I've decided that I'm going to attempt to get some clearance costumes on/after Halloween and give DD a dress up box for Christmas.
My grandma gave me a dress up box when I was a kid. Some of the outfits she picked up at thrift stores.
That's a good idea too! She already has too many toys and loves to play house so I think this will be good for play. I'll have to check out some thrift stores too. Thanks for the idea!
So I'll go first. We are seeing DH's family on Thanksgiving and exchanging gifts then so I need to get on this. I've asked SIL for ideas for my nieces and nephews but she is no help. MIL and FIL are usually impossible but I've come up with some ideas for them.
15 yo niece - Eye makeup brushes and probably a GC. She used to like Forever 21 but I have to check if that's still right since her tastes change daily.
12 yo nephew - no clue. Need help!
7 yo niece - I have to do double because Xmas is also her birthday. All I got from SIL was pajamas. I'm also going to get her some scented bath/body stuff since she likes that.
5 yo nephew - HELP!!!
MIL - a photo plaque of the kiddo, adult coloring books and gel pens (she's in a rehab facility long term and said she likes them to pass the time) and a bible verse desk calendar (she's very religious).
FIL - some sort of photo gift of DS and some sort of food
Dad and stepmom - GC to one of their favorite restaurants, a bottle of their favorite scotch and some sort of photo gift of DS
Mom - HELP!!
As for me, DH and I have decided our gift to each other will be a new computer.
12 yo nephew: Amazon gift card?
5yo nephew: Legos? My nephew is turning 5 next weekend and he's loving all things legos.
I've got nothing for mom! Sorry -- they're all so different.
So I'll go first. We are seeing DH's family on Thanksgiving and exchanging gifts then so I need to get on this. I've asked SIL for ideas for my nieces and nephews but she is no help. MIL and FIL are usually impossible but I've come up with some ideas for them.
15 yo niece - Eye makeup brushes and probably a GC. She used to like Forever 21 but I have to check if that's still right since her tastes change daily.
12 yo nephew - no clue. Need help!
7 yo niece - I have to do double because Xmas is also her birthday. All I got from SIL was pajamas. I'm also going to get her some scented bath/body stuff since she likes that.
5 yo nephew - HELP!!!
MIL - a photo plaque of the kiddo, adult coloring books and gel pens (she's in a rehab facility long term and said she likes them to pass the time) and a bible verse desk calendar (she's very religious).
FIL - some sort of photo gift of DS and some sort of food
Dad and stepmom - GC to one of their favorite restaurants, a bottle of their favorite scotch and some sort of photo gift of DS
Mom - HELP!!
As for me, DH and I have decided our gift to each other will be a new computer.
12 yo nephew: Amazon gift card?
5yo nephew: Legos? My nephew is turning 5 next weekend and he's loving all things legos.
I've got nothing for mom! Sorry -- they're all so different.
Our wi-fi went out last night because of the weather so we realized it will be a long winter if we can't access DS's favorite shows so we are going to get him a couple DVDs of Mickey Mouse, Thomas and Elmo.
Post by activebaby on Oct 28, 2016 10:00:16 GMT -5
Dh sent our nephew $60 for his 6th birthday. Our nephew loved it and went shopping. But, now I'm concerned for how we are going to follow up for all other birthdays and holidays. I don't mind the amount spent, but not sure about how I feel about cash. On one hand it's requires no shopping, on the other it's not as personal/thoughtful....but the kid loved it.
Post by springbeduk on Oct 30, 2016 13:26:54 GMT -5
Wow - some of you give so much for the holidays! I'm feeling really grateful my family scaled back to basically nothing except cookies and a few things for dd. Not just because of money but also the time involved plus the problem of where the hell to put anything we get given!
For the 5 year old nephew - I think that was lrmrtn - most of my first grade boys love anything Lego Ninjago and they are 6 or just turned 7 so probably liked when 5 too. And toy cars though some are particular about what kind do that can be tricky.
Thanks springbeduk! I ended up getting him a laser peg building set that is basically like light-up legos and you can build several different animals. If he doesn't like it, there's a gift receipt.
I added up what we've spent and what we're planning to spend and we're going way over budget. I'm not sure how to cut back. Between both of our families, family friends and DC, it's out of control.
For those with LOs in DC, what are you doing for the teachers? I was going to do a hand cream and $10 Dunkin Donuts GC but it is adding up. DS has 4 regular teachers plus there are 2 other teachers that are always there when I drop DS off and are really helpful at drop off so I feel like I should get them something too.
For those with LOs in DC, what are you doing for the teachers? I was going to do a hand cream and $10 Dunkin Donuts GC but it is adding up. DS has 4 regular teachers plus there are 2 other teachers that are always there when I drop DS off and are really helpful at drop off so I feel like I should get them something too.
I'm wondering the same thing. Plus for gc don't know whether to do DD, tim Horton's, or Walmart ... Last year I made a cute card and put cash in it because I couldn't decide. But so many teachers ....
For those with LOs in DC, what are you doing for the teachers? I was going to do a hand cream and $10 Dunkin Donuts GC but it is adding up. DS has 4 regular teachers plus there are 2 other teachers that are always there when I drop DS off and are really helpful at drop off so I feel like I should get them something too.
I'm wondering the same thing. Plus for gc don't know whether to do DD, tim Horton's, or Walmart ... Last year I made a cute card and put cash in it because I couldn't decide. But so many teachers ....
I'm also struggling because I feel like I don't even know DS's teachers in his current room. I've never met the head teacher because she's never there at drop off or pick up and the ones that are there at pick up are always different, probably because they consolidate at the end of the day. The only ones I really know are the two that are always there at drop off that aren't even his teachers. Plus, I think DS is going to be switching rooms soon so I may be giving gifts to teachers he's had for less than a month. Would it make more sense to just do a big gift that everyone can share, like coffee and donuts for the break room or some sort of gift basket?
lrmrtn, i have the same problem. I don't know who DS teachers are or how many there are because all the kids consolidate at the end of the day. I was thinking a big tin of cookies or something they can all share?
emmagk, I'm starting to lean that way too. My original plan was individual gifts but I feel like I'd need to give ones to the teachers I see in the morning because it's always the same two at drop off and they are great with him especially since he's so clingy at drop off. Then there are his current teachers and what if he switches rooms? By the end of it, at least 10 teachers will be getting a gift...
For people thinking of doing a food gift for teachers...you might just want to check with the director or someone to see if there's a good day to send it. Since other people might do that too they might wind up with tons of stuff in 1 day. And they probably have their own party/treats too. Just to avoid things getting wasted.
I have a policy of no gifts to teachers. It's something I've never done since DD started nursery and still don't do now she's at school.
Yeah sometimes I feel bad for her when I see all the kids trooping in with their gifts, but it gets more ridiculous every year as the parents compete to see who gives the best gifts - I'm sure I said before on here, one year i saw a girl dragging a gigantic plant across the playground for her teacher (like about 4ft tall).
It's just another opportunity for parents in my village to join in their giant pissing contest so I keep out of it.
A really mean spirited part of me also thinks "well no one gives me a present for doing my job so I'm not giving teachers a present"....that is pretty mean isn't it!!
I'm so grateful for both my kids teachers and the input they have into my children's lives. But if I want to show my appreciation then I would send a nice letter to the head teacher at the end of term.
If DD wanted to show her appreciation, I would get her to make something, rather than buy a gift. One year she did ask to do this, so she made a poster for her teacher which was sweet (it was ghastly bless her but sweet!) But it's DD's decision and responsibility.
lulu as a teacher, I would be beyond happy if parents and/or students took just a few minutes to write a nice letter to my principal or me.
Agreed!
I feel like day care is in a weird middle ground - kinda teachers but also kinda in the personal service category where a tip and/or holiday bonus is really customary and important. I know the people at dd's daycare do not get paid very much. Not like how K-12 teachers say we don't get paid much - more like other low wage jobs. So definitely feel obligated to do some sort of GCs or something. And a nice note to the teachers I know work with dd a lot. I think. ??
I did some more shopping this weekend. I got FIL a book on WW2 and a history fact a day day calendar since he is a history buff. I got DS a play tool bench, a Mickey blanket and pillow set and small plastic construction trucks.
Post by springbeduk on Nov 6, 2016 21:52:51 GMT -5
If you are looking for different ideas for your m14 kiddo ... I have something like this: encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/shopping?q=tbn:ANd9GcTZvcfOvraRuHz0YX8saDauCFyzFegmuEhRsokSptic3oy0ade4DRQomV6w_N5guLm0QMJAt44&usqp=CAE. but multicolored in my classroom (got it at AC Moore about half the price that link shows just put link for pic,) and it is dd's absolute favorite thing to play with! There are a couple plastic baskets nearby she can put the boxes and lids into, and there was a sheet of styrofoam either with it or something nearby and she broke that up and put one piece in each box.
Just sharing that because it isn't exactly a toy but she lives it do much others may also.
Of course, now I can't vreally use it in my classroom until I get another one - my plan had been each kid gets a box (,I have a few extra boxes that can go on top) to keep their word study sorting cards in - easier to find than a zip lock baggie. But dd would dump and jumble those do fast if I ever brought her in. Hmmmm.
Post by rainbowsockmonkey on Nov 6, 2016 22:41:24 GMT -5
Dh's family starting using giftster.com last year to share Christmas lists. All I have to do is update the list through out the year, and family members can mark items as purchased so we don't get duplicates.
Dh's family starting using giftster.com last year to share Christmas lists. All I have to do is update the list through out the year, and family members can mark items as purchased so we don't get duplicates.
I suggested doing something like this with DH'S family and he said it was too hard for his parents to figure out.... sooooo.... I have to go through and make three separate lists again. And send them to the appropriate people.
Dh's family starting using giftster.com last year to share Christmas lists. All I have to do is update the list through out the year, and family members can mark items as purchased so we don't get duplicates.
I suggested doing something like this with DH'S family and he said it was too hard for his parents to figure out.... sooooo.... I have to go through and make three separate lists again. And send them to the appropriate people.
Even my MIL who is not the sharpest crayon in the box has it mostly figured out (she and I got DH a duplicate gift last year, so I returned the one that I got him). It is the easiest way to do Christmas shopping. I'm going to suggest it to my family at thanksgiving this year, and I really hope they go for it.
Amazon wish lists for the win! No one in my family would get anything for anyone if we didn't have wish lists set up.
We do this too! The only ones who won't use it are the ILs who will just write a check because they are too lazy to go to a store (I'm not objecting to money but I really wish they'd put some more thought into gifts for DS.).
We got gifts for the girls from my Grandma. She got Eliza this and it was a huge hit. A great way to work on colors, even DD1 loved it. There's 10 cute pictures to make.
So far DS has got magnatiles and an aqua doodle mat from us, some trains from my mum, a paw patrol flashlight from my sister, and a balance bike from the ILs.
I did some more shopping this weekend. I got FIL a book on WW2 and a history fact a day day calendar since he is a history buff. I got DS a play tool bench, a Mickey blanket and pillow set and small plastic construction trucks.
I guess I'm getting DS some clothes from ON's sale. He needs some sweatshirts and they had a Mickey t-shirt.
I am pretty much all set except for my mom. I want to get her something extra nice because she's been so helpful with DS but I don't know what. So far I just have a Star Trek calendar and a cute Vera Bradley luggage tag. I don't want to do another GC but am clueless.
We got gifts for the girls from my Grandma. She got Eliza this and it was a huge hit. A great way to work on colors, even DD1 loved it. There's 10 cute pictures to make.
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