What are you most excited about giving this year?

[pdoel]

Each year, I always try and get something that's a surprise for my parents. Something they didn't ask for, and it usually takes some thinking.

This year, I'm really excited about one of the gifts I got my mom. Growing up, she always had a camera, and we have TONS of photo albums from back then. But with all the changes in cameras over the years, and now the digital age, my mom just quit with buying cameras and taking pictures. And everytime we have some family event, she always asks for copies of pictures.

So, I bought two photo albums, and I'm printing off TONS of pictures (back to 2000 - when I got my first digital camera) and I'm filling the albums with all these pictures.

I'm only up to the beginning of 2002, and already am wondering if I'll need to buy another album.

[Mazzzja]

That's a very nice idea of a gift

[QQQ]

Awesome. She'll definitely enjoy that. I probably would've done the lazy/less personal, digital photo frame.

I'm thinking of Rockband or Band Hero for Abbie(9). RB is a lot more popular but BH seems to have better song selection for Abbie. Which should I get?

Edit: Nevermind BH works with the RB2 instruments. Yay. Abbie will be really excited.

[pdoel]

So nobody is excited about the gifts they're giving?

[AmyJane]

I'm excited to give my nieces and nephew their presents. We didn't get them anything expensive or extravagant. We never have to. They get so excited when they get gifts and are so appreciative. They'll thank us profusely and hug and kiss us like crazy. It's the sweetest thing. They're such good kids.

Each other, we could afford to buy for this year. We're going shopping for each other after Christmas and we're going to make another day "Our Christmas" since we won't be home for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

[70autostick]

Oh boy am I stoked!I'm restoring a 66VW split bus for my brother ALL the way in california.

Every square inch of bodywork,dents n'dings,done!
Rebuilt engine,done!
New steel floors,done!
Clutch assembly,done!
Gizmos such as tailights,headlamps,ect,done!
Painted Flat,ratrod black,done!
Oem rimes with period correct moonies,done!
New windshields,done!With new seals.
Antenna shave,done!
I restored the seat frames ,new foam,leather wrap,red and beautiful,done!

Currently installing wiring harness throughout ENTIRE bus
Misc seals over entire bus
Floor mats coming in,blinker switch,relay,headlamp relay,coming in the mail this week.

He turns 16 dec 31st and gets his drivers.The hippie boy needs sick wheels for cali cruising right?should be done by christmas.

[Beetlescott]

My wife and I are extrememly excited about one particular gift we got for our youngest Son. To understand, I have to fill you in on why it's so exciting. Mark who is now 30 and living with Carolyn's parents in TN, has had some pretty bad problems with drugs in the past. He has been in and out of rehab, but the last 2 years, he has been clean! He is now going to vocational school, has been for a year and he is going to be a machinist. He has always had a dog, up until he got so messed up. He is extremely overweight and has almost no self confidence. Carolyn wanted to get him, as she said, "something to love him back." Anyway, last Friday, we went to the animal shelter and picked up a half shepherd, half border collie, Carolyn named her Sammy short for Samantha. As I stated in another post, All the kids will be here Friday, and open gifts on Sunday. When Mark gets here on Friday evening, He will be greeted by a beautiful black with white feet, Sammy! We are so excited! It has been a while since he has had a dog, he is going to be soooo excited!!!!! I think they will make each other so happy! Sorry for the long post. Scott

[Beetlescott]

I forgot to put a pic of Sammy with the above post....

[AmyJane]

Originally Posted by Beetlescott

My wife and I are extrememly excited about one particular gift we got for our youngest Son. To understand, I have to fill you in on why it's so exciting. Mark who is now 30 and living with Carolyn's parents in TN, has had some pretty bad problems with drugs in the past. He has been in and out of rehab, but the last 2 years, he has been clean! He is now going to vocational school, has been for a year and he is going to be a machinist. He has always had a dog, up until he got so messed up. He is extremely overweight and has almost no self confidence. Carolyn wanted to get him, as she said, "something to love him back." Anyway, last Friday, we went to the animal shelter and picked up a half shepherd, half border collie, Carolyn named her Sammy short for Samantha. As I stated in another post, All the kids will be here Friday, and open gifts on Sunday. When Mark gets here on Friday evening, He will be greeted by a beautiful black with white feet, Sammy! We are so excited! It has been a while since he has had a dog, he is going to be soooo excited!!!!! I think they will make each other so happy! Sorry for the long post. Scott

That's so awesome, Scott! You brought tears to my eyes! And Sammy is so beautiful! She looks like a sweetheart!

[Smileybug]

Awww so cute! Reminds me of one of my old dogs (may he RIP). He was a lab/Husky mix but he looked so much like that, white feet and everything. Great meaning behind it, and who doesn't like a puppy for Christmas! Good to see its a shelter dog too.

I'm excited to give gifts to my future hubby. I got him a few little things but I know he'll like them. I'm still trying to figure out what to get my parents but I usually get excited about it every year when I figure it out. I can't believe Christmas is next week! eek! Still not done all of our shopping, since my man has hardly been home at all in the past month and a half (travel for most of Nov. and first week of December and now pulling long hours at the office...like past 11pm!). Hopefully we can get that done soon, and have more things to be excited about giving!

[MichelleRoze]

I am most excited about giving my mom her gift. When she was married, her stepson bought her and her husband a Nintendo Wii. My mom LOVED it. She was actually doing something other than being online and devoting her time to a guy who doesn't have time for her. So, when her and her husband split over a year ago, he took ALL the electronics with him. Computer, digital camera, TV, Wii, EVERYTHING. My mom didn't care at the time because she just wanted him out. Now she has been dieing for a Wii. So, as luck would have it, a former co-worker of mine mentioned he had a Wii and never played it. And he sold it to me for $100. I've had this Wii...in my bedroom....since before Halloween!!! It's been KILLING me. Plus, everytime my mom goes shopping she sees the Wii on sale and always says "Oh, I need to get a Wii. I should just get one now, they are on sale!". I usually have to talk about something else, or remind her that it's Christmas and she shouldn't buy stuff for her self until the new year. I'm so glad Christmas is around the corner, because I can't stand to hang on to that Wii any longer! So, that is the gift I am MOST excited about giving. After having it in my possession for 3 months, yes I'm ready to give it up and surprise her. Plus, I can play it too while I'm home j/k

[squeebug]

probably the most exciting thing is playdough and hungry hungry hippos...not exactly the best year this year

[AmyJane]

Originally Posted by squeebug

probably the most exciting thing is playdough and hungry hungry hippos...not exactly the best year this year

When I was little my parents would always warn us around Christmas time that things are tight for "Santa" so don't be sad if you don't get everything you wanted. You'll get it on your birthday or Easter or blah blah blah but not one year was I ever disappointed. I never focused on what I didn't get because I was so busy playing with what I did get Michelle is going to love everything she gets. Focus on making this an awesome Christmas for her instead of focusing on what isn't awesome about it It's going to be a tough one for everyone. *HUGS*

[Beetlescott]

Originally Posted by squeebug

probably the most exciting thing is playdough and hungry hungry hippos...not exactly the best year this year

Brian!, I'm sorry this is going on during the Holidays. I remember when my boys were little, we had what I thought was the worst Christmas ever! We had just moved and money was so tight. I had just started on my job, so no bonuses. I took the boys to my Moms farm the week before Christmas, to cut down a tree. We bought things for the boys that I could get from my boss for discount, I remember one of the gifts was a train set and some other cheap things. One year, many years later, my grown son, was talking. He said he remembered the year we went hunting for our own tree at Grannys, it was the best Christmas he could remember! Just make it through the best you can, who knows, maybe Michelle will remember the good parts! Merry Christmas to both of you!

[AmyJane]

Originally Posted by Beetlescott

Christine, I'm sorry this is going on during the Holidays.

Pssst! Scott! That's Brian

[Beetlescott]

Originally Posted by AmyJane

Pssst! Scott! That's Brian

OH Sorry! Brian the same goes for you Buddy! I do hope you guys get through this!!! Thanks Amy! *goes back to school to learn to read*

[squeebug]

It's all good. It should be a decent year, she'll get to spend Christmas with her great grand parents so that will be fun. I never get her much anyway because that's what grandparents are for

[bugsy98nb]

This year Im giving out Cookies. I know sounds boring :P But who doesnt love cookies. I give some to friends and coworkers. one year I did make a few table xmas center pieces . I think it means a little more when its something that was Made vs bought .

[dnyed]

Originally Posted by bugsy98nb

I think it means a little more when its something that was Made vs bought .

Absolutely right! I think I'll bake this weekend. Our papers weekly FoodDay section had dozens of new cookie recipes to try.

[squeebug]

Originally Posted by bugsy98nb

This year Im giving out Cookies. I know sounds boring :P But who doesnt love cookies. I give some to friends and coworkers. one year I did make a few table xmas center pieces . I think it means a little more when its something that was Made vs bought .

COOKIES!!!!!! pie is also good mmmmm pie