Christmas at our house was a hoot this year, made better by the fact that we got basically snowed in, and didn't have to change out of pajamas all day (normally we cook for about 800 relatives, but none of them were brave enough to face the roads), so win-win-win.

I got some wonderful presents (such as this new computer I'm currently typing on), but what set this holiday aside was the unbelievable redundancy of what my husband and I bought:

I bought him a tagine (a middle-eastern cooking pot with a cone-shaped lid).
He bought me a tagine.

I bought him "Havoc Helis" (something my daughter asked Santa to bring for her dad, so they could play together).
He bought "Havoc Helis" for Santa to give him on Christmas morning, as per our girl's sweet request.

I bought myself a Betty Crocker cake decorating kit (something my daughter asked Santa to bring for me, so that we could bake together... believe me, this wasn't something I'd considered, but she saw it on TV and was enchanted).
He bought me a Betty Crocker cake decorating kit (for Santa to leave for me, as per our girl's sweet request).

The best thing was, on Christmas Eve, we opened our gifts to each other, and almost died with laughing at their sameness. Then, when the wee girl went to bed and we started setting up the Santa gifts, we each hauled out what we'd done to surprise the other (neither of us knew the other knew what she'd asked for). At that point, we were incapacitated with laughter. So, now what do we do with all these redundant and incredibly specific gifts?

That is so funny! So what are you going to trade the duplicates for?

You know, I have no idea! We might actually keep both tagines... if we ever learn how to cook with them, we could cook meat in one and veggies in the other, and really look like we have our ducks in a row (ha!).

The other two (well, four) items were ordered from that "As Seen on TV" website, and their return policies are dreadful. Looks like we might be regifting these babies. Anybody know someone who is a dedicated cake decorator/helicopter pilot?

I got a new Guess? purse and some L.A.M.B perfume by Gwen Stefani.

That is too sweet!!! My 6 year old nephew who lives with us is obsessed with that Betty Crocker decorating kit, too!

From my family:
2 quilts
Red Cross crankable emergency radio
the P&P 10th anniversary DVD set!!!!
an Andy Williams Christmas CD
Cuddl Johns and spa socks (soooo nice)
Target and Bath and Body Works gift cards

From my inlaws:
Planet Earth DVDs (I still haven't seen this- I'm really looking forward to it!)
some money
4 movie passes and gift cards for the concession stand- this gift came with the promise of babysitting, which is the best gift of all.

My family waaaaay overbought for our kids this year. It was ridiculous. I ended up opening most of them because the kids were too tired after a while and went off to play with their toys in another room! I know how much my mom loves buying them gifts, but I'm trying to encourage her to do what my MIL does, which is to just buy them one or two small presents, and put the rest of the money in their 529 college savings account. That would be much more lasting than another several Little People trucks.

Chihuly Glass exhibit through February 24th!


Oh WOS, how funny! My sister and I usually buy each other at least one of the same gifts, but that didn't happen this year. Your daughter is very focused!


Me too!!!! So when are we having a viewing party???

Wow!

Oh, can I come too? (Mine isn't the 10th Anniversary set though - it's the Special Edition whatever that is. And I guess I sorta bought my own Christmas gift. Can I come anyway? )

I got clothes, a ps2, money, guitar hero 1 and 2 and a guitar for it, gift cards, and Heroes.

For Christmas i got; iTouch, Digital Camera, Areopostal Gift card, Old Nav girft card, Guitar Hero 1 and 3, 2 Hats, Money, jewelry, Clothes, and a running thing for my itouch.

Queenie, your Christmas sounds like it was wonderful!

I haven't spent a Christmas at "home" in over 20 years because of work responsibilities of my own or Mr. Ultra_Temp's. Our tradition is for my parents (sometimes with other relatives in tow) to visit a few days after Christmas, which they did and have just left. We just continue the celebration until the ham and cookies run out. My Mom and Dad were generous again this year. I did receive the coveted cowgirl boot slippers and a couple of books I had mentioned, along with money and gift cards towards a landscaping project we have planned for the Spring. It was a good Christmas!

When I saw you had posted in this thread, I had to click to find out if you got them.

So glad everyone got such great gifts.

The slippers were a big hit with me! Warm and very fashionable with yoga pants and a t-shirt for work-from-home days.

I already opened my gifts.
I am very happy

I gots...
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
iHome
magnetic page clips for the book :3 (theyre so cute, they got kitties on em )
Saphire white gold earrings
LG Venus
money...
gift card to Gap
a Shirt from Gap.

Erik got the most presents, we didnt get many.
Good Christmas

^^^Sounds nice, Dani!!!

I know I got a new printer because it was delivered to the house unwrapped.

Darn!!! I forgot to ask for those again!!!!!!

Hubby had me completely snowed. He's convinced me that I wasn't getting an iPhone. So I thought I might be getting some other type of phone, (I need a new phone, and our contract expires soon). Guess what rang under the tree this morning? He's good . . . . he's very good.

The only reason I opened my present early was because I had to prove my mom wrong since I knew she got me a Blackberry.

Other than that, I knew what I was getting. And I even wrapped some of it.
-pair of pajamas
-pair of high heeled mary janes
-SOCKS.

And then she used her membership rewards so we got $100 American Express gift cards. Lots and lots of stuff considering I didn't ask for anything, and now I have lots of money to keep for myself since I don't have to buy a Blackberry!

An iPhone! Very nice!!

I got some men's face cream! This was totally unexpected. I tried it this morning and liked it.

I also got a swimming mp3 player (waterproof), instructional guitar DVD, and some books.

My wife LOVED the Origins giftset! Thanks to everyone here for suggesting. She laughed so hard she couldn't breathe when she got the 'Pleasing Your Man' book.

I did pretty well--books, DVD's, The Office Board Game, a Mets shirt, a Mets DVD, the Hallmark card Studio 2009, two rings--one blue topaz and the double heart one I posted, gift cards, and one gift that we will open tonight after we get back from my mom's.

So yeah, I did well.

Lets see...
Guess? handbag
Hello Kitty calender
Harajuku Lovers perfume
Harajuku Lovers t-shirt(sooo cute)
Candy
Who Let The Cat Out? Mutts comic book
McDonald's gift card
Pencil
American Rag sweater+tank
Aerie PJ's
My Sims Kingdom for DS

My gift is a new couch that I pick up this weekend and I have a new HDTV scheduled to be delivered in about a week

In addition to my gifts from last night,

I got a Coach purse and more money.

cash
fleece blanket
fleece pillow
target gift card
starbucks gift card

At my uncles gift exchange (which they forgot to put my name in so I got no gift...seriously)
But my uncle gave me cash
and my cousins gave me one of their gag gifts that my mom forgot to tell me about as well. It's a a laser pointer with different images to choose from, it's mainly a toy for a pet, meow meow might like it.

Cash
Jewelry
Pajamas
Candle
Books
Tea
Biggby's gift card
Cancun Grill gift card
A beautiful stained glass suncatcher
Frozen lamb chops (one of my favorite foods )

I feel bad...I told my mom I wanted a $40 book--The Complete Works of Kate Chopin. She went and bought the hardcover version and spent $100. She left the receipt in the box and when I started to question her, she ripped it up. Tom says not to feel so badly, that if she didn't spend the money there she would have just bought something else, but I hate that she got ripped off. I guess I have to specify paperback next year.

I got some more gift cards, Season 4 of the Office and a new iPod. I really did do so well this year.

And Tom likes his picture frame!

I got a bunch of fun things for Christmas/Hanukkah--lots of gift cards (Barnes and Nobles), Benihana and the movies to name a few. I also got gift cards to American Girl. (I collect their dolls and items--and have since I was little). Hubby got me the sleigh that I wanted from there--which I love.

I got a sewing machine, a book of patterns, money, books, a scrapbooking set, clothes, pj's, socks, Mamma Mia on Blu Ray and Sleeping Beauty on Blu Ray. My mom got me personalized stationary (I love stationary!) and talking Office pens as well.

I am so happy that next week I am off--so that I can really get organized and put the gifts away--and find places for everything.

-Jordyn

My brother teases the cats with this ALL the time! It's hilarious to watch them chase it, jump on each other, climb the walls...

I'm glad it works then. I hope my cat finds it amusing. I've been playing with it

I got a tear filled apology and a promise from a certain person.

Our little girl got the Samantha wicker table and chairs along with the tea set, etc.

Mr. Ultra_Temp got the hints and gave me the garnet ring I had picked out. He also gave me some garden stuff and chocolates. So far, I have also received a snowman cookie jar, a cookie cookbook and a Target gift card. And there was a Home Depot gift card and a Harry & David pear tower from relatives. We also got a snow globe from Mr. UT's boss which looks nice on the dining room table. One of my friends gave me a set of candles with LED lights. I had admired the candles in a centerpiece at her party and she remembered and gave me my own! They are made out of real wax and flicker like a real candle. Way cool and it keeps me from trying to borrow hers. One of our neighbors is taking us out to dinner next week as her gift to us. My parents are coming in late next week, so the celebration will begin again....

But I think the best gift of all was time to slow down and relax. I felt like I had been going non-stop since the week before Thanksgiving. Also, I was on call yesterday for my job for the first time in several years. There wasn't much to do for Christmas dinner and my pager didn't beep all day, so we all took a nap yesterday afternoon in the living room with the Christmas trees.

Our big gift to the kids was Rock Band 2

I got a Keurig coffee maker from my son. I lobe it.

That looks fancy! Have you made coffee from it yet?

I was totally spoiled. My husband had a huge surprise up his sleeve that I never saw coming. He gave me a Blu-ray DVD player and home theater system. It's kind of a gift for both of us, but he'd be the first to admit that I watch movies/TV much more than he does. I'm a huge movie buff, so this is a pretty big deal. We've barely left the house over the weekend because we are re-watching all of our favorite movies. I am blown away by the picture and sound quality on just a standard DVD. When we watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix the sound made our windows rattled during the wizard duel! I can't wait to try out an acutal Blu-ray DVD!

I got hubby a 120G classic ipod, which surprised him big time. He was so excited! When we weren't watching a movie, he was busy converting his music library and CDs into iTunes.

The Blu-ray player would have been enough for 5 Christmases, but I had one more surprise coming my way. My mother-in-law gave me a mini-laptop. I've needed one for quite some time, so this was a great present to find under the tree. Now I can write just about anywhere with a computer that gets almost 4 hours on one charge.

My mom and MIL chatted, so my mom made sure I got a cute little case for my new mini-laptop. Yesterday, I went and got a tiny mouse for it!

Hubby also got me a 2009 Office Calendar. Bless his heart and sense of humor, because on the to/from tag he wrote:

To: My #1 Fan

From: John K

It takes a secure and loving man to do that for his overly obsessed wife.

How adorable!!! He is too good!

You're not kidding! Wow, you got lots of cool stuff for Christmas.

wow, that's great, mixed!


why didn't I think to put that on my wish list? have you played it yet?


what does the cat think of it?
my kids want that...someday. I told them as soon as their braces are paid off.


yes, but you soooo deserve it, sb!


I got my husband season 1 of Arrested Development, and he got me Curb Your Enthusiasm! we've never seen it (we only get the basic cable channels). We watched the first 2 episodes, pretty funny - but my husband said "that's enough for now, I can only watch him paint himself into a corner so many times."

We also got 3 baskets of cheese, crackers, chocolates, champagne and beer.
so much for the 2009 weight loss plan.

You are in for a treat. Curb is a great show!

We have a Blu-ray player on our PS3 and it is beyond great with dvd's and more so w/blu-ray ones as well. You wont be disappointed with any blu-ray quality. Keep an eye on Amazon when they have buy 2 get 1 free for Blu-Rays. They are slowly coming down in price.......s-l-o-w-l-y.

What a great gift!



The cats dont seem to care about the noise........since they love the new couch I bought myself for the living room Yeah...

How often does this happen? I've bought a grand total of 1 Blu-Ray because the price is so high. I'd buy more with that Amazon deal though.

our cat loves to sleep everywhere except the chair with the towel we set out for him. He especially loves my daughter's bed with the pink fleece throw. So she gave the cat his own fleece throw for Christmas. Will he sit on it?




of course not. he's a cat.

You have to keep checking since Amazon changes their sales whenever they feel like.
Here is the link to the Amazon.com blu-ray page. I'm reminded when dvd's first came out over 10 years ago they were 29.99/39.99 for basic movies and that was alot. And those were only usually 1 disc w/no extra features like they have now.

I only buy big blockbuster or have to die for movies on blu-ray for myself. But we do have a good library of the blu-ray itself.

p.s. i did get the Transformer movie on blu-ray for 9.99 on black friday

9.99 for Transformers!! I'm going to start checking that page often. The only Blu-Ray I have now is 'Iron Man'.

I want to get 'Pan's Labyrinth' on Blu-Ray, I love that film.

We haven't played The Office Game yet, but I looked at some of the questions. It's all about finishing quotes and asking questions like, "What did Michael give Katy to impress her?"

And, TWSS is part of the game! If you are playing and the person you are with says a TWSS comment, the first person to call it gets an extra chip. We haven't really went through the rules as of yet, but it looks like fun. Maybe this weekend.

All my calendar work is going to come in handy!

Thanks for the advice. I'm all set with one click ordering on amazon -- hopefully I won't get in too much trouble.





Our cat was by the bass speaker and jumped into the air during The Incredible Hulk. It was hilarious.

- - -



Niiiice, MJ! Arrested Development is one of our favorite shows. I haven't seen Curb yet, but it's a series I'm dying to see. I'm waiting for a good sale on amazon or Best Buy before I delve in. Let us know what you think!

The board game is sooooo much fun. The questions are so much more diversified and challenging than the DVD game. And how could anyone not love collecting Dundies in the hopes of gaining a "Support the Rabid" bracelet? It's an Office fan's version of heaven!

Curb is seriously one of the great comedies ever!

Can I use the word 'seriously' when describing a comedy? One of you teachers answer this please.

I really like the game a lot, but I have noone to play against. Seriously, I would play against a team of people if that's what would make it fair, but alas I can't even get that.

The only person (and worthy opponent) I got to play against was Scotty.

Oh, by the way, I won. But barely.

We even modified the Fun Run portion and treated it more like a rapid round of questions. You had to answer a question correctly from a category chosen by your opponent before you were allowed to roll the die. It was more challenging and lots of fun!



Ed gave me this pretty cool book for Christmas:



Drawing From Life: Journal As Art

I really really like it and it's one of the most thoughtful gifts he's given me in a while.

I also got a gift card to Pier One. Now I can buy that nightstand I've been eying up.

Absofruitly.