nol1305

I always buy a holiday down blanket and a Snowden from Target.

BF isn't BF without someone jumping the gun at Wal-mart, ripping the plastic off the pallets and triggering the frenzy!

I love Prancer - gotta watch it every year

I found a Swiss Army tool in the shape of a credit card with 13 tools - pretty cool and will work for FIL, dad and stepdad. Not sure for MIL or mom. Stepmom is the hardest - doesn't wear jewelry, has lost sense of smell, doesn't collect anything - I'm stumped!

Booterbunz, I could substitute my Sassy and Claudia in those pictures! That was hilarious!

Two of my best friends, any of our children over the age of 15 - can range between 1 and 4 kids, my son's girlfriend, our walkie talkies, and shopping bags

My friends and I pour over the ads after we finish cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Our families know to leave us alone. We have our lists ready and load up with shopping bags, coffee or diet dr. pepper and whatever kids are able to wake up and not get lost (we have a starting minimum age of 15). After we hit Wal-mart, then it's to the mall, to get the free ornament at Penney's, bags and bags of cracker jacks at Proffitts (one of which has a diamond ring, or that is the rumor),and the freebie from the mall information. After all that, we preserve the memory forever by having our picture made with Santa and everyone gets a keychain picture. Then it's off to have breakfast! We love it!

Opening zillions of packages of Cracker Jacks from Proffits and never getting the diamond ring!

My friends and I take our teenage sons with us to Wal-Mart (they actually like to go because it's so entertaining). Our 4 boys are tall and big enough to either act as bodyguards or can reach high to hand things back to us moms, where we can safely stash them in a shopping cart that is already parked in a checkout lane. I think the fun for them is wearing off, though. We may have to fend for ourselves this year!

This is the See's fudge recipe my grandmother used to make: 3 pkg. chocolate chips 1 8 oz. jar marshmallow cream 1/2 lb. margarine 2 c. chopped nut meats 1 tsp. vanilla Put chocolate chips and marshmallow cream in large bowl. Melt margaine and while still hot, pour over ingredients in bowl. Mix. Add nuts and vanilla and mix again. 4 1/2 c. sugar 1 large can evaporated milk Mix in large saucepan. Bring to boil. Boil 7 to 8 minutes. Pour hot syrup over first mixture. Mix well. Pour into greased pan. Let set in refrigerator overnight. Makes 4 1/2 lbs. After cutting, keep in refrigerator. Always yummy!

For my 19-year-old son, a giftcard to American Eagle and the same for his girlfriend; for my 16-year-old son, whatever the latest and greatest video game is; and for my 11-year-old daughter, a shopping spree at Limited 2

We have two cats that like to climb my tree. We came home one night to find one perched half way up the tree with her nose sticking out and the other just under her. We laughed and took pictures. Now for a few days after I put the tree up, we leave a spray bottle with water that we aim in their direction when they look too interested in the tree. However, that only works when we're home - who knows what they do when we're gone!