OMG the little Christmas market at school... Hubs and I still have utensils and screwdrivers and socks and the like from those years. I got some pretty swanky jewelry too. ;-) And, yes, spending YOUR money, which is funny. But our daughter could not have been prouder giving us the things she picked out herself. So sweet.
LOL This year we moved but our house sold before the new one was totally built so everything including my "gift closet" went into boxes at our barn. Normally I buy gifts all year and stick in the gift closet. If I mess up and get two, well there's the birthday one too. This year black friday is around the corner and I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I HAVE! So stressful!! Our baby brother (11 years between) has an Amazon wish list. One year he made a huge deal when two of his gifts came from his "approved Amazon wish list" We got the message. We never buy him anything now unless it's from the "Approved Amazon wish list" LOL
Someday, he'll learn the power of buying those things on his wish list himself. My kids will get there eventually, too. I look forward to simply giving them Amazon gift cards every year.
ROFL, as usual! You can use the adjustable screwdriver to take the laser pointer apart to see how it works, but, putting it back together might result in an entirely different product 😉
First, Halloween. My favorite yard display this year was a skeleton slumped over a wrought iron table, its digits grasping for an empty bottle of alcohol. Beyond that, I believe skeletons should remain out all year with appropriate costume changes - ugly Christmas sweaters, a basket of Easter eggs, Summer garden party attire, etc.
Moving on to Christmas. I am the Mrs Scrooge of Grinches. I would be happy to go to church and go home for some scrambled eggs and bacon (and a piece of my coffee cake, which I must say is delicious). Period. Last year I did have an adorable Grinch Christmas tree - maybe 9” tall and curved with a large glass ball weighing down the top. In fact a bit like the slumped skeleton.
PS I do like my family recipe for Fruit Cake, which really should be a column topic, but haven’t had any for years. Maybe if I made one I’d feel less Grinchy.
Fruit Cake is a legendary TV punch line. I don't think I've ever seen in it real life. Maybe I'll have to seek it out. I like the idea of a skeleton in a Christmas sweater, but I shutter to think what it would look like after four months of sleet.
Nooo - do not “seek out” fruitcake. You will find something awful like Clayton’s or one made by monks and soaked in alcohol, which I realize has merit but is still only marginally edible. Perhaps there’s a hidden family recipe your girls would like to tackle. If I ever get around to making them again I’ll send you one.
Last year after annoying my son-in-law to death he finally admitted that, maybe he could use a cordless drill. This year he's getting a bag full of healthy portion controlled snacks for when he gets the munchies or misses lunch.
It's the week before Tday and I have gotten gifts for all the children under 10. Everyone else is out of college and we've started on the next generation. I've been bugging my son for several months and still have not gotten an answer. All guys, from millennials thru Gen Z still play with LEGOs, it's on the top of their wish list. That's one thing taken care of.
My oldest child who acts older than me never can come up with an idea. She gets lots of science themed shirts and mugs. The good news is, that as a teacher she loves that stuff. I keep a list on Amazon and my son can access it if my daughter asks him for ideas. I think adults should just get along with each other, maybe play some games, eat and visit. Then go home and take a nap!
My side of the family went through the same T'giving decision-making about when to stop the Christmas gift exchange. Finally, we decided that the receivers were to be no adults, just kids and parents. That was a relief to not have to list 3 things on our name papers to be drawn. Those had to be within whatever price range we set and it just got to be kind of a silly tradition. Funny you mentioned toilet paper. One of the best gifts we ever got from my folks was a huge bag of household supplies like t.p., paper towels, laundry soap, etc. Our kids still love to get that from us because they are items they always use and need and we buy it all in bulk.
And if anyone can come up with a good gift for MrP, let me know. Every year I get the question from our kids: "What does Dad need/want?" And the answer is always "nothing". One year he really wanted to skydive but since he'd had a knee replacement, that was a no-go. Too bad, too, because that's a gift he'd still be talking about.
Funny, we give our son-in-law a couple bottles of his favorite hot sauce and barbecue sauce each year. As far as he's concerned, that's a great gift, so you aren't alone.
Actual household supplies sound like a great gift. I'd probably get excited about those, too. As for MrP I've never seen a dad turn down a large tin of cashews. Not that any of us need to eat them. But they're easily the most addictive snack on the planet. It's impossible to be disappointed in them, and they're gone in one sitting.
One year the kids got my hubby a Hooters GC. I don't think I have ever seen that color red in nature before or since. but he did use it and took the boys, a trip that I wished I had videoed LOL
We finally established a rule of no gifts if you’re over 18. Our kids get cash but we leave out siblings and parents as well as aunts and uncles. It was usually exchanging gift cards any. My aunt insists on buying something and it’s usually junk or something we’d never wear. Being essentially bedridden I’m hoping she doesn’t buy stupid stuff on amazon! It’s more fun watching the little ones open stuff and play. I love not having to find the right thing when everyone already has enough stuff. I look forward to baking my goodies for everyone and that’s MY gift to everyone.
I would much rather have homemade baked good, for any occasion. Still trying to find my mom's coffee cake recipe that she made every year for Christmas morning. Problem is, she has more recipe book than Betty Crocker and cut out recipes inside said books and 17 boxes, but a lot of times she just winged it, her chili was great/ awful depending on what she did to it this time.
Sounds very efficient. Watch out. You never know when you might accidentally add a bunch of new family members. That's what my dad did to my poor grandma.
All I want for Christmas is a tool set that my husband won't steal. Maybe electrified, so it shocks the heck out of him when he tries to "borrow" it? Last one I had, I hid in my mom's apt. that is attached to our house and since my mom has been dead for 2 yrs or so, and it is no where to be found, I am going to go out on a limb and say he "borrowed" that one also. It's dumb. because I am very handy. but without tools..... Oh well one of these years
"Swine Chase" would be a great band name...
It would be a great past time, too. I would have fun. My neighbors, not so much.
Or the name of a beer!
OMG the little Christmas market at school... Hubs and I still have utensils and screwdrivers and socks and the like from those years. I got some pretty swanky jewelry too. ;-) And, yes, spending YOUR money, which is funny. But our daughter could not have been prouder giving us the things she picked out herself. So sweet.
It's pretty cool how much the kids love it. It's a fun tradition that I hope continues, even if it makes zero financial sense.
LOL This year we moved but our house sold before the new one was totally built so everything including my "gift closet" went into boxes at our barn. Normally I buy gifts all year and stick in the gift closet. If I mess up and get two, well there's the birthday one too. This year black friday is around the corner and I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I HAVE! So stressful!! Our baby brother (11 years between) has an Amazon wish list. One year he made a huge deal when two of his gifts came from his "approved Amazon wish list" We got the message. We never buy him anything now unless it's from the "Approved Amazon wish list" LOL
Someday, he'll learn the power of buying those things on his wish list himself. My kids will get there eventually, too. I look forward to simply giving them Amazon gift cards every year.
Maybe, but he's 45 and kinda set in his ways already, LOL
ROFL, as usual! You can use the adjustable screwdriver to take the laser pointer apart to see how it works, but, putting it back together might result in an entirely different product 😉
If I took it apart, I'd make it explode. Don't ever trust me around tools or electricity.
First, Halloween. My favorite yard display this year was a skeleton slumped over a wrought iron table, its digits grasping for an empty bottle of alcohol. Beyond that, I believe skeletons should remain out all year with appropriate costume changes - ugly Christmas sweaters, a basket of Easter eggs, Summer garden party attire, etc.
Moving on to Christmas. I am the Mrs Scrooge of Grinches. I would be happy to go to church and go home for some scrambled eggs and bacon (and a piece of my coffee cake, which I must say is delicious). Period. Last year I did have an adorable Grinch Christmas tree - maybe 9” tall and curved with a large glass ball weighing down the top. In fact a bit like the slumped skeleton.
PS I do like my family recipe for Fruit Cake, which really should be a column topic, but haven’t had any for years. Maybe if I made one I’d feel less Grinchy.
Fruit Cake is a legendary TV punch line. I don't think I've ever seen in it real life. Maybe I'll have to seek it out. I like the idea of a skeleton in a Christmas sweater, but I shutter to think what it would look like after four months of sleet.
Nooo - do not “seek out” fruitcake. You will find something awful like Clayton’s or one made by monks and soaked in alcohol, which I realize has merit but is still only marginally edible. Perhaps there’s a hidden family recipe your girls would like to tackle. If I ever get around to making them again I’ll send you one.
Last year after annoying my son-in-law to death he finally admitted that, maybe he could use a cordless drill. This year he's getting a bag full of healthy portion controlled snacks for when he gets the munchies or misses lunch.
It's the week before Tday and I have gotten gifts for all the children under 10. Everyone else is out of college and we've started on the next generation. I've been bugging my son for several months and still have not gotten an answer. All guys, from millennials thru Gen Z still play with LEGOs, it's on the top of their wish list. That's one thing taken care of.
My oldest child who acts older than me never can come up with an idea. She gets lots of science themed shirts and mugs. The good news is, that as a teacher she loves that stuff. I keep a list on Amazon and my son can access it if my daughter asks him for ideas. I think adults should just get along with each other, maybe play some games, eat and visit. Then go home and take a nap!
You're right about Legos. My wife and I recently started buying sets for ourselves. Those will never go out of style, no matter how old you are.
My side of the family went through the same T'giving decision-making about when to stop the Christmas gift exchange. Finally, we decided that the receivers were to be no adults, just kids and parents. That was a relief to not have to list 3 things on our name papers to be drawn. Those had to be within whatever price range we set and it just got to be kind of a silly tradition. Funny you mentioned toilet paper. One of the best gifts we ever got from my folks was a huge bag of household supplies like t.p., paper towels, laundry soap, etc. Our kids still love to get that from us because they are items they always use and need and we buy it all in bulk.
And if anyone can come up with a good gift for MrP, let me know. Every year I get the question from our kids: "What does Dad need/want?" And the answer is always "nothing". One year he really wanted to skydive but since he'd had a knee replacement, that was a no-go. Too bad, too, because that's a gift he'd still be talking about.
Funny, we give our son-in-law a couple bottles of his favorite hot sauce and barbecue sauce each year. As far as he's concerned, that's a great gift, so you aren't alone.
Actual household supplies sound like a great gift. I'd probably get excited about those, too. As for MrP I've never seen a dad turn down a large tin of cashews. Not that any of us need to eat them. But they're easily the most addictive snack on the planet. It's impossible to be disappointed in them, and they're gone in one sitting.
One year the kids got my hubby a Hooters GC. I don't think I have ever seen that color red in nature before or since. but he did use it and took the boys, a trip that I wished I had videoed LOL
We finally established a rule of no gifts if you’re over 18. Our kids get cash but we leave out siblings and parents as well as aunts and uncles. It was usually exchanging gift cards any. My aunt insists on buying something and it’s usually junk or something we’d never wear. Being essentially bedridden I’m hoping she doesn’t buy stupid stuff on amazon! It’s more fun watching the little ones open stuff and play. I love not having to find the right thing when everyone already has enough stuff. I look forward to baking my goodies for everyone and that’s MY gift to everyone.
I like the idea of cutting off things at eighteen. As for baked goods, those are truly the perfect gift at any gathering.
I would much rather have homemade baked good, for any occasion. Still trying to find my mom's coffee cake recipe that she made every year for Christmas morning. Problem is, she has more recipe book than Betty Crocker and cut out recipes inside said books and 17 boxes, but a lot of times she just winged it, her chili was great/ awful depending on what she did to it this time.
I thought you said your house is Victorian? 1912 Victorian and Edwardian times were over 🤔
Victorian style, not built in the Victorian era. Architectural trends have their own timeline. Indiana didn't even exist when Queen Victoria was born.
Thanks for clarifying!
Ah, the benefits is a small family. And an app to track gifts in! (Santa’s Bag - super easy and as much or little info as you want)
Sounds very efficient. Watch out. You never know when you might accidentally add a bunch of new family members. That's what my dad did to my poor grandma.
All I want for Christmas is a tool set that my husband won't steal. Maybe electrified, so it shocks the heck out of him when he tries to "borrow" it? Last one I had, I hid in my mom's apt. that is attached to our house and since my mom has been dead for 2 yrs or so, and it is no where to be found, I am going to go out on a limb and say he "borrowed" that one also. It's dumb. because I am very handy. but without tools..... Oh well one of these years