What was the best Christmas gift you received?
Was their a bad "what were they thinking one"?

The best I received was the Kitchenaid mixer and hubby surprised me with a matching toaster

The worst has to be my son receiving the fairy Ello set!

By Sunny on Sunday, December 26, 2004 - 12:21 pm:

I was not disappointed with any of the gifts. The only 'questionable' gift was a CD from my husband. I laughed when I opened it because I knew he wanted it, not me, and he only wrapped it as a joke. He made up for it with the other gifts he got me.

I also have a new keychain that says World's Greatest Mom. Can't beat those kinds of gifts!

The best gift though, was watching my DH open the gift I got for him. I surprised him by giving him a framed portrait of all the kids on Christmas morning. He had been thinking of having it done, but I beat him to it. He kept asking how we did it without him knowing about it. LOL

By Rayanne on Sunday, December 26, 2004 - 12:22 pm:

My best gift was a very warm fleece blanket with Mickey & Minnie on it that DH got me.

I did not get anything that I did not like.

By Rayanne on Sunday, December 26, 2004 - 12:25 pm:

I did get a little upset because DH got me a DVD that I wanted but he put it in a box with a book to weigh it down so I didn't know what it was. The book was, "Your Pregnancy Week by Week". I read this book when I was pregnant with Rylee and I thought that Chris wanted to try again. He said not yet, and that got me a little down. He felt so bad, but I told him that it was ok.

By Annie2 on Sunday, December 26, 2004 - 03:14 pm:

My dh surprised me my very own wireless laptop! I am now sitting on my bed typing this to all of you! It's to help me in my new real estate career The kids will use our other one for all of their games and such. I now won't have to worry about them deleting important client information, etc.

I wasn't disapointed with any of my gifts and was actually very surprised dh had been listening to my wishes and wants throughout the entire year.

My favorite gift was a 2005 calendar my 7 year old son made for me. It's the perfect size and he drew all of the pictures himself. His teacher had copied pages for each month.

By Amy~moderator on Sunday, December 26, 2004 - 05:00 pm:

My favorite gift was a necklace with a heart that says "World's Greatest Mom". He picked it out himself at Santa's Secret Shop at school.

The weirdest gift I received was corn husk magnet. lol

By Trisa on Sunday, December 26, 2004 - 05:28 pm:

My fav gift was a real pearl and necklace and
pearl and diamond earrings. I had NO clue
he had been paying on them for months!
My son got me a huge basket of bath products.
The worst gift was the one my mom got the kids.
A big NOISY keyboard!! Sounds like everyone got nice things.

By My2cuties on Sunday, December 26, 2004 - 05:35 pm:

I got 2 things that I wanted a maternity coat and a robe, so I am thrilled.

The best present though was watching my dk's faces light up when they opened their presents, I don't think they have ever had a better Christmas.

We had a 2 hour drive to my SIL's house and Katelyn wanted to listen to a book on CD that she had recieved, it was so awesome..It was all about different stories out of the Bible and she was reading along in the book it came with. too cute, and priceless.

By Tink on Sunday, December 26, 2004 - 06:33 pm:

Best gift: A beautiful red Tommy Hilfiger sweater

Worst: A cheap bottle of perfume from my evil SIL. I just wanted to tell her not to bother!

By Pamt on Sunday, December 26, 2004 - 07:46 pm:

I can't pick a best gift...I am enjoying them all, but I am really excited to get out new puppy tomorrow that was a family gift. No "worst" gift either, because all gifts were chosen with a lot of love and thought, but my mom did get me the same quilting T-shirt that she got for me last year. Oh well! She also got me a new stand-alone fancy mixer!!

By Happynerdmom on Sunday, December 26, 2004 - 08:35 pm:

Well, it sounds kind of boring, but one of my favorite gifts was a set of six BIG, FLUFFY bath towels from my SIL and BIL! I had asked for towels, because ours are getting so worn! (I think after 15-20 years of marriage, you should get another "wedding" shower to replace all your towels, etc!) Did I mention they were BIG and FLUFFY?!
I don't have a least favorite...although I am a little disappointed that I didn't get any clothes this year.

By Children03 on Sunday, December 26, 2004 - 09:59 pm:

The best gift I got was from my 4 year old daughter, it was a silver bracelet with blue stones in it. It isn't real, of course, but it was the first gift that she has ever gotten me with the money that she worked hard to earn and she bought it at her school when they had the Christmas Store set up. She was so proud of it and it just meant so much to me. Another favorite was a special mask that my husband bought for me to help me with my migraines - which I suffer from weekly. I love the fact that I got very thoughtful gifts this year.

By Brandy on Sunday, December 26, 2004 - 10:02 pm:

My favorite was my 7 year old serenading me while i was in bed just waking up singing you are so beautiful (his own mix) i can't remember the rest of it and playing the guitar he received at the same time = )

By Bellajoe on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 08:23 am:

I can't pick a favorite. I love the pajamas my dh got me. I REALLY needed pajamas.

Least favorite? i can't think of one that i really didn't like.

By Conni on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 08:58 am:

No least favorite here. I enjoyed everything I recv'd. Especially our new yellow lab puppy! She is the sweetest baby girl.

Christmas morning was pretty neat. Blake (4.5)was jumping up and down in our room screaming 'Its Christmas, It's Chritstmas! You have to come see!!' LOL Too cute (however I wish it wouldnt have been 5 am!! ugh) lol

I have to say I felt bad for my boys. All 3 of them were disappointed that niether their Dad nor Step-Dad took them shopping for me. They kept apologizing on Christmas morning. It didnt bother me. But it really bothered them.

Sounds like everyone had a great Christmas!

By Andi on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 09:11 am:

Best gift would have to be the New Odyssey!

Worst a big Pasta Bowl with 6 smaller dishes. The only reason I would put it in this catagory...I have no place to store it. DH got a Bar set from the same friends and we don't have a bar...and we never drink anything but wine...and that is not very often. Oh well, it really is the thought that counts and I will just move things around in the garage to make room for them.

By Kernkate on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 09:55 am:

I was pleased with all my gifts. DH bought me a Columbia jacket that I just love! The kids bought me candles, clothes and I got 3 gift certificates for local restaurants, so DH and I will get to go out and have dinner!

By Tunnia on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 10:23 am:

All my gifts were great. I actually have three favorites. They are a huge programable crockpot that I've been wanting one for a long time, a gift certificate from my Mom for a deluxe spa manicure and pedicure with a "coupon" for babysitting (she will go with me and pay for a babysitter while we are there!), and a hand crocheted tree skirt that my Grandma made me. It is off white with a crotcheted trim in gold and red and large silk poinsettas all over it. It is beautiful!

The worst gift I got was 10 vinyl placemats with maps of the United States on them from my mil.

By Janet on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 10:40 am:

My best present this year was a gold bracelet from dh, and a pair of binoculars from him and the girls (for bird watching!). The worst was a $20 gift certificate from the local IGA from MIL. Of course, it beats last year, when she bought me a lotto ticket! LOL

By Breann on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 11:47 am:

Best Present: I got the Victoria's Secret purse that I have been wanting!! It was a complicated process for dh to get it, but he did it!!

Worst Present: I didn't get a bad present, but my kids got a few cheap toys that are just loud and pointless Sometimes I don't know what people are thinking when they buy gifts lol

By Brandy on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 02:06 pm:

I forgot about the awesome gift my brother and future sister in law got me they got me and daniel $20 worth of movie tickets and $30 to Olive Garden = ) and a free night of watching the boys while we go to the movies and olive garden yay us = )

By Peggy13 on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 02:44 pm:

I got my own laptop computer - no more sharing with the kids. Also a nice digital camera!! No complaints this year.

By Nanaoie on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 03:02 pm:

In 1989 my in laws came to have christmas dinner with us.I had just given birth to my 3rd child,so, I know that I was having a little bit of Post-partum thingy going on.however.........The inlaws pulled up in the driveway,car loaded down like Santas sleigh.It took them 4 trips to the car to unload it all,With the last trip, they bring in the HUGE black bag.My mother -in-law is smiling really big at me so, I knew it was mine.The children all open their gifts and I am really glad to see that the grandparents remembered each child's favorite things (they never do)Then it was my husbands turn.They handed him an envelope with a large amount of money in it.He was a happy boy.MY turn!Mom-in-law brings over this big bag....puts it in front of me.and says,"I knew you would rather have this,being crafty and all"..so, I opened it up..what should I see.....about 20 balls of yarn..........not skeins...not new yarn.....old yarn...........I asked her where she found it all.......She said,and I swear I am not making this up,........"I saw my neighbor put it out for the garbage,so, I went to see what it was and when I saw it was yarn, I knew you would love to have it".......... now folks.......thats not the best part,after I thanked her(yes, I did)I took my treasure into the next room.....took a better look at it, and figured out why the neighbor had pitched it...........SOME ONE,OR SOMETHING HAD PUKED IN THE BAG.!
so, I got a bag of pukey yarn for christmas, what did you get?

By Jelygu on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 03:20 pm:

My best present this year was from my mom. She made a scrapbook of my wedding and christopher's life so far. It is so beautiful! She is going to continue working and adding pages to it.
She even stayed up late on Christmas Eve, with the flu, to finish it. I cried when I looked at the pages!

I didn't really get a "worst" gift... I did get annoyed at my MIL though. I asked for a specific cookbook, and she got me a different one because she thought it would be easier for me to follow. UGH!

By Kaye on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 08:30 pm:

Best present...well a day late (to make up for the bad one..LOL) a got a palm pilot from my hubby, I love it!

Worst present, well okay I have two, both from the smil which I tend to clash with anyway. We asked for lamps for our bedroom, i wanted the cheap palm pilot, we added to our list some small things to give them options. Well she called and said, I found lamps, that is your budget, I have a used palm I have had it for year you can have it. Okay well I understand, budget and all. Well opening day, we get the lamps to the two of us, she already gave me the dinosaur palm, no software, no stylus, etc. Then hubby opens his "little stuff", if is an expenxive guitar pedal. Okay, well. So then I have this huge gift. I play a lot of tennis, so it was tennis balls, 6 cans. Okay good enough, I have lamps and useful stuff. I get to looking at the balls, they are "oversized rally balls". I play a LOT of tennis, I have never seen these, I can't play with them (i compete, I need regulation size). No biggie, but a pain. But curiousity did kill me, I had to open a can (and they were literal cans), well they are flat, that is weird. So I go to academy to exchange them, they are worth 33 cents a can. So she spend less than 2 bucks on my gift. GEESH! The funny thing is my hubby wanted the lamps, so he got two gifts. Anyway, we came home and on his way home from work monday he suprised me with my new palm

By Mrsheidi on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 11:40 pm:

OMG! Kaye and Lori!! How can people be so thoughtless?
Lori, I can honestly say that I can't complain about the gum I got this year!!

By Fraggle on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 08:47 am:

I don't really have a favorite-I got a lot of nice things from my family-however, this seems to be a theme-the worst presents were from my MIL. Right now DH are checking QVC (she usually buys her gifts there) to see how many we can return. She got bad gifts not only for me, but also bad gifts for my DH and my girls.

By Cat on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 11:24 am:

Our best gift was our new family room furniture we got last month! I didn't really get any bad gifts. I got an annoying one, though! My sil gave me slippers (again, third year in a row, but at least she got the size right this year!). They're black, fuzzy slip ons and they've got long, skinny feathers attached to the top. Cute and very warm! BUT, I can't put them on the floor or in the closet because the cats and dog keep trying to eat the feathers! Also, when I walk with them on if I take too small of a step I end up stepping on some feathers and pulling little pieces of them off. My sil said she thought they'd bring a little pazzaz to my life.

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 11:44 am:

I was a bit disappointed. Jeff and Jen, between them, spent almost $400 on their dad's gift. Jen gave Hal and I two cheap photo frames, I think I saw them in the drug store. And Jeff gave me some psychodelic light thingy from Spencer Gifts, that I really have NO use for. So I'm feeling pretty hurt, that they would put so much thought into getting their Dad something great - they went on and on about it and it was obvious a lot of thought and planning went into it - and I'm feeling like Hal and I are just afterthoughts. And I'm the one who does Christmas, their Dad never even bothers with Christmas, just gives them gifts.

Jules gave me some stuff that I think she got at the Health Food Store where she's been working - olive oil soap! I hate the smell of olive oil soap. She also gave me some bath salts stuff, which I can't use because it irritates my bladder.

That's ALL I got. Period. Of course, DH and I just had a cruise, so we agreed not to get each other gifts - I'm totally fine with that. But I'm hurt with my kids, I do so much for them, and if they had just not mentioned the stuff they got for their Dad, I guess I wouldn't be, but it really did make me feel like an afterthought.

By Kate on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 12:14 pm:

I'm sorry, Karen...that rather stinks! I don't spend the same down to the penny on specific people, but the difference is never more than $5.00 to $10.00! What on earth did they buy him for $400?? All I can say is REGIFT! Store the stuff away and if you need an emergency gift or you donate gifts to needy people at Christmas, they might really appreciate some frames and bath stuff.

It's not fair that you weren't appreciated like you should have been. It's a lot of work to host Christmas and I'm sure you put a lot of thought into your kids' gifts, too. So all that work you put into the whole holiday and you got very little appreciation in return. I'm so sorry!!

By Kernkate on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 12:22 pm:

{{{Karen}}} So sorry about your presents. What were Jeff and Jen thinking? Or apparently they weren't.
What did they buy their Dad? My DS Tom always spends around the same amount on me and his Dad. Not alot of money spend but he does put thought into it.
I bet you put alot of time thought and money into their gifts.

By Yjja123 on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 12:44 pm:

(((Karen))) I can relate. I spent a long time and a lot of thought for my brother's gift, my sister-in-laws and neice. They sent us NOTHING. It doesn't bother me so much that they didn't send us gifts. It bothers me more that they didn't send anything to our mom and dad. My parents are on a very limited budget and go without to buy gifts. They spent a lot of money on them. I wish they just saved it for themselves!
Now the kicker is they are rich. It is not a money thing. It is a total lack of caring.

By Bellajoe on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 04:29 pm:

I'm sorry to hear that too Karen. Maybe they just didn't know what to get you. Some people in my family are so hard to buy for because they already have everything they really need.

We bought my dh's parents new lamps. The ones they had were hideous. We bought my mom a sweater and a gift card for Itunes. She already has plenty of stuff for her house. She doesn't seem to really NEED anything. I hope she wasn't upset with our gift.

I'm curious too, what did they get him for $400? That is A LOT of $$ for a Christmas present.

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 05:50 pm:

Geez guys, I'm sort of embarrassed, I honestly didn't mean to turn this into my pity party! LOL I'm REALLY sorry, guess *I* wasn't thinking, I was really just venting.

In answer to your question, they got him a DVD/VCR player and several boxed sets. One of them bought the player, thinking they would go in on it together, but they didn't communicate well, and the other got the boxed sets, thinking the same thing. But apparently they were BOTH thinking along the same lines when it came down to getting him a really nice gift. Which, coincidentally, is what my sisters and I got for my mom!

On another note, Jen got a thing or two from other people that she doesn't like, so she told me she is giving them to me! LOL

And on yet another note, she doesn't like the panties I got her from V.S., so thank goodness I've learned to get gift receipts! She's picking it up tomorrow.

And just to clear up any *possible* misunderstanding, I'm NOT one of those people who places a high importance on the price of a gift. It really does mean more to me to have all the kids here for Christmas. That's truly a gift for me. I was just hurt after the fact, that they'd really outdone themselves giving him a gift, and DH and I seemed like afterthoughts. My sister even commented on it. :-(

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 05:55 pm:

OH - and some of you got some really icky stuff, so I guess I don't feel so bad! ROFL

And I remember when Jeff and Jen were young, in grammar school, they went to Santa's Secret Shop at school every year. Of course, *I* gave them the shopping money, but they could get gifts for Moms and Dads and siblings for $1 to $3. They have each given me more than one cheap little ring from Santa's Secret Shop over the years, and even though they were dimestore type rings, I wore them and I actually still have them.

Jen asked me once fairly recently *how could you stand to WEAR those?!?* I told her when she had kids and they gave her something like that she would understand. :-)