fluffkin79

No major action in the toy dept. since last Thursday. They seem to have finished condensing all the clearance to a couple aisles. I did have some fun in the kids' clothing deptments. Quite a few things were being marked down to 75% off. I found: ###Big Girls: ###Corderoy pants 3.48 ###Velvety strech-waist pants 2.98 ###Long sleeve t's 1.74 ###Robes 3.74 ###Hanes sweats 1.xx ###Black or leopard-print dress jackets 8.xx ###Girls puffer coats 2.50! My store only had 2, they were (unfortunatly) not the right size, both were pink, not sure if other stores have different colors. ###Big Boys ###Coat, large (puffer-style) 4.98 ###Coat, XS (army green, barn coat style) 9.98 I would have liked to get some girl's cord pants for next year and some hanes sweats, but they were out of the sizes I needed. If toys go down this week I will make the drive to another store and see if I can get lucky there.

Did they look like they had been opened? I am wondering if was and odd factory goof or a return from a dishonest person.

###Fisher Price Smart Fit Park 12.48, 75% off (Sports version was still 30% off) ###Imaginext 3-headed Sea Monster bonus pack $8.18, 74% off, includes sea monster, spinning octopus, and crocodile(?) Smartcycle games were 30% here (scanned to be sure), Furreal elephant, Dinoroars Monty, and Spike the Ultra Dinosaur, and all the clearance board games were still marked 50%. Most have been at 50% since last week here.

Kohler.

Christmas was still 75% here in WI this morning. I scanned a couple things just to be sure. Toys clearance was mostly 50% (some 30%). They were working hard an condensing them into dedicated clearance aisles. I couldn't find any smartcycles here, but there are a few things that have me interested. ****Snow boots are 50% off. Maybe I missed it, but I thought the boots were still full price when I checked on them a couple days ago. I got a pair that will hopefully fit DD next year for 9.98. There were a couple pairs of shoes on clearance here and there, but nothing major in that department yet. Is there anyone else on here that gets more excited about the shoe clearance than toy clearance? My kids have too many toys but are constantly needing new shoes. I didn't see anything new marked down on the kids clothing racks, but I was there pretty early and the workers were very busy with thier scanners in that department. I plan on checking it out tomorrow. I'm hoping the christmas leftovers and gloves will go down more.

Is the smartcycle software marked clearance? I haven't had a chance to check yet.

Where the toys with the Christmas stuff or in the toy aisle?

My store had tons of stuff left! It was marked 75% when I got there around 10am (except for a few stray 50% signs, but everything scanned 75%). Even though there was a lot left I decided to stock up now. The aises were packed and people were leaving with full carts. I'll go back and help clean up the leftovers when they go down to 90%. For the most part I just got wrapping paper, bags, and ornaments. I did find some Kraft tree-shaped marshmallows for .29 a bag, throw pillows (3.xx), girl's over-the-knee socks (1.24), and a pancake/bicuit set with jams and syrup (3.74). Not a whole lot of stocking stuffers that interested me, but I did find the Backugan card/dice game (.74). There wasn't much for candy - just an endcap of candy canes, some kisses (cherry?) and the fancily packaged ones. By the time I got through the Christmas aisles my kids were done, so I didn't get to check the kids' departments, but I didn't see any of the boy's and girl's holiday tees that they normally have. Has anyone else seen them?

I saw some girls puffy coats for 75% today. They were $7-8. I'll be watching the gloves. My oldest DD loves feeding hers to the school's lost and found box.

I'd like to think I am done, but probably not. I have been struggling to find time to wrap this year. I have been collecting gifts all year and have been digging it out a few at a time to wrap. I kept thinking the my daughters had more than my son so I kept picking up things for him. Now it seems like most of the gifts under the tree are for DS. I need to finish wrapping tonight and see if I can even it out with creative wrapping techniques. Otherwise I will be off to the store. Who am I kidding? I will be shopping tonight either way. A friend asked me to drop something off at her house tonight and while I am out I will probably at least stop to get the earmuffs DD6 is asking for. And maybe a pair each for the other kids, too. And maybe a couple other little things.... Now, the week before Christmas, DD6 keeps coming home with new items for her wish list. She used my MP3 player on the way to grandma's last week and now wants her own. She also wants an ipod, DS, and cell phone! She is getting a baby doll and accessories. When she asked for a DS I asked her if she knew what that was. She didn't, but a girl in her class wants one so she does, too. I think her gifts are about to get more expensive.

Nothing for Chirstmas dinner- just the gas to get to my sister's house. I will probably spend around $30 on baking supplies. On my way to the store to get the things for Thanksgiving dinner I heard on the radio that the average Thankgiving meal cost about $40. I had to laugh a little when my bill came to $75, not including the turkey! I guess my family likes food more than others.

I love clearance racks! The first place I always look for things is in the clearance section. Almost every store has at least one at all times. Target is one of my favorites, but I am not sure what they have right now. If you have a Familly Dollar near you check it out. They usually have really cute baby clothes at great prices. Many outfits are $4-$6. If you have the energy to search, try a resale store or thrift shop. People tend to get waaaay more baby stuff than they need and sometimes only use them a few times - or not at all - before baby grows into the next size. You can get some great deals, but it can take some time to seach though all the stuff.

Done? I am never done! At least not till the gifts are opened on Christmas.

I also let them know that he will not knowingly give bad toys (I'm talkin' 'bout you, cupcake maker!) or things that he knows that the parents dissapprove of. After all, he wants to spread joy and kids wouldn't be very joyfull as their parents throw away thier new toys. Even though the kids rarely get what they ask for, they are always happy.

I am really impressed by Wal-mart's response. Of course, it would have been nice of them to send an email to let you know a new one is on the way. I recieved 2 broken digital frames from Walmart last year. I sent an email, but never got a response and couldn't find a phone number. Luckily, I was able to return them at a WM store.

St Nick? My DD believes that he will come this year. He hasn't come in the past because we didn't know about him. I didn't hear about him until we moved to WI. Now that we know and claim to believe, she is convinced that he is coming. We aren't sure when, though, so she has been checking her stocking every day! There is another thread here: http://forums.gottadeal.com/showthread.php?t=160727

Whatever we bake. Usually it is peanut butter kiss cookies.

Not wrapped. Everything is unwrapped, out of the package, and ready to play with. He is so much more clever than I am. Santa untangles barbies from thier boxes before the kids get them so they can play with them right away. Or maybe they came straight from the workshop and were never in a box? The kids get to play with the gifts that Santa leaves first thing in the morning. Then, after breakfast, they get to open family gifts. It works out good for us - they get something right away and I get to see them open their gifts and hear all the "WOW!"s.

I can't think of any candy I want bad enough to eat out of a teenagers sneakers!

My sister is doing Christmas this year, so it will be a surprise for us. We have done ham/turkey dinners, lasagna, and beef stew before. It all depends on who is hosting and what they are in the mood for. I like the taco idea. I think that will be my plan for Christmas Eve when it is just me, DH, and the kids.

I don't have a collection, but we have started reading Christmas stories at bedtime. I found some good ones at Dollar Tree last year, and they have either added more titles this year or just have more that I didn't find last year. They rhyme, have a good rythm, keep my kids interest, and I enjoy reading them. We have The Little Fir Tree, Letter to Santa, The Nutcracker, and some more that I can't find right now. My kids just got 2 more stories today as gifts. They also rhyme, which helps to keep DS3's attention. They are Mary's Christmas Story and Joseph's Christmas Story, part of the Arch Books Bible Story Series. Not my absolute favorites, but the kids liked them.

This is a tough one. I never heard of the pre-Christmas Eve St. Nick when I was growing up. I just thought that he and Santa were the same guy. Now we live in an area where St. Nick visits everyone on Dec. 5. DD heard about him in school, is convinced that he came last year, and is sure he will be here this year, too. When does he usually come? Is it the night of 12/4 or the night of 12/5?

I would like to get a play kitchen for my girls. My sister is willing to give us her kids' old one, similar to this: http://www.biglots.com/toys/item.aspx?cid=57&scid=198&iid=6890. Otherwise, I am considering buying this one http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10340616 Hmmm, the pics didn't come up like I would like. The green one is similar to the one we could get for free, with all the food and accessories. Pros: FREE!, comes with lots of food and accessories Cons: Cheaply made, tippy, doors don't quite shut, a lot crammed into a small space, sink is too small to be usable for "washing" dishes - its mostly just for looks. I like the silver one, but not sure if it is worth spending the $$ when we could get the other free. Pros: sturdy, looks more like a real kitchen, big enough for 2 to play at once Cons: costs $100, and if I go this route I will probably spend more on good quality play food/dishes. So for those of you with young kids who have play kitchen experience: is it worth the price to get the better set, or will the kids not notice the difference?

I had a burst of energy. 6 hours later the tree is up and decorated, porch is decorated, christmas village is set up, and stockings are hung. I think that'll do it for this year. The kids are still young enough that I don't want to pull out too many things for them to break. For the rest of the week I will be using any free time I can find for wrapping gifts. The tree looks lonely without them.

My girls love fuzzy slipper socks. DS wants regular slippers.