Originally posted by StiltonThe best present I gave this year is:
A box filled with everything you need to bring home a new kitten.
My girlfriend's been hinting that she'd like to get a new cat, so I got all the supplies together, and promised we'd pick out a new kitten together before the new year.
The wife and I already did ours. I got her the newest Dr.Who season, Inception, Philosophy of Final Fantasy book, Hailstorm CD and a watch. The rest of the family is getting DVDs, clothes and books. Nephew is getting Superhero squad Thor 2 Pack, matchboxes cars and a Looney Tunes DVD. Too many friends of kids' as well as friends shoot my budget up to $500. I did get my friend the newest Smallville season for $10 off of Amazon that was the best deal I made this year.
I bought my son a bunch of dress shirts, a book on dealing with bullies and improving his self esteem, a few boxes of gobstgoppers, and a Albert Pujols jersey.
Gave my daughter cash/gift cards so she could spend it how she sees fit.
Got my wife one of those Kurig (spelling?) single cup coffee makers, and a framed photo of us from our wedding reception.
It's a lean year this year, so I couldn't get what I wanted, so I just got the things everybody would want the most, or at least I hope so.
Mother: Laptop PC Step Dad: Scotch Sister: Bunnings voucher (think Home Depot) Friends various: USB Xmas tree, Miz I'm Awesome T shirt, Zombie origami calendar, Voltron USB stick, Rare Earth magnet exec toy, whiskey stones, various booze and cash kick ins for larger group gifts
Bought myself a new watch too! Citizen Skyhawk - Blue Angels edition. Perfect for an old Hornet tech like me :)
And I bought some egg nog. Purely because of the banner here a few days ago. Bastards. Tonight I'll try some Australian nog - ie mix some Bundy Rum in with the supermarket egg nog :)
It was my first Christmas with my girlfriend. She's very practical and not into expensive jewelry and such. I got her a stethoscope, CD player for her kitchen, a gift card to the local food co-op, some humor books, a fleece sweatshirt and lip balm. I gave one niece the original Star Wars DVD box set, which she was very excited for.
It was my first xmas with my new girlfriend too, and she told me how much of an Atlanta Braves fan she is so I surprised her with a throwback Hank Aaron jersey. White with the blue sleeves.
-- 2006 Time magazine Person of the Year -- -- July 2009 Ordained Reverend --
My son turned 2 this year, so it was the first Christmas where he kinda sorta got the Santa thing. Santa hooked him up with a giant play kitchen.
We also gave him the Charlie Brown holiday special collection, some Mickey Mouse dinnerware, Disney puzzles, kickass Spidey PJs (a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net), and a set of cars from Cars 2.
Wife and I agreed not to get anything for each other, to make sure everyone else was covered. (Though she did sneak me the shirt from the Whadjaget thread.)
My parents each got a different Doctor Who DVD set, depending on where they were in their viewing.
Her mom got early Bee Gees collections and clothes.
Ended up having to do mostly gift cards for everyone else, with a few cool shirts and things thrown in.
For my wife: I'm taking care of three night school classes she needs to complete an HR certificate she's been working toward. That said, I'm cheaping out on Christmas. My wife will always be priority #1 for me.
I did give her a Mickey Mouse bead for her Pandora bracelet on the side. It matches the Tinkerbell and Minnie Mouse charms I picked up earlier this year.
Cashed in some airline miles to get both kiddos iPod Touches.
They both got some old Seahawk jerseys I had purchased at a local Target on clearance a few years ago (Not sure why a Louisville, KY Target got in a case of kids Seahawks gear, but I am eternally grateful).
Got my wife some UofL running gear and commissioned my step brother to do a pencil sketch of her mother to go along with the ones he's done of my dad and mom the past few years.
For all the Packer fans 'round these parts: My son got a #18 Randall Cobb jersey and a Packers hoodie from my step dad, a Cubs/Packers mini cornhole set from my Dad/Stepmom, a cheesehead from Santa and a Packers case for his iPod Touch.
"You are going to get a certain amount of snarkiness on the Internet no matter what, and my rule is that you don't post anything that you wouldn't say to someone's face." Marc Andreyko (Writer of DC Comic's "Manhunter")
For my son, who just moved out - a George Foreman grill and a Roku Box and one of those rotary drill kits
for the daughter - socks and sweaters and movies
for the wife, Angels and Jewelry
We'll be back right after order has been restored here in the Omni Center.
That the universe was formed by a fortuitous concourse of atoms, I will no more believe than that the accidental jumbling of the alphabet would fall into a most ingenious treatise of philosophy - Swift
My wife and I gave each other a 3 week trip to India earlier this month. We arrived home on Monday afternoon, slept for over 12 hours, and had a quiet, relaxing day at home for Christmas. This is the first time we've something like this for the holidays, but I think it may become a recurring thing.
Wife got Lego LOTR, Warehouse 13 new season and a few books. Nephew got the Avengers gift set. Parents got a 8x10 frame of the new baby as well as some books and Dickinson village pets for my Dad's collection. New Baby got a walker and talking puppy dog that is twice her size that she ripped from the toy aisle a few weeks ago. Kid also go a mountain of clothes and toys.
The Wee Baby Sheamus.Twitter: @realjoecarfley its a bit more toned down there. A bit.
My dad: -2 Coleman battery-operated lanterns -2 packs of Wolfgang Puck's K-cups (48 total) -basketball shorts -batteries for the lanterns -Peanut butter/banana smidgens from Gertrude Hawk
My mom: -Mets lawn gnome -Raiders lawn gnome -10.4" digital picture frame -Dark Shadows (movie) on DVD
My brother: -Magic Mouse for his Macbook -rechargeable battery charger -Ted on BluRay -Peanut butter smidgens -Criminal Minds season 6 DVDs And since his birthday is the day after Christmas, his birthday present is a custom combo from Omaha Steaks
My boyfriend: -Book-bookcover from TwelveSouth for his Macbook -large glass teapot with loose leaf and flowering teas -Magic Mouse charger -Blair's hot sauce sampler -Blair's Ultra Death hot sauce -long sleeved t-shirt -keychain from the first anime series we watched together -Sony PSN card -Yashica GX rangefinder camera -Peanut butter smidgens
My aunt: -History of the New York Giants DVD. She is very excited since it may be the only way she sees any Giants football in January. :/ -sweater -sweatpants -Irish cream & dark chocolate smidgens
My nana: -gold cross with a synthetic topaz in the center -fleece coat -fleece housecoat -chocolate caramel smidgens
I work third shift, so my "morning" coffee is at 5pm. I have the reheated Maxwell House Master Blend that my beau made when he got up in the actual morning. You would think it would taste lousy, but actually it is not bad at all.