I have started Christmas Shopping and I am happy and excited.

[SecretPlansAndCleverTricks]

Got a little stash of books and stocking fillers hidden away upstairs

hugs self with excitement

thumbs nose at Christmas-In-June-Refuseniks

Definitely set them up to play with, it's no fun spending the day trying to untie fiddly bits of plastic from boxes!

Yes matchbox cars are the little die cast models, like hotwheels cars but dh is a classic car enthusiast so insisted we bought matchbox

Definitely set them up in advance! Those plastic ties are a PITA as is scrabbling around for batteries. It's harder to wrap although you could put them back in a box. Or you could actually lay them out on the floor and just cover them?

I was very smug last year when I found some nice magic flannels in the boots 3for2. Then I realised I'd already bought some on eBay several months earlier this was in spite of keeping a list on my phone!

I've decided I am only going to buy decent wrapping paper this year as I will NOT be buying as many presents. Cheap paper kept ripping. I am kicking myself for not buying in the sales.

Also any ideas for a stocking for DH? So far I'm thinking funky socks (he actually does like socks) and boxers, and chocolate of course... he's not into toiletries so I'm stuck! Probably wouldn't do DVDs (unlike in the DCs', they get one each) as we tend to give each other box sets as main presents anyway. And nothing too grown up as I don't want to scar the DCs for life!

I haven't actually suggested adult stockings yet and I don't want to unless I know I can fill it!

Marking place to read for ideas later :)

Love christmas!! Got majorly excited last year for the first time . Ds 'got it' for the first year.

I have my panto tickets - does that count

Ive just bought dd a happyland dino set - £38 reduced to £15 then money off with code BC0612 and free delivery :)

I just love the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping in early December so doing it in June would really spoil christmas for me

I can't handle the hustle or the bustle!

I loved the look of the happyland dino stuff, they have too many dinosaurs already though

Well I figured it might stop dd trying to steal ds' dinos though its more likely now he'll steal hers too

I also bought, though not for Christmas, 3 sticker/activity books for £5 in Tesco today - got a marvel superheroes one, a ben and holly one and a 3D star wars one. They had disney princesses too and loads of other ones.

Ooh another thing I was wondering about - Xmas day clothes. Lots of people do the jammies thing but what about clothes for the day itself? Does anyone get a new outfit for their DCs? I am considering it while they are still young and don't have expensive taste easy to buy for.

Ooh yes a Christmas Day outfit is a mst. Id go for something not too fancy that they can wear again.

My dh is off to NZ on boxing day for two weeks so xmas day will be bittersweet for us.

Oh it's a must is it? I luff you Gnocchi, thanks for saying that :o

But do you put it in the stocking, or give it on Xmas eve, or just let them choose it in advance, or...?

And :( about your DH going away, are you going to give him special presents for his trip? (stuff to do on the plane etc)

Ooh never even thought about what to get him will have to put my thinking cap on. Suntan lotion and a hat dunno what else.

Hmm...if little id choose and wrap a new outfit but once they get to the age wherre you take them to choose everyday clothes {8?7?} then let them pick?

I grew up in a new clothes for christmas birthday and easter only so always got a few bits to choose from.

Am looking forward to dd being alert this year not sleepy newbornish. Just need to sort out whether ill be at work or not (hotel). Hopefully not as everyone in my dept. once they have kids tends not to work and the childless do.

Everything I've bought has been at least half price, the only bad thing is I've ended up buying more. Luckily I stocked up on wrapping paper in jan.

We do the whole Xmas day outfits except dp who isn't really bothered what he wears.

They are younger so I could easily get away with a nice simple dress for DD and a shirt/trousers thing for DS. Ooh exciting :o

For your DH maybe posh travel sweets, a book or puzzle mag? If you are in uk that is a horrendously long flight. Does he have a kindle?!

My kids (2 and just 6 this year) usually get new PJs, new outfit and, Im a bit ashamed to say, a Christmas Fancy Dress outfit but I dont know if ds will be too old this year :(

Ooh might get him some retro boiled sweets like rhubarb and custards and sarsparella tablets. Yup, UK, and the trip involves a 10hr stop off in China which is v.random.

He doesnt read books weirdo but I have a well stocked Kindle he could loan if he wants. Likes Tv shows/movies amd while we have a dinky small memory Mp4 player something a bit more robust with a bigger memory might be well received

Glad im.not the only one who does the whole new outfits thing. Think ill het dd something red but not overly christmassy. Last year she was in the teensiest red leggings and tshirt which I have kept to coo over .

Oh, also I saw on here somewhere that John Lewis is selling the nicest kids tables and chairs on sale £9 per chair and £15 per table if anyone was thinking of getting their dcs a play table for xmas.

Ds was 2 days old on his first Christmas - he dressed as Santa and has done every year.

if he won't do it this year I will cry

How old is he now wendy, 17?

33

For dh's stocking, lush do an edible massage bar which you could tell the dc's was a bar of soap and you can get a sexy massage out of it

Oh my, there's an idea! :o