leefamily23

I don't like the midnight openings. Last year we went to TRU and Walmart, I thought it would be great. I was so tired by 7am that we called it a day. I don't know who will be opening at midnight, but I am thinking of skipping going out for the first time in 18 straight years. I think it might be online shopping for me this year. I am just not cut out to be out all night.

I love all the gatherings, but it seems we get to the point we are just running, running, running. We start w/ the Saturday before Christmas (no matter the date) and have our immediate family dinner and gifts w/ my parents and sisters family. This is usually a full day event. Then on Christmas Eve (there is work for 1/2 day if weekday) then we go out to dinner, church, then to my Aunt & Uncles on my dad's side. This is truly traditiion as we've been going to their place since I was a baby. Back then there was only about 15 of us and last year we reached 60 people. Then Christmas my son goes w/ his dad after our morning at home is finished and we go to dh's family gathering for the afternoon. Usually the Saturday after Christmas my mother then has a post-holiday party w/ all sorts of family and friends to wind up the season. I know compared to many that isn't too many gatherings, but I still feel like we don't have a moment to just stop and relax right around the actual holiday. We have cut out 2 other gatherings on Christmas Eve because of that day feeling too hectic. My husbands family has another gathering that day and my mom's family does too.

I think the magic can remain, it's just a different type of magic. My son is now 18 (almost 19) and we still have a lot of excitement over Christmas in our household. One positive is we are no longer up at the crack of dawn, I say we all gather closer to 9-10am to open gifts. Christmas morning is no longer over by 7am. Also meaning dh and I are not exhausted all day Christmas.

I buy all my paper, bows, tags, gift bags, ect after Christmas. I try to get it all when it's 75% off. I usually try to snag at least 10 rolls for the next year along w/ at least a dozen various size bags.

In our house/family Christmas is "kicked off" Thanksgiving week and ends w/ New Years. My husbands and my birthday are November 23rd &24th, so we usually put up the tree and such on my Birthday.

Ever since reading this thread, I have been thinking more and more about this!!!! Spray bottles wouldn't work here either. I have one kitten who has no problem with getting wet (on several occasions he has snuck into the bathroom while someone has been showering and jumped in the tub and played around in the water).

At work we are allowed to wear jeans every friday for a $2.00 donation. At the end of the year we use the money to buy gifts and food for family. Though we are a large health center that serves a lot of needy families so we look for families all year that end up being our candidates to help out.

When my son was younger I used storage bins like another poster. We always had storage bins in our spare room, I would get the very big ones and put uninteresting items on top (like clothing). For really large items we kept that at my grandfather-in-laws house. Now that he is older (18) I just wrap as I buy and pile them in my closet. He is good about not going through them.

Unfortunately my sister and I are the only one's who go out BF. The rest of our family wouldn't buy into this. Having a family member away serving our country and BF don't compare, especially not in my mothers book. It's all good though, you can't put a "bargain price" on the memories you make with your whole family gathered. Aside from BF, the majority of my shopping has been online the last few years, I suspect it will be the same this year. Just means places like Walmart don't get my business because I tend to find other sites that have much better deals for online shopping.

Smithsonian Micro Volcano List Price: $12.99 Price: $5.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Deal Price: You Save: $7.04 (54%) http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-ZQtHLdLL._SL500_AA300_.jpg http://www.amazon.com/Smithsonian-52101-Micro-Volcano/dp/B003O68ZYU/ref=sr_1_306?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1318390186&sr=1-306

Air Hogs XS Motors Yellow Moto Frenzy Stunt Bike Ch C List Price: $24.99 Price: $6.88 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details Deal Price: You Save: $18.11 (72%) http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61pmC6-UoDL._SL500_AA300_.jpg http://www.amazon.com/Air-Hogs-Motors-Yellow-Frenzy/dp/B003958A1Y/ref=sr_1_57?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1318389835&sr=1-57

U-Build Monopoly List Price: $19.99 Price: $8.35 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Deal Price: You Save: $11.64 (58%) http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/519lsTgvbCL._SL500_AA300_.jpg http://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-18361-U-Build-Monopoly/dp/B0036RKHE8/ref=sr_1_49?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1318389762&sr=1-49

Tech Deck World Industries Mini Training Center with ramps (set 2) List Price: $24.99 Price: $9.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Deal Price: You Save: $15.00 (60%) http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51nE2RhhQJL._SL500_AA300_.jpg http://www.amazon.com/Tech-Deck-Industries-Training-Center/dp/B005EGWZQW/ref=sr_1_46?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1318389652&sr=1-46

Elenco OWI T3 Transforming Solar Robot List Price: $19.99 Price: $8.05 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Deal Price: You Save: $11.94 (60%) http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51E2PQ4wnWL._AA300_.jpg http://www.amazon.com/Elenco-OWI-Transforming-Solar-Robot/dp/B003JO3JU2/ref=sr_1_21?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1318389548&sr=1-21

Star Wars Science - Force Trainer List Price: $129.99 Price: $37.20 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Deal Price: You Save: $92.79 (71%) http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41L7qkPw1%2BL._AA300_.jpg http://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Science-Force-Trainer/dp/B001UZHASY/ref=sr_1_19?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1318389463&sr=1-19

20Q Version 3.0 - Purple List Price: $10.99 Price: $6.98 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Deal Price: You Save: $4.01 (36%) http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81hfGJhmsuL._AA1500_.jpg http://www.amazon.com/Mattel-R8558-20Q-Version-3-0/dp/B0031ES9L4/ref=sr_1_17?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1318389341&sr=1-17

Melissa & Doug Decorate-Your-Own Train List Price: $17.19 Price: $5.55 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.Deal Price: You Save: $11.64 (68%) http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/515XL9pXBDL.jpg http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-4576-Decorate-Your-Own-Train/dp/B003AHG3HE/ref=sr_1_12?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1318388333&sr=1-12

Aqua Sand Polar Playground List Price: $24.99 Price: $10.08 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details You Save: $14.91 (60%) http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81Y9XOPmPsL._AA1500_.jpg http://www.amazon.com/Aqua-Sand-6013917-Polar-Playground/dp/B003AJEXD8/ref=sr_1_124?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1318050509&sr=1-124

We leftthe house around 8pm-ish to get in line for TRU for their midnight sale. When we left it was in the low 50's upper 40's. Now we brought layers knowing it was going to get cold out. What we weren't preapred for (as they never called for it) was the hours and hours of downpouring rain and the drastic drop in the temps. By the time the store opened we were literally ankle deep in water at some points. To make matters worse, I wasn't even getting anything there. There was quite a few times I wanted to ditch, but I couldn't do that to my sister. Finally around 1:30 am we got into the store. I don't know what it is about TRU, but they move like snails there and they could only let so many people in at a time (that part I understood). Anyhow, while waiting in line at TRU (for a little over 2 hours) I called dh woke him up in the middle of the night to bring us dry shoes, clothes and something warm to drink. There was no way I was going to be able to continue on. Our clothing, socks, sneakers, and winter coats were "ring them out soaked!!". I ruined my shoes, so that was a loss that made the bargains that much less worth it! My husband arrived, we were still stuck in line in the way back of the store. If you left the store you had to re-wait outside in the still long line, in the pouring rain. Thankfully my 18 yr old son had come w/ us and he went out to go get the stuff and wait in the car. When I finally got out there, I changed in the car (that was fun-- trying to get out of my soaking clothing with a bunch of people around). TRU took so long going to Walmart was out of the question, and nothing else was open just yet. So, we then went and tried to sleep in the Target parking lot. Unfortunately that driving, downpouring rain made it impossible to wait outside again. Unfortunatley, we were done by 7am. That whole midnight opening threw us completely off and in all honesty it kinda ruined the whole experience. We used to leave around 3am, which allowed us to get a few hours sleep the night before. We always got the items we were looking for. We knew we weren't going to get that HOT electronic item that people camped out for. We weren't going to skip Thanksgiving (my mother would dis-own us for life if we did) to get some sleep. We have gone every year for the last 18 years now, and I can honestly say that if they all do that midnight opening again this year, I won't be out there. I will stay home and order online. It will be kinda sad because it's tradition for my sister and I to go, but getting no sleep and then trying to stay up all night and shop all day just didn't work out and it ruined "our day" anyhow. The other stand-out thing was that in the evening of BF, my husband and I always go back to this bit more rural Walmart. We usually pick up quite a few left over doorbuster items. Been doing that for years to. However, we hit up 2 last year and there was absolutely nothing left. That was just another let down.

I don't understand it, but to each their own. I would go on a trip for the holiday then w/ your daughter. Then you can both enjoy the holiday together.

We have 2 very curious new kittens this year as well, and this hadn't crossed my mind. Our previous cat never touched the tree year or bothered it any year. However, he was already almost 5 when we got him and already to a somewhat lazy point in life. We have an fake tree, and don't use tinsel, but I am going to have to talk to dh about anchoring the tree. Along w/ going minimal on the ornaments this year I'm thinking.

We always do layers because it's cold outside in those lines, but gets awfully toasty inside the stores. My sister and I go together and the best plan works out when we bring a 3rd non-shopping person w/ us. Sometimes my husband, last year it was my son (18yrs old). The non-shopper drops us off, goes grabs a parking spot. Then they go in the store search for a cart and stand w/ the cart in a designated location. Pretty much something like the diaper aisle where nothing is. Then we run back and forth to the cart w/ the items and they go get in line when we are done. They also can watch our coats and such. Having the cart is great, but it is very difficult to navigate the aisles w/ one so we found this plan to work best.

That was funny!

I don't like the whole midnight thing in general. Like another poster, I am not giving up Thanksgiving altogether. We used to leave around 3 am to go get in line (knowing we weren't going to get a short supplied- big ticket item). Which allowed for a few hours sleep. Last year we were home by 7am and slept all day because nobody had the energy to go on. Leaving at 10pm to get in line didn't allow for any sleep the night before.

I got my son & foster son each Ipod nano's w/ accessory kits. They mostly wanted clothing. A few DVD's and video games. One got an Ed Hardy cologne set that was a major deal, I got it on clearance at Marshalls, a 3 pc set for $34. The other got a Gucci cologne set, that was reg $69 that I got shipped w/ codes from Walgreens for $18. I also got a great Underarmor cinch sack for $9.99 at TJ Maxx. 8 yr old Niece: Motorized paperoni's (??), make your own glitter tattoo's 6 yr old Nephew: Hot Wheels play set & Wii Soccer game 9 mo old Niece: Fisher price walk n play stroller Mom: Keith Urban CD Dad: A HUGE bag of Dunkin Donuts coffee. I kept my list very short this year. I only ended up spending around $800 which was good for me. I usually spend closer to the $2000 mark but was determined to cut back this year.