Posted by: Ruth, December 25, 2009, 7:43pm
Ok, I've been waiting aaaalllll day for someone to start a thread like this. So I guess I'll just have to up and start it myself.
So, what is the best gift given or received this Christmas?
My kids are getting old enough that they are really getting creative and thoughtful with their giving, so it is really hard for me to say any of them were my favorite. However...my dh gave me the best gift of all.
He tried really really hard to be secretive, but my intuitive, inferential skills found him out.
Long story short (no, after reading what I wrote - long story long): Last spring I was winding the grandfather clock that my dad MADE for me. I was in a hurry and was winding way to fast. The weight jumped off the cable causing the cable to jump up and entangle in the clock works. I thought winding it a bit more might get it untangled - NOT! Thus, my clock has sat quiet and perpetually at 8:00 for the last 9 months.
A few months ago dh visited someone who happened to be a "clock doctor." Last week he made arrangements for fixing my clock. Trying to be stealthy, he asked me if I would take Garrett shopping last Sunday afternoon. I explained that I would be visiting my parents. He grinned and said "oh, even better!" So I knew right then and there that something was a foot.
While I was visiting my parents on Sunday I received a panicked phone call from my ds saying a red van kept parking in front of the house and someone was ringing the bell. My deductive reasoning told me that dh had forgotten he had made arrangements to have the clock fixed and that he had left on an errand. I told ds to call his dad and ask him if perhaps he might have forgotten that someone was coming.
In any case, Tuesday evening, once again dh insisted that I take ds shopping. I again inferred that perhaps this was the rescheduled clock appt. When I arrived home the clock case was empty.
Dh figured out that I knew and told the clock doctor to just take his time. It turned out to be a bit more tangled than originally thought, and there was some other work that needed to be done to the clock.
BUT...I am ecstatic that my clock will be running again. Especially since visiting my parents and seeing how weak my dad is becoming.
So, even though I got some really thoughtful and creative other gifts, I have to say that one is my best surprise.
Posted by: Stacy, December 25, 2009, 7:52pm; Reply: 1
Probaby my new turbi-twist for when I wash my hair.
Posted by: Jeannie, December 25, 2009, 8:38pm; Reply: 2
My hubby made Christmas supper while I slept. That was my favourite gift.
The favorite gift gift was a Disney mosaic figurine of Grumpy the dwarf. I love Grumpy. Turns out I was wearing my Grumpy t-shirt today too.
Posted by: PamJM, December 25, 2009, 9:14pm; Reply: 3
My MIL got the kids a Wii and also got me the Wii Fit! I'm excited!!
Posted by: vicki, December 25, 2009, 9:16pm; Reply: 4
Madeleine's new (free) cell phone!
She has wanted this particular one for over a year and it's always been $200. Then it went down to $150, then $75, where it is now. However, Radio Shack had a free offer (paid $10 for shipping), so I grabbed one for her and for me. Our contract is up in May, but they let us renew now.
Ironically, or not, it's the safest popular phone on the market (SAR ratings). :thumbup I think I'm the only one on the swap who cares about SAR ratings.
Posted by: MsDonna, December 25, 2009, 9:21pm; Reply: 5
Okay, I know this isn't what you meant BUT I had all three of my sons, my dil, her sister and my gs all to myself for several hours on Christmas Eve. Best moment, my three year old gs came into the kitchen and said, "Grammie, you know something?.......I love you!" It doesn't get much better than that.
The most wonderful thing about not being able to keep your children "little" is they grow up and give you grandchildren.
Posted by: MaryEllen, December 25, 2009, 9:27pm; Reply: 6
John & I got an Army surplus trench coat. John bought it on eBay and guessed at the size. It fits perfectly and Patrick put it on immediately and didn't take it off all evening.
John's brother gave SJ a Nintendo DSi - with built-in camera and BrainAge games. She also got about 50 new to her Pokemon stuffed animals and toys - including the one she's asked for for the past 3 years.
Posted by: vicki, December 25, 2009, 9:27pm; Reply: 7
Quoted Text
The most wonderful thing about not being able to keep your children "little" is they grow up and give you grandchildren.
That's wonderful!
Posted by: Katharos, December 25, 2009, 9:33pm; Reply: 8
Probably the best Christmas present for my family was that my brother made the Christmas dinner! (My two sisters and I helped out a little, but my brother did the vast majority of the work.)
My sister was also really happy about the Star Wars poster that I bought her. She doesn't have any posters up in her dorm room and asked me the other day where poster stores were. So that worked out well!
Posted by: KateTheRiot, December 25, 2009, 9:43pm; Reply: 9
My oldest, Tim, bought the family a home theater surround-sound system. He and Tom installed it the other day, and we watched movies last night. Wow, the sound!
And Tom got me a white gold necklace with a pendant of flowers made of gemstones in blue topaz, something pink (?), little diamonds, and amethysts.
Tom bought himself a Garmin GPS for combined Christmas/Anniversary gift. He's a gadget guy if ever there was. ::)
Posted by: DMarieC, December 25, 2009, 9:59pm; Reply: 10
I toured with a choir to Europe when I was in high school and my dh made a CD from my cassette that was 27 years old. I cried when I opened it at my parent's home. It's fun to listen to my old choral music attached to some pretty neat memories.
Posted by: jemek, December 25, 2009, 10:16pm; Reply: 11
I would say it is one I gave...at least I hope..I have not heard word one from my siblings about it. I am a little worried...that it was too much.
What I made using One True Media was a photo slide show of our dad (he passed away in 1982, he was 48 years old)). There have been some songs that all though they are sad..they have been very healing for me. My dad was my best friend.
So with some creative sneaky work..my SIL, BIL, niece and cousins...scanned and sent me pictures they had. I had an old photo album that my Aunt gave me years ago and it had pictures of my dad growing up.
So the silde show is about 12 minutes long it has
His Childhood (The Dance- Garth Brooks)
Navy Life (In the Navy - Village People)
Fatherhood (Daddy's Hands- Holly Dunn)
Children (Love without end, Amen- George Strait) This is of us growing up and some current pictures.
Once I know they have watched it. I will share it. I do not want to share until I know they have all seen it.
Posted by: DMarieC, December 25, 2009, 10:34pm; Reply: 12
Quoted from MsDonna
Okay, I know this isn't what you meant BUT I had all three of my sons, my dil, her sister and my gs all to myself for several hours on Christmas Eve. Best moment, my three year old gs came into the kitchen and said, "Grammie, you know something?.......I love you!" It doesn't get much better than that.
The most wonderful thing about not being able to keep your children "little" is they grow up and give you grandchildren.
Posted by: Janeen, December 25, 2009, 11:09pm; Reply: 13
Quoted from Katharos
My sister was also really happy about the Star Wars poster that I bought her. She doesn't have any posters up in her dorm room and asked me the other day where poster stores were. So that worked out well!
If she doesn't mind the promo posters, tell her to check movie rental stores, many will have their old posters for really cheap (I've gotten several cool ones for $1 each), then walmart of course has a display, but theirs are $5.
Anyway, my favorite gift is probably the bracelet my bro made for me, it's tiny silver chain links with four really elegant silver charms on it. He put the chain links together himself (several hundred of them probably...it took him a while...).
Posted by: Kathleen, December 25, 2009, 11:31pm; Reply: 14
My newest grandson, Jayden! He is so CUTE!
Posted by: 83 (Guest), December 25, 2009, 11:59pm; Reply: 15
Okay, I read this post earlier but there was no particular gift that stood out as the best until now. My dd bought me all the eposides of Batman Beyond. She asked if we could watch one of the eposisdes. While we were watching, I had forgotten how much my boys like this too so we all watched it together. It brought back memories of when this use to be on TV and we would all watch it together on Saturday mornings. So my favorite gift is "memories".
Posted by: ShortyBeth, December 26, 2009, 1:45am; Reply: 16
I was pretty happy with the snow God brought to us last night. They day here was beautiful. Sunny, cold enough for the snow NOT to melt but not overly frigid. A pair of ski bib overalls in just my size happened to be in our stash of bibs. The boots I bought 6 years ago worked like a charm at keeping my feet warm and dry. My nephew went on a walk with me and I got to take him out to a little stream I used to visit 25 years ago or more. It could have only been better if my children would have wanted to go but they got too cold and wanted to go back inside to play their DS's. And, we didn't get run off of the property we were trapsing around on nor did we get shot by the hunter heading to the woods to go hunting.
The hunter even wished us Merry Christmas. It never dawned on me that someone might hunt around there. :o It's right on the edge of a little neighborhood.Posted by: Renna, December 26, 2009, 2:05am; Reply: 17
Quoted Text
What I made using One True Media was a photo slide show of our dad (he passed away in 1982, he was 48 years old)). There have been some songs that all though they are sad..they have been very healing for me. My dad was my best friend.
That is such a thoughtful gift!
Posted by: Sue_IL, December 26, 2009, 9:53am; Reply: 18
Ruth, what a great gift! Pretty sweet that your dh TRIED to make it secret.
Quoted Text
BUT...I am ecstatic that my clock will be running again.
I can understand the ecstasy.
Posted by: PamJM, December 26, 2009, 1:10pm; Reply: 19
I care about SAR ratings, Vicki. I think we forget that we'll pay a price later for things we can't see. That's why I use natural cleaning products.
Posted by: Ruth, December 26, 2009, 2:16pm; Reply: 20
All of you whose family members made the Christmas dinner - NICE!!!! Great gift...I'm going to put it on my list for next year. My children are very capable of a really nice dinner
Stacy, what is a turbo twist?
Jeannie, how fun that you were wearing your Grumpy t-shirt! I like Grumpy too - maybe because I AM grumpy...
Pam, I really wanted a Wii and Wii fit. Ds decided to get an Xbox360 instead - I TRIED my best to talk him out of it, but no dice.
Vicki, which phone did you get? I just replaced mine and am not happy with it. It is a Neon. It keeps shutting itself off and dropping calls. I wish I would have waited for the Karma to be free.
Oh Donna, you got the best gift of anyone here. I am looking forward (but will wait for a while) for those little arms of grandchildren. I was just missing having little ones around yesterday. They are what make the whole day special. I was also happy because all my children got along for a whole day without any quibbles. That was a great gift to me - yours was better though!
Kathleen - you rank right up there too with a new grandbaby! Give that baby a kiss on the top of the head for me. I miss those days.
Barbara, that sounds like a lot of fun. My dd bought me a season of the Cosby show two Christmases ago and we spent the WHOLE day together as a family watching the shows. It felt like the old days when the kids were little and we watched certain shows together as a family.
Shorty Beth I miss white Christmases. We haven't had one since we moved to KY. In Ohio we lived on the edge of a wildlife area. We were always getting hunters at the edge of our property! I'm glad you got to play in the snow. What a fun memory.
Mary Ellen - I love the Trench coat idea. Just from what you have written about your family I can imagine it was perfect.
Kate! I got dh a Garmin gps because his old one is about 8 years old and it is sooooo clunky I can not stand using it. I didn't think I could afford one for dh but dd found one on Amazon within my budget. He was so excited. Your necklace sounds lovely and I'm sure movies will be so much more enjoyable at your house now!
DonnaMarie, that is an awesome gift. I have some LPs of my choir days and when I listen to them at my parent's house (the only turntable I know of), it makes me all weepy like.
jemek - I'll bet your siblings LOVED that! What a wonderful idea and so much work involved!
Janeen - I am very curious to know how your brother put all the links together. What kind of material/wire did he use and did he have special tools? What a cool gift!
Posted by: DMarieC, December 26, 2009, 2:27pm; Reply: 21
Ruth you are so sweet to respond to all of us. Dh and I didn't spend much money on each other because we want to go to Florida next month so it was so touching to me that he got me something so memorable and spent next to nothing.
Posted by: Lorna, December 26, 2009, 3:53pm; Reply: 22
Well, I'm coming in late here... but I have to BEST gifts this year!
One is the pendant for my yellow gold necklace - it is the Maltese Cross with St Florian in the center. St Florian is the patron saint of fire fighters. I've wanted one for a very long time and I cried when I opened it. Russ hid it in a pair of Christmasy socks.
The other BEST gift I received is the growing relationship with Jess! As I type, she is sleeping in the recliner with Brody snuggled sleeping in her arms! Braxton is sitting here at the table watching cartoons and munching on a candy cane. (ssshhhhh, don't tell his mommy.. she's worried he will get hyper!). We made sure that she spent most of her time in the recliner and fed her nutritious foods! :-)
They came down yesterday afternoon in time for dinner, gifts and time spent playing with toys. Braxton opened "a store/restaurant" from the middle bedroom where he served "food" creatively made from his toys! He kept us all laughing for over an hour!
It's been a good Christmas!
Posted by: TamieJP, December 26, 2009, 4:09pm; Reply: 23
http://cassidyscreations.com/images/Img_5264.jpg
I'm guessing the bracelet might be similar to this. MQ makes these and charms hang on them very nicely.
Posted by: 37 (Guest), December 26, 2009, 5:06pm; Reply: 24
I really loved giving my nieces the bracelets made from my mom and dad's silver remnants and my family members the Christmas ornaments made from my mom's wedding dress. But if I had to choose my favorite gift given this year, it would be something much simpler than those things.
My older brother has never been married and lives very simply. Sometimes it's hard to know what to get for him.
Last summer, he was at our house and happened to look at our calendar on the wall~which has birthdays, anniversaries, etc., written on it. He made a passing comment that he feels bad he forgets birthdays and that a calendar like that would be helpful.
I tucked that little bit of information away.
I bought a calendar with pictures of well known Minnesota locales and filled it with birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and several anniversaries of passings of our parents, siblings, nieces & nephews, aunts & uncles, and cousins.
Bro came over for a brief visit on Christmas Eve to drop something off, and I gave him the wrapped present. He called later that evening and said he was still wiping the tears from his eyes. He said, "I saw the calendar and thought 'oh, that's nice', then when I opened it up, I couldn't believe that you had done that!"
You would have thought I'd given him a bar of gold. It was something so simple, and he appreciated it so much. It just warmed my heart.
Posted by: vicki, December 26, 2009, 5:10pm; Reply: 25
That's so neat and thoughtful, Shel!
Posted by: Ruth, December 26, 2009, 7:05pm; Reply: 26
Lorna, I'm so glad Jess is reconnecting. I pray that continues. AND I pray that baby stays inside a couple/few more weeks!
Shelly! I love it. My sister-in-law did that for me once, but her motive was not nearly so pure and loving. She just hated that I forgot HER birthday all the time! I would LOVE for someone to pre-write my calendar like you did.
Posted by: Janeen, December 27, 2009, 1:39am; Reply: 27
It's actually more like chain mail would be put together...similar to this:
http://www.caradoc.org/~iain/images/Fig2.gif
But just three wide, and very tiny links. He had bought the links for some other project that they were too small for (I think he was actually wanting to experiment with making chain mail...). I believe he put them together using a couple of pliers (one to hold the link and one to manipulate it).
I'll probably try to get a good picture of it and post on it facebook...if I do, I'll post it here too.
Posted by: Renna, December 27, 2009, 2:03am; Reply: 28
Lorna, that is fantastic about yours and Jess' relationship!
Posted by: saintintraining, December 27, 2009, 3:32am; Reply: 29
Based on the screams at our house, I would say the Wii was the favorite (given by grandparents who were here). My favorite gifts to give were all new kitchen stuff for my 3 youngest girls to play with. It's actually mostly older stuff off ebay like Fisher price and Little Tikes stuff that hold up better. I had to win alot of auctions toget it all. We also got them a nice set of wood kitchen stove, dishwasher and fridge. They have been playing it for 2 days.
Posted by: Ruth, December 27, 2009, 9:29am; Reply: 30
Monica, my kids played with the kitchen stuff for years and years and years. When we moved we had to get rid of most of it and the kids were all sad.
Posted by: Wende, December 27, 2009, 3:12pm; Reply: 31
I gave digital pictures frames filled will pictures that dh and dd scanned. Everyone seemed to love seeing the old pictures.
The best gift I got was how much the children and dh pitched in and did everything this year since I broke my arm and
could not.
Posted by: SarahBurney, December 27, 2009, 3:40pm; Reply: 32
My best gift materially? The jury's still out, as not all of my gifts have reached here yet. My younger son and sweet DIL actually sent gifts via courier from their home in Scotland, and when the blizzard lifts, we'll venture out to pick them up from a town about an hour south.
But what I've really enjoyed is the peace and quiet -- not having to rush about all day on Christmas, and now that Dad's in Heaven in the greatest ongoing party ever, no organizing a carefully limited range of gifts and a celebration at the nursing home. Gotta tell you, though, last Christmas we had a pretty decent time, since Dad's medication had been helping him with his outbursts. My brother and his family with the other two grandchildren were in town for Christmas, so we had a simple devotional and sang carols, and then... let loose with the cans of "Silly String"! Four teen-and-twenty-somethings, and Grandpa with a can... and with Grandma off limits and the other three unarmed adults dodging... well, it was certainly unorthodox, but it made Dad's day unforgettable! I'm also no longer feeling obligated to attend my ex-boss' son's Christmas birthday party on Christmas evening, now that I'm no longer employed there.
And now that the blizzard has reached us -- nearly spent, but still, our first big snowfall of the season -- I'm appreciating our nice warm-enough house and the gift of electricity. Decorating our new place with my old stuff was actually fun, including a real mantel! And I have a used electric shovel (small snowblower) that was given to me a year or so ago, which I got to use for the first time this morning. That was amazingly fun and fast, too.
Posted by: TamieJP, December 28, 2009, 12:39am; Reply: 33
The Lord mightily supplied us with gifts this year. I spent about $10 cash and the rest was 'aquired' items or items paid with with food stamps. Most food stamp items went to extended family and most very specific to the person.
EG has been asking for a tea set for two years. I won one at an Adult Girl Scout training event. When she heard that I had only spent $10, she said, "I know I didn't get what I wanted since you only spent $10 on all these gifts."
The neighbor with the sick diabetic girl cleared out her garage. I got tons of Avon smellies, movies, golf clubs, a journal & oh so much more just because I took her trash can up to the house that Monday afternoon.
EG also got a BEAUTIFUL handmade wooden cradle and highchair from a person that I heard was taking it to the Goodwill. I asked her if we could have it. She said yes. I then asked her to announce that she gave it away so EG would not expect it. It worked.
We sat here opening gifts for a LONG time and NOTHING was spent on them. It was a most amazing Christmas I could have imagined for $10. :ptl
Posted by: Jean, December 28, 2009, 7:16am; Reply: 34
:ptl :ptl :ptl
Posted by: Renna, December 29, 2009, 11:51am; Reply: 35
Tamie, what an awesome provision from your Father! :ptl:ptl
Posted by: Ruth, December 29, 2009, 12:47pm; Reply: 36
Sarah, what a neat memory! Silly string eh? Did you do silly string again this Christmas?
I love the digital picture frame thing. I just wish I had a picture of all my kids in one photo.
Tami, how cool to have a wonderful Christmas like that. In the past, those creative Christmases have been our best memories.
Posted by: 40 (Guest), December 29, 2009, 12:57pm; Reply: 37
I got a calendar from Valerie. In 09 I got one from her of the boys, but I'd taken all the pics. This year all the pics were new and formerly unseen. I LOVE IT. Every month are my little boy's happy faces. Love it, love it, love it.
Favorite gift given...Nathan's black velvet suit coat (blazer?). He has worn it every day since.
Posted by: Bridget, December 29, 2009, 10:47pm; Reply: 38
Incredibly beautiful sterling silver earrings with glass drops of olive green Murano glass. I want to wear them all the time.
Posted by: Ruth, December 30, 2009, 9:13am; Reply: 39
Sherri, I used to make calendars like that for the relatives all the time. They absolutely loved them too.
Bridget...I'm envious. I've been looking for a pair of green earrings for over a year now. I have so many items of green clothing but no green earrings. Yours sound lovely!
Posted by: juju, December 30, 2009, 9:57am; Reply: 40
Favorite gift - a Kitchen Aid mixer from dh. I have always wanted one but couldnt justify the cost since I dont bake much. He also got a great deal on it.
My son used to make a calendar for his grandmother every year with all the dates on it for birthdays and anniversaries.
Posted by: Ruth, December 30, 2009, 10:10am; Reply: 41
Oh Juju! You are going to LOVE your Kitchenaide mixer!!!
Posted by: JOY, December 30, 2009, 10:21am; Reply: 42
You might even find more excuses to use
I :lovesign mine.JOY
