Is it too early to talk about......

:smilie_xmas_116: CHRISTMAS?

I think this is the first year that I really am at a loss about what to get the girls. They are really into American Girl dolls and I thought about getting them some little things to go with their dolls, but other than that, I really don't know what to do. What are you buying this year?

 

LA LA LA LA, I can't hear you!!!

Crazy Christmas ladies...

 

:laughing: You KNOW it's never too early for me!!!!

My chicks just got AG dolls for their birthday. A coworker gave me a hand-me-down AG horse (in mint condition!) so that, along with maybe the Our Generation Jeep (at Target, cheaper than AG) will be their big things from Santa. Other than that - STUMPED!! :help:

 

I can always count on you Michelle!!


:laughing: I know, Stephanie...I can't stand it, but I am already thinking about it!!

 

Great wolf lodge for bday and possibly iPads for Christmas. Yes I know I'm crazy!

 

I'm thinking about it too.

My biggest problem is trying to come up with a balanced list for xmas, and then for bdays which are 3 weeks after xmas. Then, most of what Timothy wants is outside stuff. That really is a good thing. Except Kansas in January is not basketball goal friendly, skateboard friendly, etc.

So I'm struggling.

I thinking a big dollhouse for Sarah. I know she's on the older end for one of those. But she spends most of her time constructing doll houses out of tinker toys with books balanced precariously to make houses for all of her little dolls. She gets so frustrated because when the cats walk by they fall over. I'm thinking a big doll house that her 6" American Girl dolls could inhabit would be a good thing. She can then add other little dolls in and build on the stables and neighboring houses. It just gives her one that won't fall down. I'm also thinking more of the new girly legos. Sarah seriously wants the veterinary hospital. She's currently building a lego apartment complex in the basement. It's quite the project.

Timothy really just wants out door stuff. He wants a basketball goal. He wants a different kind of scooter like what his friend has. He wants a cooler skateboard. He also wants a nerf machine gun.

We tend to do bigger things and let grandma, grandpa, and aunts and uncles fill in the small stuff. They have so many people buying for them that it gets over-whelming quick. For xmas, I really want to do stockings and one big thing. Our stockings are things like a new book and bookmark. Timothy got new soccer socks last year. Sarah might get a fancy necklace.

Marsisa

 

I think by "Christmas" you mean my birthday.

I've been keeping eyes and ears open for things the boys want. Probably some Nerf stuff and maybe new bikes.

 

:laughing: I knew this was what the thread was about!

I can't believe I'll be in here for Christmas! But yes...add me to the stumped list. Their birthdays are next month, so we have to tackle that first.

I know we go way overboard, so hopefully we scale way back this year! Way way back. I'm big on the one BIG gift. And really, that is all that is necessary..but I do more like 7 or 8 gifts. Each. And dh was like... That's 24 gifts! So ya, that put things in perspective!

-We have magnatiles(64 of them). They are a huge hit, and one thing they all fight over, so I'm going to get the 100 piece set. It's pricey, but worth every penny IMO.

-big bikes maybe? But I am not sure

-they love dress up, and I just want something to organize it all-nice and neat and cute. I found something on pinterest, I'd love to make it.

-they are getting into Legos big time. I'd like to make up a Lego table. Seems easy enough.

-Annabella is only 3, but I'm thinking of a doll house. I was going to do it for her birthday, but decided to hold off.

-she'd love a leapsters explorer like the boys, but they each have one and dh just thinks she can use theirs.

-Anthony is asking for Legos. They both are, so I'm sure that will be something. It helps having a cousin who actually works at Lego(their headquarters are down the street), so we can get 50% off.

-Anthony also asked for a personalized bowl-for ice cream. So I will certainly have to do that! Lol!

I think that is it. Amazing they start thinking of their own lists this early! Ha!

 

Sean will be nearly 11, and Kaelyn is 6 for Christmas this year. I'm really considering getting them a trampoline (all 4 kids) as their Santa gift. I spend about $20-$30 for each for a Santa gift anyways, I figure a trampoline is only a little bit more.

After that....I don't have many ideas. Sean likes to build things. But, he's got oodles of lego's, he's got a mini v8 motor his dad helped him build, he's got several science kits, he's got an air and water powered kit...he's got a telescope....he loves learning and science and how things are made/work...and he's already got a ton of that kind of stuff! He does like model trains, and he's got a board in his room with track stapled to it...we might expand his model train stuff this year.

Kaelyn is my electronic geek. She'd sit and play wii or DS for hours if I let her, which I don't. She's not really into doll's, we have tons of books, puzzles, games...etc already. Lots of stuffed animal's. I really don't have a clue what we're going to get for her.

 

My mom wants to split their presents we buy them up to be one gift a day while they are on break because we tend to go overboard

 

I'm at a loss this year as well. Only 81 days till Hanukkah.
I might just get them a trampoline. Only problem with that is we won't be able to use it till it gets warm enough, and I don't know if my girls will use it enough to make it worth while.
I also need to think of a good idea from my FIL and my parents.

 

Those that are thinking about a trampoline- make sure to check your home owners insurance policy before you buy one. Last thing you want to do is invalidate your policy or be forced to take it down.

Meaghan- I need your cousin. Our list sounds like: lego, lego, a bit more lego, and yep more lego. We have sooo many already, so I think I am going to have to limit what we get them.

As for DD, no stinkin' clue. She is definitely getting to that nearly impossible age to buy for.

 

THIS!

to answer the original question. YES! it is too early! i refuse to prepare for Christmas when the weather is still beautiful. :woohoo:

 

I too am at a loss. I think we are getting older DS a tablet but we aren't sure which one yet. He plays with the same toys over and over (legos, wii, etc) and has a ton of the same so I don't want to get him more of that. The twins? I have no clue. They are 3 and have everything so I don't know what to get them.

 

That is too cute!

 

Our Christmas is going to be way scaled back this year - I'm only working 16ish hours a week and things have gotten very tight!

For Abby I think I'm going to get an Our Generation doll(s) and some clothes - so much cheaper than the AG dolls and they look just like them! Ian - I have no idea...Tony threw out the idea of getting a WiiU but I'm not sure about that...depends on the price...

I also may get passes to the local water park - its small but a family 4 pack of passes off season is only $200...2 trips and we'll make that up and since its so close we can certainly use them more than that!

 

You can't think about xmas until after Halloween.

 

I thought this thread was going to be about Halloween costumes! I'm sooooo not ready to think about Christmas.

 

:laughing: Halloween? What's that?? Seriously, that is all the talk around here, at least with the kids. I've got to think about Christmas now, and buy a little at a time, or I'll never be able to pay for it (that's a sad thought)

 

I have been wracking my brain about this, too. We are scaling back in terms of the # of things. I used to "fill up" under the tree with a bunch of inexpensive small stuff which gets played with once (sometimes NEVER!) and then I just have a bunch of crap in the house. So, DH and I have come up with a new approach. Each child will receive 3 gifts. Jesus received 3 gifts, so they will, too. I will care more about QUALITY than quantity and cost, while certainly an issue, will be less of an issue if it's something they will actually play with.

We live in NH and of the things the big boys received last Christmas they really only play with TWO of them: their razor scooters and roller blades. So, outdoor toys are their favorite in NH when we typically can never use them until spring. So...I have no idea what I'm going to do this year. Last year we had a very mild winter but I can't count on that again for this year.

DD and DS3 will be much easier. I'm actually kind of looking forward to the challenge of finding 3 favorite things.

 

I actually have bought a few things that were on clearance over the summer for the girls. Doll outfits, my little pony stuff, etc. I'm looking for more Lincoln logs since that was a big hit last year too. But we are keeping Christms small too...

 

love this!

 

Our spin on this is...they are only allowed to request 3 things from Santa, since that's how many presents Jesus was given. It keeps the "I want"s to a minimum during the season.

Aside from last year, our Christmases have been very minimal. Last year we went overboard...full under the tree and all...and I'll never do that again. We got everything they requested which I thought was going to be fun, but they were overwhelmed. So this year it's back to the basics...a couple of big things and a couple of small things and call it a day. Our money cap is going back to a very small amount also.