Not me not by a long shot, with 15 nieces and nephews and then we give token gifts to all the sisters and brothers and then of course gifts to my parents and to my father in law, whew I am tired already. We do everyone first them total concentration on our children and then we leave each other for last. With the nieces and nephews though it is all gift cards, it is the easiest and best gift for them, this way they can buy what they like. The gifts for our children gets harder and harder as they get older , however we still love to surprise them with some of their gifts. My mom is too cute last night I asked her what she wanted and she never wants me to spend money on her, I guess it is the mom thing, because I do it with my own children. Anyway she tells me I can use some new dish towels for the sink and perhaps a couple of new coffee cups too cute. So please share all your shopping details the malls are sooooooo crowded for sure... Blessings in this lovely holiday season 2010. Catherine

Yup! My rule is that it has to be done before Thanksgiving.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

Wow jujubee your one lucky girl, wtg finishes before Thanksgiving, I could never do that. I have to first finish with Thanksgiving a Holiday I love then concentrate on shopping, but hon whatever makes your life easier. Happy Holidays. Catherine

I have been finished since around August, and 100% Internet shopping!! I have to confess that in the last few weeks I ordered more stuff, but it was extra for my children.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

I am not even close to being done. I keep buying more and more stuff for my youngest neices and nephew instead of buying for everyone else, but it's because it's been awhile since I got to shop for toddlers and a 5 year old and I keep finding all sorts of cute things for them. Everyone else wanted gift cards, so I can get them all at once. I just have to figure out what to get for my step-mother, it's hard shopping for her because when I asked what she wanted, she said nothing.

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~~~~**Maryann**~~~~

I just got a firm grip on reality....
Now I can strangle it

Nope....Haven't even started. Don't even know if we'll exchange presents since money is very tight and we're just basically living from day to day. I think the only one that will get something is the cat. I got a gift card for doing a survey about pet toys and saved it just for her. We might get something after Christmas when things are on clearance. We don't exchange with the family (in-laws, etc). I might get a little something for my mom or just get her a gift card.

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~~just open your eyes and see that life if beautiful~~

I haven't said anything yet, it's a little overwhelming when I think about it.

Last week someone came into our home and burglarized our home. Matt and I are never ever gone at the same time. But that morning I had to take Jimmy to the doctor, Matt had errands to run so we pulled out at the same time. Whoever it was kicked in a basement window, used our laundry baskets and took almost all of our electronics - PS3, XBox 360, iPods, laptops, and our extensive collection of DVD's. They didn't touch jewelry, or medicine. And they didn't take my youngest son's cell phone that was charging on the kitchen table, but that's because the police officer said it might have a GPS tracking system and they didn't want to chance it. Since we have 3 teenage sons, and no one but us to get them Christmas presents (Matt and I have had our parents pass away and his siblings too passed) so there is no extended family - we are it for Christmas. So if the boys asked for their own game system for their own room, that's what they got. They took all of the game systems except for one. And they took all the DVD players except one. Most of their video games, gone. A Bose radio belonging to my late mother-in-law, gone. The PSP my 15 year old just got for his 15th birthday on Thanksgiving, gone.

I'm a little spooked - and violated. But the most heartwrenching thing, is the only things my sons want for Christmas is their stuff back. We are working closely with our homeowners and they've assured us once the paperwork is notarized and the lists of items gone is complete, the process will go quickly and we should be ok for the holidays. But how awful.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be a thread crapper - it's just nice to finally tell someone.

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Catt
~ Mirror Mirror on the wall, I am my mother - after all! ~

Catt I am so sorry that happened to you and your family.

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~~~~**Maryann**~~~~

I just got a firm grip on reality....
Now I can strangle it

OMG! That is so terrible!!!!!!! I'm so sorry! I hope the homeowners insurance is able to take care of it quickly.

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Kim

Catt, so sorry about your theft. You might start looking on craigslist and at pawn shops to see if anything that looks familiar becomes "available". We had something similar happen many years ago. It take a long while for the feeling of being violated starts to wane.

Ours happened while there were two dogs and four adults and a toddler in the house. They got into the attached garage of the house we had just moved into a few days before and helped themselves to whatever they could find in the packing boxes out there. Plus they tried to steal the battery from the car parked in the driveway. Since we weren't sure what had been packed in the boxes, it was actually years before I realized some of the things that were gone.

That really puts a damper on the holidays doesn't it. I hope the insurance company comes through quickly and fully so you can have a nice Christmas.

Wow I am so sorry this happened to you. I hope the insurance company moves fast and you have a nice Christmas. I feel terrible for you and your family. to answer the Op yes i am finally finished. My husband won a x-box 360 konnect bundle and it arrived today. Nice joint gift to all the kids. I only have stockings left.

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SAHM of Bailey 12, Tyler 10 , Emily Ann 6, and Ryan Matthew 4 yrs old.

Wow Catt, that sucks! I hope the insurance comes through quickly, and the theives are stupid and get caught to boot!


I am done shopping.....if I can control myself!

Catt I am so sorry this happened to you. It must be someone who was watching you maybe some of your sons' acquaintances.

I only have two more gifts to buy.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Mattcatt so dearly sorry to hear about what happened to you, that is such sad horrible news, hugs.. Catherine

No Christmas shopping for me this year.Can't afford it.

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I was sorry to read this Catt, I am always amazed at how people can do such a thing at this time of year.

I'm not finished. I can't think of a thing for my son-in-law. My daughter suggested a scented candle or an electric blanket. I think she's the one who wants those. My SIL is a large guy who was once a bare knuckle fighter, and a winning rodeo cowboy. Somehow scented candle and electric blanket do not fit with my picture of him. I'm really at a loss this year. Other than that, I think I'm done.

Wildwood- LOL about your daughter! I think you've definitely figured that one out! Good luck finding him something!

Catt- I am so, so sorry. It's so sad what people are resorting to these days. Just breaks my heart. Praying you all can get this settled quickly and you can find normalcy.


As for me, I am done. Everything is wrapped and ready! Now, it's onto baking.

Catt,
I am so sorry to hear about your burglary. I will never understand the mentality of thieves/thugs who don't think twice about breaking into someone's home and taking their things. Thank goodness you were not home, although they may not have tried it then, who knows? My purse was stolen over a year ago, and they not only got money, and two credit cards, but also the keys to our home and my van keys. Talk about being stressed out and not being able to sleep (although we immediately changed the locks to the frond door). Feeling violated is putting it mildly, but if someone actually broke into our home, I go through the roof with stress. and yes, I would be checking pawn stores and Craigslist to see if I could get a lead.

I sincerely hope that your family finds replacement electronics of those that were taken in time for Christmas. I am so sorry this happened to you.

As far as done, no never done.

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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!

Catt, I'm so sorry to hear this has happened to you and especially right here at Christmas time.
That sort of thing is becoming common this time of year, and with the economy being as it is now, it's even happening more and more. Purse thefts are bad right now too.

The same thing happened at my daughter's house at Christmas last year. My SIL is a county police officer who was off duty at the time. His poice radio was on the charger upstairs in their bedroom at the time. The thieves stole that also. They turned it on but when they did they pressed a button that indicated "officer in trouble". Instantly the dispatcher was trying to reach him and when he failed to respond they began calling both his house and cell phones. When he answered his cell phone and informed dispatch his "handy talky" radio was at his home and he was not they immediately sent cars to their home and also disabled the radio.
This year they are QUITE prepared. The whole entire house is wired with an alarm system that both sounds VERY loudly at the house and sends an immediate alarm to police dispatch center.

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Barb


My GOD Bless our Country and our Troops, and rid the World of terroists.