abentley

I am so hoping to not have to wait until 5:00 to order form Sears. What are they thinking?

I am glad I am in the western states!! I will be online at 3:00!! Out the door by 4:00!!

We actually put ours up yesterday, and I put a few ornaments on it "just to visualize the new theme". WE are"decorating it next weekend, but I am glad it is up, so we can actually enjoy decorating it this year instead of trying to do too much at once. Now I can get it all ready without any mess.

I have a fan here as well. I cannot beleive how many light sabors we and they neighborhood kids have worn out. It is time for a new one already. My boys are 8 & 9, and have been hooked for about 3-4 years, and neither of them have liked the galactic ones. Go figure. In fact this year I have had to order a bunch off of ebay of the OLD ones. I highly recommend Star Wars legos video game, whether it be 1 or 2, for xbox, ps2, or even the pc version.

We really try to set a $$ amount every year. With 4 unmarried kids from 18-8 it is our only hope. Of course things come up.. so we try to keep the older ones in the same price range and then the little ones similar as well.

Yours might be too little for this, but we have always stated that the kids can ask for 3 things. they might get 1,2, or even all 3... but if they ask for more, the start to loose them. We have always gotten them more, but it let us know which where the most important to them. It has given us a limit as well as "must haves". I know my kids are never going to have new jammies on the tops of their lists... but they are always under the tree along with other usefull gifts that they are excited to open, but may not of asked for!!LOL!!

You might check bargain outfitters... I buy a lot of their stuff for my DH and son.

I need a reason to go there... this may just be it. Keep in mind Walmart is my only store within 50 miles for toys and such. Now I can't wait.

We still have a christmas program... it includes all elementary grades. It is a singing one with various carols. December 6th.. Polar Express style(jammies)

Well I am hoping to get my hands on a few dvds at walmart. So far that is all!! I might sink to a depressive state if I can't find more to buy!!

I managed to get GH1 at fryes last months for $39... I will kepp my eyes open for more!!

Ok, can I ask a dumb question? Do I need to look in the clearance sections for htses finds... or are they ofter located in the reg. priced stuff? Do I write down upc codes and then go looking? Help me please learn the way!!!

My mil gave a book to each family that had a Christmas stories to read every night of December. Then she started buying popcorn tins or hot chocolate.. something of a treat for when they read a story. It started to be a Dec. 1st gift. I am carrying on that for my SD and my children sinc ethey grew up with it.. except for a couple of years I am going to get fisher price little people Christmas sets like the nativity, sleigh & reindeer and such for the new little ones to have decorations they can play with. Then they book and treats.

Are they on the ad? i need these too!!

Oh, I got in touch with my girlie side this year. It is PINK!!!! and candy/gingerbread/cookie and ice cream.. basically a sugar tree!! I am usually very tradtional( red & gold), but threw caution to the wind this year. I have been on a search for more ornaments( I have a 12' tree) and ball shaped light covers to give it some "pop". All the bows are pink/white and irradecent, gumdrop and candy garlands, sugared cookie ornaments, frostinf snowflakes, chocolate cookies... and pastels sugared balls!!! I guess I am a little excited!!

I have a budget of around $100. Since our family is his/mine/ours... a very long time ago I decided what $$ we would spend for the first knowing it would most likely be his, yet wanting to keep it AS FUN for the last little ones(our baby is 8).

The only thing that may back you up was the phrase" We aren't done yet". Of course it could mean anything, but this year was awful for me being able to find anything I wanted to buy. I do think they will pull a rabbit out of thier hat, and I cannot wait to see the week long ad that is mention on the bottem on the bf ad.

My older 2 are getting things like laptops, cars, and stuff... so they don't get as many. But since my DH likes to wait until the very end for the big suprise.. we have to get them "filler" gifts so they are opening stuff and not wise to the big finish. The little ones are my stress because now they are old enough to realize that they shouldn't ask for the same video games or toys, knowing we get them all.

I don't think it is fair. I have shopped a few years with people who "didn't appreciate" my desire to be there early. I can understand wanting to hold a spot in line, but aboslutely think it is wrong under these circumstances.

Ok, she is my step granddaughter... and I don't know even if I will have the privlige of being a "Grandma" by name to this lil baby. And she has a very large family that are going to be buying the baby gifts as well. I do not want to overstep, or over buy, but I am so very excited about this lil baby. I don't want the exwife to get mad( divorce was over 20 years ago) or feel anything bad. I just need some really good ideas that are not usually what other family members might get.

My dh knows what things cost, he shops with me, trusts me to make good choices, but never really adds it all up. He is the one who always has to do a "big" suprise worthy of Santa that blows the kids out of the water every year. He is tricky and sly. I love bargains, believe that rich people dont get or stay rich by wasting $$. I have a part time job at the school for my recreation and sanity that I use all $$$$ for christmas since that is my hobby all year. In the end, we are on the same page.

I have thought about buying some scrapbook type paper and replying myself, maybe print it off myself, and mail it to my kids. However post office emplyees often will reply when send a letter to the north pole too!!

I am a shopping junkie, I can admit that. I usually have a list for everything, well planned, but always have a little wiggle room. I love my DH will go shopping, not on BF until afternoon, but very involved. Welll yesterday, even thought we are close to being "done", he alwyas finds things that "if we buy one, we need to buy 2" for our lil boys( not twins but 11 months apart). 2 paint ball guns later, and more little things than I can count....my "lists" are very off!!

Seriously!! I have bought almost EVERYTHING I need or want. I guess that all that is left is to buy stuff that I didn't know I wanted untill it goes on sale for BF!!! All this waiting( I am not known for my patience) I have had a couple of serious shopping trips!! How is everyone else holding up?

Ummm, I am 36 and I still want to believe.