mombbsmj

I HATE midnight openings. Like someone said in a previous post it ruins our whole tradition we have had for many years with getting up, shopping, eating breakfast, shopping, eating lunch, more shopping and going home for a nap. It was awesome. Also, in the morning I love having some staggered hours so you had a chance to getting to more than one store "first". Also, I can't handle being up all night without either feeling sick or getting a migraine. So midnight openings suck the fun out of it. I might stay home this year and do it all online. And I have been going out for over 25 years.

I had my worst Target experience ever today. This was the first time I actually saw 2 guys that were coming in and just grabbing everything to throw it in their carts so they could resell them. One guy took all of the Mind Flex toys off the shelves, there must have been 30 of them and put them in a pile on the floor about 2 feet from the shelf. Then he walked away I'm sure to get another cart. I was just mad that they were there taking toys when the rest of the people were there buying for their kids. Anyway, I took a Mind Flex off the top of the pile on the floor just as he came around the corner and he started yelling at me that they were his and to put it back. Then he ran up to me and grabbed the toy out of my hands. By this time a lot of the other people were yelling at him to stop and one of the markdown team called the store manager. I told him that we were all buying toys for our kids and he said "I have to make a living too". By the time the manager got there they had gone up to the front of the store to check out. I was shaking I was so mad. Since when does taking a pile of toys off the shelf and putting it in front of the shelf make them all "yours". I wish Target would limit the number of the same toy one person could buy to see if it would keep some of those people who never shop at Target except for the toy sales away. They did mark down the pink Mobigo's after the guys left so I got one of those which I was happy about.

If Walmart gives you trouble, Nintendo should replace it for you with no problem. All of their systems have a 1 year warranty.

I have kids from 15 to 5 and we love to play Uno Attack together, also Pictionary Jr and Trival Pursuit Jr too.

I try to do most early but I always seem to find more last minute things to "need" to go get. I'm not usually satisfied until Dec 24th....

Target also carries Playmobil. I can't say if I've see a Noah's Ark but I have bought sets from there before.

Thanks, I was looking to get some candles.

My just turned 11 year old also had the Amazing Allie doll when she was about 5 and frankly it was a big waste of money. I think the only time she really played with it was Christmas morning, then all those tiny parts got lost and it was a heavy doll to be lugging around. She played a lot more with the $20 doll that looked the same but did nothing.

I also do the orange idea at the bottom of the stocking, something I picked up from my parents. I'll also echo the popular idea of the $1 spot at Target. They have some really cute things like the Hello Kitty items and the mini games that would even been good for older kids.

It's really hard to pick just one...I love everything about Christmas but one of my most favorite traditions exchanging presents with my kids. We all go as a family to one store (usually Target) after we draw names, then split up when we get to the store. It makes it fun because we are always on the lookout to avoid each other. Then on Christmas Eve we open up the presents. My kids love it and really look forward to it.

I do the same amount of money. My older 2 are 15 and 13 and have asked for WAY more expensive things than my younger ones who are 11 (on Dec 1), 6, and 5. The older 2 understand that they are asking for more expensive items so it works out fine. I do try to fill in with cheaper things to make it a little more even. My 11 year old wants a lot of Littlest Pet Shop pets so her number of presents will be closer to the younger 2.

I'd go for the Gamecube. We have a PS2 and a Gamecube. My 13 year old boy plays both about equally but my younger 2 ages 6 and 5 only play the Gamecube because more games are geared toward younger kids. The mulitplayer is awesome. We've spent many great times playing Mario Kart and Mario Party.

My 13 year old son wants an Ipod. And a couple of PS2 and GBA video games. I got the Ipod already, thanks for the great idea of a subscription to a music service for downloads, hadn't thought of that...duh!

I think I'm a compulsive wrapper...LOL. I will wrap everything that doesn't move until DH stops me. I guess I love to unwrap things so thats what my kids get.

My daughter really wants a Cabbage Patch baby for Christmas. Are the newborns close to what the babies look like? I'd love to get one for $10.

Microsoft recently came out with an announcement that they were not going to be producing as many 360's as originally said. The number are going to be about 1/2 so good luck to those wanting one.

My sister got the V Smile for her kids last year for Christmas, the thing lasted 4 months and now it won't work. Of course it was past the warranty. She bought the Leapster for her son for his birthday last January and it's still going strong. Just my 2 cents.