Gporter34

Since we are in a new house this year it won't be as much of a problem as in years past. I am putting everything in the garage as I buy it and only hubby and I have keys to get in there. For added security, lol, I am putting it all in a cabinet that is also locked and only I have the key to that one.

Sometime in the early afternoon of Christmas Eve we have a birthday party for DD 14. She opens birthday presents. We have quite a variety of snacks and something simple. Then we put on a Christmas movie and open all of our presents to each other. Then Santa comes when the kids are asleep and they get "Santa" gifts when they wake up Christmas morning. That's the way it has been done in my family since I was born and we kept that tradition with our kids. However, now that the kids are all older, "Santa" gifts are more for my benefit because I refuse to accept that my kids are all growing up,lol.

Added and rated 5 stars! Also, the Craftsman 35 LED Rechargeable Worklight is $16.99! Thanks Bigjim for the fun!

Thanks for the ad Brad! Looks like I may have to go to Sears this year.

Our WM was out of Pumpkin Spice creamer last night and it really ticked me off. I guess alot of people like it. I bought some last year and couldn't wait until they got it again. I saw the egg nog and almost bought some, but I am going to wait a little while.

We always bake cookies and treats for neighbors and teachers. We have made ornaments before and we had fun with it. I have made several quilts for family members for gifts. But the one we had the most fun with was last year for my DD16's dance team at school, I crocheted them all scarves in the school colors for football games or whenever they wanted to wear them. I made them extra long and put pockets on the ends for keeping their hands warm. On the pockets I put their initials on one and a paw print on the other since they are "Wildcats". They loved them and I even got alot of orders for more.

This morning I went to an estate sale and bought all of their Christmas ornaments and tree trimmings. They are the most beautiful things I have ever seen and I can't wait to get them up. They are all antiques and I haven't seen anything like them before.

Going there now!

I have picked up a few things in the past couple of weeks and we are going Christmas shopping this Saturday. That's when I really get anxioous, when we make that first real shopping trip for Christmas!

Damn it! No re-conditioned gifts this year. Crap, now I will have to go to a decent store and buy something that hasn't already been broken and then patched up. Oh well, just another titbag whiner in a growing list.

My three teens have gone with me for the past three years, but I wouldn't take the younger ones and I never took the older ones until I knew they were old enough/big enough to look out for themselves and enjoy the excitement. They have a blast btw, and are already making plans for this year. For us, as they become old enough, it's more of a tradition that I am having a great time passing on to them. However, for the younger ones...weather, crowds, seeing their gifts, and them getting tired and cranky keeps me from taking them.

My worst would have to be a couple of years ago when WalMart had the cheap laptops. My Mom just HAD to have one and she can't stand in line as long as it would take so I agreed to do it for her. We always go to WM on Thanksgiving night to check things out and see what's going on. There were people already asking where to get in line for the laptops. So, I stayed there and waited all night while Mom took the kids home to take a nap. They came back and brought me something to eat sometime during the night and then they waited around for the sale. The store only got 15 of them and by 2am there were more than 15 people standing in line. The manager came around and told them that they only had enough for the first 15 in line and they walked on to other things. At 4:45, about 300 people came rushing in and came for the laptops. There was quite alot of confusion when they were told they were already taken. We had to get a ticket and go to sporting goods to pick up the laptop because the employees didn't want to bring them all of the way through the store. We got the laptop and my daughter(16) had to sit on the damn thing in the buggy to keep someone from getting it out, already paid for, btw. At the front of the store we were told to hurry and take it to the car because there was quite a stir going on over them. Terrible...she has only used the thing once or twice, lol.

I use traditional colors and a mix of things on one tree, on another I use homemade ornaments and on my white tree I use pink.

New iPods, digital cameras, portable dvd players, clothes, jewelry, tvs, and stereos so far. They will add to/change before BF, lol.

No, don't have the time. I already work fulltime with some overtime and have plenty to do after work getting everyone to football practice and games, drill team practice, volleyball practice and games, and Cub Scouts. Husband works 2nd shift so that leaves me for all of that.

:no:Just makes no sense that some stores have to be so mean.

Our family comes to our house for Thanksgiving and I do all of the cooking. I don't mind, it's been that way since my kids were little. It was easier for eveyone to come to our house than load all of the kids up and go somewhere else.

My Mom and my oldest three kids go with me, so, no there's no one I would pick something up for as long as they are physically able to go themselves. If they were handicapped or elderly, yes I would pick something up for them. When someone asks, I just tell them they will have to get out of bed and go if they want something. I do most of my Christmas shopping that day and we help my Mom with her bags so, I don't "help" everyone who asks.

Hopefully I will be off and will be able to go out. It was looking good, but I have to go to the Dr.'s tomorrow and I will know more then. Fingers crossed.

Our WM is open 24 hours so there's no line outside. However, when the plastic comes off of those pallets, it's madness! Last year they didn't cover the pallets and let you get whatever you wanted as you got there, you just couldn't pay for it until 5am. It worked much better and there was no confusion.

And...let the games begin. It amazes me how proud they are of crappy ads. In the passt I have liked their ad, but, the last couple of years it hasn't been anything to write home about. I picked up a few things but didn't spend nearly as much there as in years past.

Paris, Texas, ya'll!!!

Thanksgiving dinner at our house with my parents. Then we go over the ads and make our final plans. We usually leave the house around 2 or 3am, but we have been known to stay out all night, lol. Then WalMart first, JCPenney(because I have to have a snowglobe, lol), Bath & Body, Radio Shack, Hasting's, and when it's all done, we go to Denny's for breakfast. After we eat, we go home and I wrap presents. Depending on the sales we may add or remove a store from our list, but we live in a small town without alot of choices.

WalMart first because it's open 24 hours and I can pm there.

Woohoo!!! Sent a request on MySpace!:)