JazzMama

I try to, but alot of times the presents just go into our closet when I get home (so that our daughter doesn't see them). Because his work hours are so crazy, I have a tendency to forget.

This one is my husband's favorite. I, however, don't have just one that I love the most. So, we always watch Ntl Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, The Christmas Story (by myself, since no one else in my family likes it), Miracle on 34th Street, and A Charlie Brown Christmas

It's just a monster version. Here's a link to the picture of it @ TRU: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0009XEBYO/ http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0009XEBYO.01.MZZZZZZZ.jpg Went this morning to Target and got the very last doodle bear they had. My 4-yr DD will be so happy!!!

My daughter's are not wrapped. However, my husband and I have a tradition that a few most-wanted items are placed in each other's stocking sometime before Christmas (it's always a race to see whose is filled first). Because I didn't think the obvious, one year I looked inside and accidentally saw my big surprise. After this, we have both wrapped what goes inside the stockings.

Mine is so odd - we visit two different family gatherings on Christmas Eve. My husband's whole family @ noon (but no presents are opened except for our Christmas cards from his grandmother). My mother's side of the family is in the evening-we open gifts after dinner. When we get home that night, my husband, daughter, and I open all of our gifts to each other. Christmas morning - Cailyn wakes up between 6-8 (depending on how late we were out the night before). She sees her "Santa sack" and dives right in. My husband's parents, my parents, and brothers come to our house @ 9 and we do gifts again over coffee/breakfast. At 12, we go to my dad's side of the family and have a family trivia game where we open, yes, more presents.

Here are some cute ideas I found at "Family Fun" magazine: Games You Could Even Say It Glows Forget about joining in any reindeer games! With our pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey-style contest, Rudolph gets to star in his very own--the perfect party game for one foggy Christmas Eve. Those red dot stickers from the office supply store make superb reindeer noses, although Rudolph is likely to get a terrible case of the measles on his way to schnozzdom. WHAT YOU NEED: Pencil or marker Construction paper Scissors Glue stick Poster board Blindfold Red dot stickers HOW TO PLAY: 1. Sketch a simple outline of a reindeer on construction paper, cut it out, and glue it to the poster board (or your kids can simply use a marker to draw Rudolph directly on the poster board). Remember to leave Rudolph noseless! 2. To play, hang the picture on a wall, blindfold the kids one at a time, hand each a red sticker, and let them try to restore Rudy's shiny proboscis. _________________________________________________________________ Santa's Helpers Wrap it up and tie it with a bow, one-handed, in this entertaining competition. WHAT YOU NEED: Party favors Box Wrapping paper Tape Yarn HOW TO PLAY: 1. To set up, put out two party favors, one box, a sheet of wrapping paper, tape and yarn for each pair. 2. Each team must race to wrap the favors in the box and tie a bow. The catch? Each player must hold one hand behind his or her back, an impediment that makes it necessary for partners to communicate and work together. The first team to finish wins the gift. (You could leave out the gift-part) _________________________________________________________________ ARTS/CRAFTS Rudolph the Red-Nosed Handprint http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11155 Candy Cane Signpost http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11156 Cardboard Candlesticks http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10619 Paper Chain http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/feature/famf109calendars/famf109calendars4.html _________________________________________________________________ All kinds of printables: mazes, word puzzles, riddles, word search, make an advent calendar, make an ornament, and coloring pages http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/xmas/print.html _________________________________________________________________ Paper Bag Reindeer Puppet http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/paperbag/ Handprint Wreath http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/handwreath/ _________________________________________________________________

YAY - thanks!

Same here! I put some Harry Connick, Jr. or other jazzy Christmas CD on and start wrapping gifts (Cailyn's and Rod's go into the closet until I can get them out of the house). Then, I put up my Christmas village and other decorations throughout the house. Cailyn and I usually watch some Christmas movies mid-afternoon while my husband is out deer hunting. When he gets back, we put up the tree and then drive around looking at Christmas lights. I try to just sleep in a little later on Saturday/Sunday mornings to get myself back on track, but with a 4-yr old, that doesn't always happen.

Ok guys, I must be blind cause I can't find it. Would someone please post the link to the Toy Book? TIA!!!

BF isn't BF without having someone glaring at my cart when they see that I got something they wanted

About 5-15 minutes for everything

Last year KB Toys was my first stop and I was in line by 4:35. This year, it depends on when I leave (I have to figure out my strategy/important stores first )

Nope, but I'm keeping an eagle-eye out as well. We're going to get our daughter the Leapster L-Max.

I did go the mall last year to go to KB Toys. Luckily, I didn't have to stand outside because they had two lines going. However, I will not do this again since everyone's told me about their ad being online! Our mall has alot of different entrances, so you can find the stores just fine. The only ones that actually have the early-bird BF sales are Sears (2 entrances), JC Penney's (2 entrances) and KB Toys (1 entrance). We also ran in Sears after we finished our shopping @ KB, but it was wall-to-wall people, so we got what was necessary and left.

Thank you!!

My parents are easy ... Dad - Shirts from LL Bean and Everwood Season 1 DVD set Mom - Clothes, candles, lotion, calendar set and Waltons Season 1 DVD set

LOL! I had to make an extra trip to get that one - my daughter loved the sound. However, now she has also said that she "needs" the carriage that goes with it. Still thinking about that one...

We always bake things too - usually bread or some kind of desert.

Smallville season3 & season4, a few more action DVDs, clothes, hunting stuff, tools for work, and CDs

I do tend to go overboard. I love seeing her smile when she sees all of her presents. I'm just thankful that my husband and I are able to get the things that she wants. We always stress the importance of charity and thankfulness to her. She loves to help me shop for toys for charities, so I think she's turning out just fine.

Sorry - I had added a link that had a better price, but when I checked with the store, their sales price was no longer showing up on the site (Best Buy if anyone's curious)

Deleted ... sales price no longer in effect

I start "really" shopping mid-September.

Target, Sears, KB Toys, and Kmart

Thanks - got 3 DVDs and 2 DVD sets for less than what I was going to spend on just the sets :) The Rock - $5.99 The Rookie - $5.99 Crimson Tide - FREE Smallville 3rd season - $29.87 Smallville 4th season - $29.87 Total $71.72