Comments on: Christmas in October

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 23:11:54 +0000

Adult family members are HARD to buy for! We’ve gone to donations in the name of family members in both our families. As for teachers, I’m all about the gift cards…this is our first year doing that. Panera is the ideal choice for us because it’s nicer than fast food and not crazy expensive, plus you can have a meal or you can get bagels or pastries or a loaf of bread. I don’t know how widely they’re spread, through–I know they’ve got locations in all the Midwestern states around us, but beyond that I have no idea.

By: el-e-e

el-e-e — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:54:56 +0000

We just bought our first round of gifts (for our kids) last night. My Amazon Prime free month-trial was about to expire. So for once, we’re slightly ahead.

I love the idea of baking supplies as a gift to the kids. I might do the same with an ice cream maker. Thanks for the tip!

What I stress about are the teacher gifts, and the adults in my family (esp. my in laws).

By: Ellen Gable Hrkach

Ellen Gable Hrkach — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 21:40:24 +0000

Great suggestions, Kate! We have always done Christmas shopping on a budget, even with older kids. They understand that Christmas is about Christ’s birth. If they want something more expensive, they save up for it themselves.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 10:35:58 +0000

Hey, what’s the web all about if not sharing of ideas?

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 06:34:00 +0000

I completely agree with you Kate-your ideas are fabulous! My in-laws buy sooooo much stuff for our kids and we end up buying these just so Santa can bring more than Grandma and Grandpa. Bed sheets, bath sponges-all terrific ideas-we are trying to stay “cheap” this season also-I’ll definitely be stealing some of your ideas!! Question: is it stealing if I tell you before hand?

By: Carrie

Carrie — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 18:11:53 +0000

We started doing “alone time” with all of our kids when they were 5-11. A lot of time, it means a quick run to the grocery store, but they get to pick which parent and we spend that time talking to them while we run errands or go out for ice cream. It’s an hour with just us and them. They behave better and we’re all happier.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:42:13 +0000

We’ll have do deal with this issue with this baby, too. :/ Although frankly, Julianna’s birthday being Feb. 2, it’s not much different!

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:41:23 +0000

Alex likes the nerf-dart guns, too, but we’ve been a bit skittish on the gun thing. I’m not sure if that’s a philosophy of anti-gun, or a philosphy of anti-things-that-will-be-easy-to-get-lost. LOL The dates are a good idea…though the little ones won’t “get” it so that one we’ll have to sit on for a couple more years, probably.

By: Tamara Copple

Tamara Copple — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 03:21:43 +0000

I like to just pay attention all year to the things that Noah seems to be into with his friends. Right now the nerf-dart guns are the rage when the boys around the neighborhood get together. Since Matt doesn’t practice and I’m Buddhist, I broached the idea of not doing Christmas gifts at all this year between the three of us, and Noah, predictably, was not enthusiastic about the idea. Oh well, can you blame him?

Here’s an idea – what about Mommy/child or Daddy Child dates? Alex especially may be getting to the age where he would appreciate some alone time with his parens away from the siblings. Especially if it’s to someplace you know they think will be cool -like one of those indoor playgrounds with the moonwalks or Chucky Cheeses’s.

By: That Married Couple

That Married Couple — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 01:08:19 +0000

Great ideas! I’m going to have to either go through and reread these or just bookmark this one I try to keep either a little notebook on me or a email draft at all times with gift ideas, so any time I think of something I can jot it down and remember months later. Since Miriam is the only grandchild and her birthday is also in December, we are trying to go as light on the toys as possible. We’re planning to do three gifts for Christmas, and probably the same for her birthday.

I love the idea of garage sale finds morphed into a dress up box! I’ll totally have to do that when she’s older!