It's always fun to get good ideas on products out there. Which gifts were a hit this year? For us, it was the EyeSpot Play and Play2 games for Play Station. The camera on top of the TV actually puts YOU in on the action and your movements are the only controllers needed (NOTHING attached to your hands or feet, either.) The games appeal to the whole family, too. The only disappointment: the kids prefer the kung-fu and boxing stuff to the non-violent type games such as Mr. Chef (fast food/cooking game). Oh, and although I'm not a prude when it comes to "language", I was a bit surprised when Mr. Chef, after being beaten by me twice, exclaimed, "Damn, you beat me again!". Otherwise, these games are way too cool and instead of sitting in front of the TV with a controller in hand, the kids are up and moving--even working up a sweat!!
OH thats a cool sounding game. My DH wants to get the wii game because of the activity. NO BATTERIES NEEDED!!! my son got LOTS of bionicles, they are a sort of lego that looks like a robot, he has been sitting in his room QUIETLY putting them together. But DD also got a bag of mega blocks (she wanted girl legos) and this set had pink and purple blocks and flowers DS7 got a set of dominos that are for setting up and knocking down(thats a real boy thing) but the start of the set up has a little man on a crane and the crane nocks them down. Also DS9 got a scooter, the last of the kids to have one. The girls got craft sets.--I have a feeling I'll have to sit with them for those.(the build a bear already was harder than DD thought it would be. THINGS WITH BATTERIES: Barbie & Batman computers (has educational games) now they all have one. MY TOYS! shredder/slicer on a bowl (kind of like a salad shooter if you know what those are, but it fits right on the bowl. --I made hasbrowns last night. Bread machine, I have gone through 3-4 already. this one is horizontal loafs. Food dehydrator--- if you have one tell me what you put in it. I had one and really only did beef jerky. DH's Toys, weed eater and esspresso machine--I ended up giving for christmas since we will just go out for anniversary.
My little daughter would have been thrilled if all she had gotten was the little "Lofty" (from Bob the Builder) toy that was in her stocking and the wall mirror that was her big present. She's so funny! We do the stockings first, and once she pulled Lofty out, she just lay back on Daddy's knee and stared at it and talked to it... She barely let go of it for the rest of the day! :lol: I'm sure she'll start noticing the rest of the presents eventually, but those two were definitely her favorites. Joy (aged 5) got Candyland, Chutes & Ladders, and a memory game with pictures in English and Spanish, so we've been playing lots of games. I got 2 Pyrex lasagna pans, 2 muffin pans, and a sewing machine! YAYYY! I have no idea how to sew, so I am (im)patiently waiting for the library to e-mail saying that the "Sewing 101" book we requested is in. I gave Charles a Leatherman pocket tool thing, a Petra CD (their last one!), and a t-shirt that I ironed pictures of the girls onto. It was a very good Christmas!!
Isn't it funny how often the stocking gifts are the big hit? My son in law buys name brand items for Katie. He won't get Walmart shoes for her. He had to order Birkenstocks. He won't buy the imitation pocket books. He bought the real thing of those quilted bags everyone likes. I never remember the name. Once she said she would like a telescope and he didn't go get a small one she could actually use. He ordered one that takes two people to move! So this year her favorite gift was a little stocking stuffer game called Shut The Box. It is so cute and you have to use simple math to play it. I love it too. We have been having a blast with it. And what does dear sweet son in law say? He starts telling her that they had a more expensive nicer version of the game and he probably should have bought it but he didn't think she was going to be so crazy about it! I guess he will learn someday that she doesn't judge things by the price tag. I love him but he is used to always having the best and most expensive new things. Sigh!
I think almost every thing we got this year came from K-mart or target. The kids don't care much. It was so funny when one dd was unwrapping some lipglosses she got from one of her syblings, she said "this isn't mine, this is what I gave Sammie"----- they didn't realize that they each got a set, one smells/tastes like jelly belly beans and the other icecream toppings.
I bet my dh and I got the most original gift! His g-parents gave us $160--- IN DIMES!!!! Hey, I'm thankful for the money (it was already rolled- WHEW!!), but it was pretty comical! The kids got a dance pad for the gamecube, ds10 got an mp3 player (the $35 version), dd8 got roller blades with protective gear, dd5 got a Baby Alive, and dd3 got a v-tech laptop. They all got a couple of small things, too. From the grandparents- my kids got gift cards and money. My 3 girls pooled their money and bought a TV/DVD combo for their room. I have mixed feelings about it. I really prefer for my kids to not have tv's in their rooms. But there is no satellite connection in the room, so they can only pick up one channel. They'll just be watching movies. Now my ds says he's using his money to buy a TV for his room.
ABall, Walmart is our Santa shopping store. I hardly ever shop anywhere else. I did get a pair of skates from ebay and some jeans from Goodys but the rest is Wally World stuff and it was a hit.
Pam, That was a great gift! My Daddy saved change in a huge water jug and one summer he told all of us we could have it for spending money on our vacation if we would count it and roll it all. It took forever but we had a great time at the beach spending that money. I don't know how long it took him to save it but it tooks us a long time to roll it all. It was over four hundred dollars and lots of it was in pennies.
Sounds like every one had a great Christmas - dgs (11) got a robot dgd (3) shopping card with stuff in it - took the stuff out and pushed her baby around in it. (11 boy) game cube (9 boy) remote control cars There were other small things including stocking stuffers, but these were their favorites.
Ohio Grandma, my dd did that with her shopping cart, she's even put the cat in it and the darn cat will stay in it.
My Mama loved her new bird feeder and stand to put outside her sunporch so she can watch the birds. I was so happy to give her something she finds joy in.
LOL - if she had a cat, she would probably put the cat in it too. She even got in it and her brother drove her around in it.
Madison just loved all her gifts..she is a My Little Pony fanatic..so we added to the collection..she has a few favorite gifts, for 5 minutes I heard "He got me a bike mom!!" and then the look on her face when she opened her MLP Rainbow Crystal castle and her Littlest Pet Shop toys.
My DS (10) loves his Spy Gear. DS (8) loves his Cookie Monster flashlight. And DD (4) loves her Dora Castle. She really loved her Dora Knows Your Name doll at first. But I can't get the darn thing programmed. So the repetitive phrases got boring to her. My boys have never really gotten into their bigger ticket items. My daughter.... yikes, I think she is gonna be my "ONE".
Favorite gifts? ds9- hmm his transformer jet his big brother gave him... I see him with that the most. Would be the cute Idoggie I got him but it needs better batteries hehe. dd- sewing machine was, but since it broke so fast, she also totally loved the cali girls hubby got her, 3 cowgirls in outfits! ( the girl loves clothes and styles , maybe she will be in some sort of designing when she grows up?) ds15- the game chair I got him! I am sure thats the best gift, I got it half priced, well more than that because it was supposed to be a certain chair but Target oopsed when they put the sign up! I did not push the issue and happily waited whiel they were getting the right one, but told them they needed to have an associate move the sign or put the right chair there cause it was the only one there. Not intending to get them to do anything for me, but in caution for other people would be pushy about it. The mangager told the clerk to ring me up at the sale price and refund the dif, and let me keep the excelent chair! It has the speakers and a charger and everything< I had not idea what I was buying but ds is so excited about it! Moma ctually dint get the cheap one this time! Lol dh- I think he liked the photo alarm clock that dd got him the best, cause we can record a msg when he goes out of town next month and he can wake up to our voices! my gift that was ahit? Wow! Dh gave me slippers that I can actually wear! I have had them on constantly! soft inside! He also got me a new hoodie which I wear a lot because it has pockets for my shoulder to rest haha, and hmm.... he got me a new travel mug too! plastic inside! Wow, I got a lot of good stuff.... I have never been so pleased with the gifts th ekids got me either! They all thought about me when they shopped! Usually its a dollar store item that I really cant use but they had to get something hehe, this year was as frugal on thier part, ( except dd who spent ten dollars on me at a fifty percent off jewelery sale at kmart!) but they got things that I really need, will use and have already ! ds got me lotion, in vanilla! one of the scents I can actually handle! flowery ones make me sneeze and get head aches hehe, ds 15 got me cds that i love! music of my own! wow what a concept! hehe this was a nice Christmas gift wise for me ! I am blessed!
Carl got me the first season of "Remington Steele" on DVD. We watched the first show, when he accidently assume's Mr. Steele's persona. I will enjoy that. I got him a DVD of Clue. He also got a crossbow about a mnoth ago when it was on sale, so that was he REAL present! Phillip got Magnetixs and a sword and shield (the wodden ones that Vision Forum has), Rachael a camera and Narnia DVD, Faythe got "Sound of Music". I also got a bag of Jelly Bellies that I don't have to share, lol!
Jackie I loved watching Remington Steele! I think it was one of my favorite all time 'mystery' detective type shows! how cool for you!
I'd like Jelly belly's I didn't have to share if they werent the Hairy Potter beans.--I gave Malcolm some for his birthday and they had fun sampling them. occasionally you can find "jelly Belly Flops" at Grocery Outlet they are the "re-jects" (double beans, logo missing, etc...) for about $3 a huge bag.
Ohio Grandma, I went back and read your post and it came right after mine about my Mama's birdfeeder. I cracked up. I know you meant the shopping cart but for just a second...!!!
