leefamily23

We always play games after holiday meals. Usually it's my job to find a new game. Here are some of the hit's I've had: Family Fued Battle of the Sexes The biggest Hit had to be the Cranium Pop 5 game. We've played this at least 5 different gatherings now. It is hysterical. This year my sister wants us to try Apple to Apple.......

I think it depends on what you can do. We switch up the 3 major holiday's. My mother does Thanksgiving. She is able to serve us all family style at her dining room table. Usually there is in the range of 10-13 people. My sister does Christmas, and usually there is 9-10 of us. She cannot accomdate us all at her table, so we do a buffet style meal. Then pick a seat wherever you can get one between her kitchen and living room (which are open and connected). I usually do Easter. In the past I always could accomodate the 10-13 people in my dining room. So we all had it sit down- family style. This year we are in a much smaller place (about 1/2 the sq footage). If I continue to do Easter, it will have to be buffet style (I have no dining room now, and my eat in kitchen is not large enough for everyone). Personally, I prefer sit-down, family style meals. Just had a funny thought, when we do our holiday meal at my inlaws I always refer to it as "grab n' growl". There is never enough room for everyone to sit- anywhere, and never enough food. Always baffles me because it's always the same # of people every year, so it should be better planned.

I've been thinking of getting this for my neice, and I'm really thinking it will possibly be cheaper on BF. Am I kidding myself????

My son bought all his school clothing there this year. They always have these really good sales when I have no money.

I love seeing the kids all dressed up. All ages too. My son who I thought was going hunting found out his dad will be out of town now. So, he has decided to go trick-or-treating w/ my mom and sister w/ her kids (they are 4 & 6) rather than sit home. My son is 15 almost 16. He will be polite, say thank you, help his little cousins, and be dressed up. I would like to think that nobody would be rude to him because he's not a little kid. That is just plain wrong. As for subdivisions. I cannot believe nobody in your county/town had a fit over their tax dollars being spent on keeping little kids from getting candy in a snooty neighborhood. We've found that many of the subdivisions that have a lot of houses, tend to give worse items. Seems like they get so over-run w/ kids they give out penny candy, because they give out so much of it. I'm really excited to see how many kids we get tomorrow, we're in a new house and neighborhood this year. Though I have to go in the morning and buy candy. I could not buy it any earlier because it would of been eaten. I just have no willpower when it comes to candy.

I'm looking to get my nephew a walker. I got my neice one for like $10 @ Walmart on BF a few years ago.

I cannot believe how many area's have actual age imposed rules. We have a time constraint for the event. It is 6-8pm. No age limits though. I do agree w/ the above posters- toddler, child, teen, adult- I don't care- but I want to see the spirit by an attempt at a costume. My son is 15, almost 16, and he will not be going. I asked him just the other day if he wanted to go w/ my neice and nephew (they are 4 &6). He said no, he's going bow hunting instead w/ his dad, and he'll will not get home until after it starts. I will set aside from candy for him from what I buy to pass out. He's still my baby I gues.

Nothing in the ad for me this year. Usually I have at least a few items I want to get from there. Here's keeping my fingers crossed on the other ads.

The games seem to be $8.99 now.

We always do a "big" breakfast too. We do the eggs, bacon, homefries, and toast usually w/ cinammon rolls for "dessert". We don't actually have any big sitdown meals for Christmas Eve or Christmas- so I guess this is our big meal.

First I too want to say I am sorry for everyone's losses. This thread is making me well up (I guess it doesn't help that I have to be at my grandparents house at 10 am tomorrow to empty out the contents...which the rest of my post will explain that). Anyhow, I lost my grandmother unexpectedly last year just a week before Thanksgiving and mine and her's birthday (they were 2 days apart and often fell on Thanksgiving- which is when we always celebrated both). I have spent every holiday w/ my grandparents for as long as I have memories. Last year was rough, there were lots of tears. My husband bought me a blue bird ornament to put on the tree in her memory. She loved blue birds and collected anything w/ them on it. The ironic part was he did this the day after she died. He had to run to Target w/ me to go and try to find my son some dress clothes for the wake and funeral. He bought me the ornament while I was looking for clothes. Anyhow, she always told my 1 cousin that when she died she wanted to have a blue bird resting above her shoulder in her casket. The day of the funeral I show up and my cousin had bought that same ornament (she didn't know my husband had bought it for me just 2 days before) to place above my grandma's shoulder before they closed her casket. (okay now I have tears running down my face......). Anyhow, this year we have another sort of loss to face. Last weekend my grandfather moved to N.Carolina to my aunts house. He has been failing in health terribly and he's been so sad. So he packed up 2 boxes of belongings and told us all he is going there to die (which I honestly don't think is going to be too long). He intends to never return home alive, not for the holiday's either. So last year we had to go through the holiday's w/o my grandma and this year w/o grandpa. Going to Carolina for Christmas is not an option, we cannot afford it. Last weekend was really rough knowing full well, it will most likely be the last time I see him alive. Tomorrow we are going to empty out all the contents of their house- as someone else is moving into it in November. I'm intending on taking some ornaments from her collection for my tree this year. I don't think the memories ever go away. I do hope that the pain subsides alittle each year though. I know I thought I was doing really well and in the last few weeks as the holidays and the 1 yr anniversary of her passing draw closer I'm finding it harder.

We only have one son, who is almost 16. On Christmas morning, I have pretty much always been the first to get up. The 3 of us gather around the tree and the gifts were already put out the night before in piles. I put out my husbands and son's- my husband is a good shopper and he puts out mine. We each take turns doing our entire stockings first. Then for the gifts, we usually have my son start and he'll do 3 or 4- and then my husband and I will each open 1 gift, then back to my son and we continue the cycle. We have stopped 1/2 way through to have breakfast and then finished afterwards. It all depends on how many gifts there are. There have been years when my son has had 35-50 gifts and my husband and I have each had 20-25 a piece. Last year was alittle tighter and my husband and I only did stockings so my son could still have a very nice Christmas. Now we go to my sisters on the Saturday before Christmas for dinner w/ our immediate families. There are 3 kids there- and they each take turns opening gifts as best as possible. The 2 little one's usually have a lot more to open than my son. That is because we all spend the same amounts, but his stuff is always way more expensive. Then the adults usually have to open at the same time. This is because my mom will get me and my sister very similar gifts and my husband and bil very similar gifts. At my extended families on Christmas eve, there is usually close to 50 people. Everyone gets a name drawn to exchange with and the gifts get passed out.....and it's a free for all. On Christmas at my husbands family gathering.....there is usually close to 30 people and once again it's a free for all. All the adults pick 1 name to exchange with. My grandfather-in-law buys for everyone and everyone buy's for him. Then everyone buy's for everyone under 18. We also exchange w/ my MIL, her BF, and my BIL (and this year his new baby) there as well. Several of his other family members (his 1 aunt and her adult kids and grandkids) exchange there as well too. So, the gift #'s are not even amongst families/people so I think tat is why they do it free for all style.

I'm in this same bind w/ my son. This year is probably the hardest yet to buy for him. He is 15, will be 16 less than a month after Christmas. I cannot afford a car, which I'm sure he'd love........ He to has Xbox 360 and he barely touches it, so going overboard on games is not going to work. He also has as laptop (only a few months old) a new cell phone, a new Ipod, TV, stereo, dvd, and everything else I can think of. He likes to hunt and he got a very nice new bow last year. So far I know I'll get him- new camo gear (he hunts), new underarmour for when he hunts, new sneakers, and an Itunes gift card. I also think I'll get him a radio for in the shower as he's always unpluggin his alarm clock and taking it in there. I'm really stumped on him this year. I love the fact we've been able to get him so many things over time. However, in reality I'm starting to realize he has it all, and I don't know makes me wonder if we've been right to give him so much.

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Just think once they start they should be coming left and right......I cannot wait.

I think people do it, but if they get caught it could cost them more than they made. There would surely be permits needed to do it on the up and up.

I think there are so many factors. If you usually go,then you know what kind of crowds you'll expect. We are pretty much 20 miles inbetween 2 shopping areas in different directions. If I go to 1- it's very calim, polite, ect (but not as many stores and no mall). If I go to the other it's essentially every man for himself. To scenario #1, there would be no problem taking kids. To scenario #2, I'd truly be afraid to bring a child along. As it gets waaaayyyyyy toooo chaotic. Also, I know someone mentioned that the weather shouldn't matter. It's got to play in a little bit though. I know 2 yrs ago, we had temps that were in the single digits w/ a wind chill that made it feel almost 20 below. That was just too cold. That was the 1 year even we didn't stand in line, just couldn't do it. We sat in the car and waited for the mad rush to make it through the doors. Most years here it is cold and w/ the wind chill it usually is feels 10-25 degree's. Once again, just too cold for a child to be out in line for any length of time. I shopped once w/ my son when he was 3 yrs old. It was actually my 1st BF. I was wondering what the heck I was doing when I got to Walmart at opening. We pretty much left within a few minutes empty handed, and that was that. I was scared for him. I didn't know it was going to be like that then though.

My parents did NOT do them while I was growing up. However, I've always done one for my son. We don't have anywhere to hang them, so they get filled and put in front of the Christmas gift pile. About 6 yrs ago my husband completely suprised me by buying me a stocking and filling it. I actually cried very hard. It was so sweet. I had mentioned to him in the past how my parents never did that tradition. Anyway, since the year after we've always filled stockings for each other. Even on years when money was tight and we didn't exchange other gifts we've still done stockings for each other. We do keep the stocking limit at $30 or less though. Usually it's little things we put in there. Razor blades, food type treats, socks, lotion, ornaments, pens, ect.....things like that.

Sorry to hear that. Since I got out of a hospital and into an office practice, no more weekends or holidays. :)

I'll be interested to see if anyone gets these codes to work. Generally, I've found that when FB is having a bigger sale like this- the codes don't work.

Sounds like a cop out. Weddings are wonderful......but come on the world doesn't stop for one.

I started a few weeks ago. I've been picking up a couple items each week for the last 2-3 weeks. I'm still in the mode where I'm only buying clearance and really good sale items though. I refuse to pay full price for a must have item until I'm down to the final wire around 12/22-12/23 Webkinz- 1 for $5.99 (reg $14.99) and 1 for $14.99 I did pay full price for one because it was one I found at an outlet mall that retired over a year ago. Webkinz outfit- $5.50 (reg $10.99) Skateboard- $10 (REG $35) Magic Set- $8 (reg $25) 3 Xbobx games- Bought them at the GS B2 get 1 free sale Vtech gaming system- Bought off Amazon for $27.xx 2 packs of temp tattoo's for stocking's- $1 each After I balance my checkbook tomorrow, if I have the money left I think I have I am going to buy one of my bigger single purchases for my 15 ds. He wants a certain rim for his freestyle BMX bike tha is $160- and I don't think I'll get it on sale. So, I'm thinking of getting that one in the bag now and out of the way.

We buy for our dog too- I forogt that one. He has a stocking and we just put those toys for $0.88 from Walmart in it w/ a bone and treats.

How many people do you buy for and what do you spend? My son 15- we spend any where from $700-$1000. We try to get deals to have actual value i(pre-sale) in the $950-1200 range. Neice 6 yr and Nephew 4yr- They are brother and sister $100-130 each. We try to keep the gift count close to even on them. Nephew 4 mo @ Christmas- my husband and I are in locked debate on this. I want to spend $25- he wants me to do the same as the other neice and nephew. The thing is, in my family we alway's spend more- and in his family a lot less. This tone was set by the respective familie's more than 10 yrs ago. My Mom and Dad- $50 each or $100 joint. Almost always gift cards. Then I give them a gift from my son for $25 each, that is an actual gift. My Sister and BIL- This one varies depending on our finances. We've gone no gift's at all (agreed upon by them and us) up to $100 each. My MIL- $30-50 MIL's Boyfriend )$25-40 Grandfather-in-law- $20 2 exchange gifts on dh's side- $20 each 3 cousin's kid's on dh's side- $20 each DH & I only exchange when we have extra money. Last year was tight and we spent $50 each on each other. Most years we did $300-500 each. This year will probably be in the $50-100 range.

OKay I went all day yesterday and came home w/ only 3 Xbobx 360 games I got at Gamestop for my son w/ the B2G1 sale. I was sooooooo frustrated. It's the time of year I'm not willing to pay full price yet- and I couldn't find anything I felt was that good of a deal. Much less not sure what to get. I need idea's. Here are the people on my list I have to buy for that I'm at a loss for. My son- 15 (will be 16 less than a month after Christmas): I got him 3 Xbox 360 games- but don't think I'll get him more because he only plays once in awhile. For clothing I'll wait until BF for the sale @ PacSun. I want to get him a skateboard since he wrecks one a week- but I'm clueless as to what else to get him????? We usually spend $800-$1000......he has a gaming system, a new IPOD this year already, just got a new cell phone, has a TV, has a Laptop Any Idea's????? Neice 6yr old-- Budget $100-130 Very girly.......... I usually spend 1/2 on clothes and 1/2 on toy's. She has waaaayyyyyy too many clothes so it will be all toys this year. So far I've gotten her 2 Webkinz @$5 each and 2 Webkinz outfits for 1/2 off. So she has right around $100 left still. What would be a hot item for this age bracket????? Nephew 4yr old-- Budget $100-130 NO CLUE's ON THIS ONE...... Same as neice has everything and too many clothes......I need to try to keep the present count semi-close to that of my neice's. Any idea's of what is "hot' in these age groups would be great.......