeing the excitement and happiness in everyone's eyes, young and old at this time of year *sigh*

We always have a birthday cake for Jesus and sing happy birthday.

this is cute... I thought you'd like it Rebecha

The Story of the Candy Cane

Cindie, that was so nice!

And Rebecha that is so sweet and refreshing that your family does that. :wub: